Michigan Tech vs. Purdue

Deciding between Michigan Technological 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.

Michigan Technological University
Purdue University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Michigan Tech Houghton, MI
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • Michigan Tech Remote Town
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Michigan Tech 7,403
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • Michigan Tech Public 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Michigan Tech #290
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Michigan Tech -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • Michigan Tech Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Michigan Tech
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Michigan Tech $19,123
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Michigan Tech $42,988
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • Michigan Tech $13,050
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • Michigan Tech $16,879
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Michigan Tech $19,898
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Michigan Tech 99%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Michigan Tech 11,491
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • Michigan Tech 10,621
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Michigan Tech 92.4%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Michigan Tech 12.9%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Michigan Tech 1240
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • Michigan Tech 28
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Michigan Tech 3.78
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Michigan Tech A-
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Michigan Tech Difficult
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Michigan Tech
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • Michigan Tech 25/31
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • Michigan Tech 1130/1350
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Michigan Tech Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Michigan Tech
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Michigan Tech 13:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Michigan Tech
    • Engineering (56%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Biology (4%)
    • Natural Resources Conservation (4%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Michigan Tech 65%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Michigan Tech $66,000
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Michigan Tech 79%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Michigan Tech $26,900
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Michigan Tech $278
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Michigan Tech 70%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • Michigan Tech 30%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Michigan Tech Very Low
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • Michigan Tech No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • Michigan Tech 86%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • Michigan Tech 1%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • Michigan Tech 1%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Michigan Tech 2%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • Michigan Tech 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Michigan Tech 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Michigan Tech 3%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • Michigan Tech 4%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Michigan Tech 3%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Michigan Tech 73%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Michigan Tech 25%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Michigan Technological University in Houghton, MI 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 Michigan Tech based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 7,403 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Michigan Technological University is located in Houghton, MI (Remote Town setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Michigan Technological University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Purdue University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Michigan Technological University 13:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

Michigan Tech vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan Tech 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 Michigan Tech ($13,722 vs. $16,879).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 1.8% lower than at Michigan Technological University ($12,820 vs. $13,050).
  • Michigan Technological University is 91.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $9,131 more per year; $19,123.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 49.3% higher at Michigan Tech than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $14,194 more per year; $42,988.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Michigan Technological University than at Purdue University Main Campus (99% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Michigan Technological University students is 76.2% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($19,898 vs. $11,294).

Michigan Tech vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Michigan Tech 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 Michigan Tech.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Purdue University Main Campus (1340) is 100 points higher than at Michigan Tech (1240).
  • Incoming Purdue students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 28 at Michigan Tech).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Michigan Technological University 1130/1350; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Michigan Technological University 25/31; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Michigan Tech - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Accepted freshman Michigan Tech students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.78) than students at Purdue (3.67).
  • Michigan Tech has a higher acceptance rate (92.4%) than Purdue (49.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.9% at Michigan Tech vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

Michigan Tech vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Michigan Tech 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 Michigan Technological University's (65%).
  • Graduates from Michigan Technological University earn a median of about $4,800 more per year than Purdue graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,000 vs. $61,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Purdue University Main Campus graduates have a $5,400 lower median loan debt than Michigan Tech graduates ($21,500 vs. $26,900).
  • Among borrowers, Purdue graduates have an estimated $56 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Michigan Tech graduates ($222 vs. $278).
  • More Michigan Tech graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purdue students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 78%)

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.