Lawrence vs. Purdue

Deciding between Lawrence University 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.

Lawrence University
Purdue University Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Lawrence Appleton, WI
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • Lawrence Small City
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Lawrence 1,417
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • Lawrence Private 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Lawrence #202
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Lawrence -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • Lawrence Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Lawrence
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Lawrence $56,982
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Lawrence $56,982
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • Lawrence $12,165
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • Lawrence $27,161
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Lawrence $42,688
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Lawrence 100%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Lawrence 3,270
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • Lawrence 2,091
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Lawrence 63.9%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Lawrence 16.8%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Lawrence 1310
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • Lawrence 27
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Lawrence 3.52
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Lawrence A-
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Lawrence Very High
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Lawrence Low
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • Lawrence 24/31
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • Lawrence 1200/1420
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Lawrence Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Lawrence Jan 15, 2027
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Lawrence 7:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Lawrence
    • Visual and Performing Arts (26%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Lawrence 77%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Lawrence $45,600
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Lawrence 76%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Lawrence $27,350
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Lawrence $282
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Lawrence 48%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • Lawrence 52%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Lawrence Medium
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • Lawrence No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • Lawrence 70%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • Lawrence 5%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • Lawrence 3%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Lawrence 7%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • Lawrence 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Lawrence 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Lawrence 4%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • Lawrence 10%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Lawrence 1%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Lawrence 28%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Lawrence 62%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Lawrence University in Appleton, WI 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 Lawrence based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 1,417 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Lawrence University is located in Appleton, WI (Small City setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Lawrence University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Purdue University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Lawrence University 7:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

Lawrence vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lawrence 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 Lawrence ($13,722 vs. $27,161).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lawrence University are 5.1% lower than at Purdue University Main Campus ($12,165 vs. $12,820).
  • Lawrence University is 470.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $46,990 more per year; $56,982.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 97.9% higher at Lawrence than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $28,188 more per year; $56,982.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lawrence University than at Purdue University Main Campus (100% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lawrence University students is 278% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($42,688 vs. $11,294).

Lawrence vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lawrence 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 Lawrence.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Purdue University Main Campus (1340) is 30 points higher than at Lawrence (1310).
  • Incoming Purdue students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 27 at Lawrence).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lawrence University 1200/1420; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lawrence University 24/31; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lawrence - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Lawrence Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Purdue students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at Lawrence (3.52).
  • Lawrence has a higher acceptance rate (63.9%) than Purdue (49.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.8% at Lawrence vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

Lawrence vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lawrence 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).

  • Lawrence University's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than Purdue University Main Campus's (68%).
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $15,600 more per year than Lawrence graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,200 vs. $45,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Purdue University Main Campus graduates have a $5,850 lower median loan debt than Lawrence graduates ($21,500 vs. $27,350).
  • Among borrowers, Purdue graduates have an estimated $60 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lawrence graduates ($222 vs. $282).
  • More Purdue graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lawrence students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 76%)

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.