Knox College vs. Purdue

Deciding between Knox College 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.

Knox College
Purdue University Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Knox College Galesburg, IL
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • Knox College Distant Town
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Knox College 1,136
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • Knox College Private 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Knox College #303
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Knox College -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • Knox College Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Knox College
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Knox College $57,903
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Knox College $57,903
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • Knox College $10,728
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • Knox College $25,709
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Knox College $42,532
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Knox College 100%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Knox College 4,899
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • Knox College 3,468
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Knox College 70.8%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Knox College 11.5%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Knox College 1310
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • Knox College 26
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Knox College -
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Knox College -
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Knox College Very High
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Knox College Low
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • Knox College 21/32
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • Knox College 1180/1440
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Knox College Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Knox College Jan 15, 2027
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Knox College 11:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Knox College
    • Social Sciences (22%)
    • English and Literature (13%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Foreign Languages (11%)
    • Biology (10%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Knox College 78%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Knox College $43,100
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Knox College 74%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Knox College $27,000
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Knox College $279
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Knox College 50%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • Knox College 50%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Knox College High
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • Knox College No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • Knox College 52%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • Knox College 6%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • Knox College 8%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Knox College 14%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • Knox College 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Knox College 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Knox College 4%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • Knox College 12%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Knox College 4%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Knox College 34%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Knox College 28%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Knox College in Galesburg, IL 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 Knox College based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 1,136 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Knox College is located in Galesburg, IL (Distant Town setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Knox College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Purdue University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Knox College 11:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

Knox College vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Knox College 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 Purdue University Main Campus than Knox College ($13,722 vs. $25,709).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Knox College are 16.3% lower than at Purdue University Main Campus ($10,728 vs. $12,820).
  • Knox College is 479.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $47,911 more per year; $57,903.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 101.1% higher at Knox College than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $29,109 more per year; $57,903.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Knox College than at Purdue University Main Campus (100% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Knox College students is 276.6% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($42,532 vs. $11,294).

Knox College vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Knox College 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 Knox College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Purdue University Main Campus (1340) is 30 points higher than at Knox College (1310).
  • Incoming Purdue students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 26 at Knox College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Knox College 1180/1440; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Knox College 21/32; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Knox College - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Knox College Jan 15, 2027.
  • Knox College has a higher acceptance rate (70.8%) than Purdue (49.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.5% at Knox College vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

Knox College vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Knox College 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).

  • Knox College's six-year graduation rate (78%) is higher than Purdue University Main Campus's (68%).
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $18,100 more per year than Knox College graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,200 vs. $43,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Purdue University Main Campus graduates have a $5,500 lower median loan debt than Knox College graduates ($21,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Purdue graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Knox College graduates ($222 vs. $279).
  • More Purdue graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Knox College students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 74%)

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.