IUPUI vs. Purdue

Deciding between Indiana University Indianapolis and Purdue University Main Campus? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Indiana University Indianapolis
Purdue University Main Campus

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IUPUI Indianapolis, IN
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • IUPUI Large City
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • IUPUI 22,534
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • IUPUI Public 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IUPUI #409
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IUPUI -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • IUPUI Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IUPUI
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IUPUI $10,762
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IUPUI $34,891
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • IUPUI $13,308
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • IUPUI $12,228
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IUPUI $11,104
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IUPUI 82%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IUPUI 15,643
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • IUPUI 11,947
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IUPUI 76.4%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • IUPUI 24.6%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IUPUI 1140
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • IUPUI 25
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • IUPUI 3.52
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IUPUI A-
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • IUPUI Average
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • IUPUI
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • IUPUI 21/29
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • IUPUI 1030/1240
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IUPUI Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • IUPUI May 15, 2027
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IUPUI 13:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IUPUI
    • Health Professions (18%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (13%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (5%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IUPUI 33%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IUPUI $48,600
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IUPUI 53%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IUPUI $23,090
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IUPUI $238
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IUPUI 35%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • IUPUI 65%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IUPUI Medium
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • IUPUI No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • IUPUI 72%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • IUPUI 4%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • IUPUI 10%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • IUPUI 6%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • IUPUI 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IUPUI 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IUPUI 4%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • IUPUI 4%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IUPUI 1%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IUPUI 94%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IUPUI 4%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • IUPUI Yes
  • Purdue Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • IUPUI No
  • Purdue No
  • Meal Plan
  • IUPUI Yes
  • Purdue Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • IUPUI Yes
  • Purdue No
  • Daycare Facility
  • IUPUI Yes
  • Purdue Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Indiana University Indianapolis in Indianapolis, IN with Purdue University Main Campus in West Lafayette, IN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Purdue University Main Campus is larger than IUPUI based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 22,534 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Indiana University Indianapolis is located in Indianapolis, IN (Large City setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Indiana University Indianapolis is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Purdue University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Indiana University Indianapolis 13:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

IUPUI vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IUPUI or Purdue? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Indiana University Indianapolis than Purdue ($12,228 vs. $13,722).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 3.7% lower than at Indiana University Indianapolis ($12,820 vs. $13,308).
  • Indiana University Indianapolis is 7.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $770 more per year; $10,762.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 21.2% higher at IUPUI than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $6,097 more per year; $34,891.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Indiana University Indianapolis than at Purdue University Main Campus (82% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students is 1.7% larger than aid received by Indiana University Indianapolis students ($11,294 vs. $11,104).

IUPUI vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, IUPUI or Purdue? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Purdue and IUPUI.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Purdue University Main Campus (1340) is 200 points higher than at IUPUI (1140).
  • Incoming Purdue students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 25 at IUPUI).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Indianapolis 1030/1240; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Indianapolis 21/29; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IUPUI - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: IUPUI May 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Purdue students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at IUPUI (3.52).
  • IUPUI has a higher acceptance rate (76.4%) than Purdue (49.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.6% at IUPUI vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

IUPUI vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IUPUI and Purdue? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Purdue University Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than Indiana University Indianapolis's (33%).
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $12,600 more per year than IUPUI graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,200 vs. $48,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Purdue University Main Campus graduates have a $1,590 lower median loan debt than IUPUI graduates ($21,500 vs. $23,090).
  • Among borrowers, Purdue graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IUPUI graduates ($222 vs. $238).
  • More Purdue graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IUPUI students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 53%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.