Oberlin vs. Purdue

Deciding between Oberlin 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.

Oberlin College
Purdue University Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Oberlin Oberlin, OH
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • Oberlin Midsize Suburban
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Oberlin 2,909
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • Oberlin Private 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Oberlin #153
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Oberlin -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • Oberlin Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Oberlin
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Oberlin $67,366
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Oberlin $67,366
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • Oberlin $19,510
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • Oberlin $51,624
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Oberlin $35,780
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Oberlin 99%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Oberlin 10,536
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • Oberlin 3,601
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Oberlin 34.2%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Oberlin 19.5%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Oberlin 1440
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • Oberlin 32
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Oberlin 3.67
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Oberlin A-
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Oberlin Exceptional
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Oberlin High
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • Oberlin 31/34
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • Oberlin 1360/1520
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Oberlin Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Oberlin Jan 15, 2027
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Oberlin 9:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Oberlin
    • Visual and Performing Arts (26%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Oberlin 88%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Oberlin $43,900
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Oberlin 82%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Oberlin $26,579
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Oberlin $274
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Oberlin 41%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • Oberlin 59%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Oberlin Medium
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • Oberlin No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • Oberlin 68%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • Oberlin 4%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • Oberlin 5%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Oberlin 8%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • Oberlin 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Oberlin 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Oberlin 6%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • Oberlin 8%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Oberlin 1%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Oberlin 6%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Oberlin 82%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Oberlin College in Oberlin, OH 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 Oberlin based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 2,909 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Oberlin College is located in Oberlin, OH (Midsize Suburban setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Oberlin 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: Oberlin College 9:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

Oberlin vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Oberlin 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 Oberlin ($13,722 vs. $51,624).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 34.3% lower than at Oberlin College ($12,820 vs. $19,510).
  • Oberlin College is 574.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $57,374 more per year; $67,366.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 134% higher at Oberlin than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $38,572 more per year; $67,366.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Oberlin College than at Purdue University Main Campus (99% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Oberlin College students is 216.8% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($35,780 vs. $11,294).

Oberlin vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Oberlin 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 Oberlin.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Oberlin College (1440) is 100 points higher than at Purdue (1340).
  • Incoming Oberlin students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at Purdue).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Oberlin College 1360/1520; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Oberlin College 31/34; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Oberlin - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Oberlin Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Oberlin students have the same average high school GPA (3.67) as students at Purdue (3.67).
  • Purdue has a higher acceptance rate (49.9%) than Oberlin (34.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.5% at Oberlin vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

Oberlin vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Oberlin 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).

  • Oberlin College's six-year graduation rate (88%) is higher than Purdue University Main Campus's (68%).
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $17,300 more per year than Oberlin graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,200 vs. $43,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Purdue University Main Campus graduates have a $5,079 lower median loan debt than Oberlin graduates ($21,500 vs. $26,579).
  • Among borrowers, Purdue graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Oberlin graduates ($222 vs. $274).
  • More Oberlin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purdue students, three years after graduation. (82% 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.