IUPUI vs. Purdue

Should I go to Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis or Purdue University Main Campus? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if IUPUI or Purdue is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis vs. Purdue University Main Campus comparison
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis Purdue University Main Campus College 3 College 4
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis Purdue University Main Campus
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Overview

 IUPUI Purdue
Location Indianapolis, IN West Lafayette, IN
Setting Large City Midsize Suburban
Enrollment 25,979 51,528
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #482 #101
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website iupui.edu purdue.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 IUPUI Purdue
Tuition (In State) $8,972 $9,718
Tuition (Out of State) $31,410 $28,520
Room & Board $11,252 $10,030
Avg Net Price $11,462 $12,576
Avg Grant Aid $12,201 $8,950
% Receiving Grant Aid 83% 48%

Admission

 IUPUI Purdue
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 15,637 68,582
Admitted 12,961 36,146
Acceptance Rate 82.9% 52.7%
Enrolled % 27.2% 26.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.52 3.67
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/27 27/34
SAT Range 1050/1250 1200/1470
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline May 15, 2025

Academics

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

Outcomes

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

Diversity

 IUPUI Purdue
% Men 40% 58%
% Women 60% 42%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 72% 65%
% Black 10% 3%
% Hispanic 6% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 2%
% International 4% 17%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

 IUPUI Purdue
% In-State 91% 46%
% Out-of-State 7% 44%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Purdue University Main Campus is larger than than IUPUI based on total student enrollment (51,528 students vs. 25,979 students)

IUPUI vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IUPUI or Purdue?

  • Purdue University Main Campus is 8.3% more expensive to attend than IUPUI for in-state tuition ($9,718.00 vs. $8,972.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 10.1% higher at IUPUI than Purdue University Main Campus ($31,410.00 vs. $28,520.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis than Purdue ($11,462 vs. $12,576)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 12.2% lower than costs at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis ($10,030 vs. $11,252)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis than Purdue University Main Campus (83% vs. 48%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis students is 36.3% larger than aid received Purdue University Main Campus ($12,201 vs. $8,950)

IUPUI vs. Purdue Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, IUPUI or Purdue? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Purdue or IUPUI .

  • The average SAT score at Purdue University Main Campus (1231) is 217 points higher than at IUPUI (1014)
  • Incoming Purdue students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at IUPUI (22)
  • 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 (82.9%) than Purdue (52.7%)

IUPUI vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, IUPUI or Purdue? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Purdue and IUPUI.

  • The graduation rate at Purdue is higher than Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (68% vs. 33%)
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn on average $12,600 more per year than IUPUI graduates after ten years. ($61,200 vs. $48,600)
  • Purdue University Main Campus students graduate with a $1,590 lower median federal student loan debt than IUPUI graduates. ($21,500 vs. $23,090)
  • Purdue graduates are paying $16 less per month on federal student loans 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/