ONU vs. Purdue

Deciding between Ohio Northern 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.

Ohio Northern University
Purdue University Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • ONU Ada, OH
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • ONU Distant Town
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • ONU 3,140
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • ONU Private 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ONU #228
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ONU United Methodist
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • ONU Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ONU
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ONU $39,800
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ONU $39,800
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • ONU $14,604
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • ONU $25,941
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ONU $27,696
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ONU 97%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ONU 4,640
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • ONU 3,452
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ONU 74.4%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • ONU 19.9%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ONU 1290
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • ONU 26
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • ONU 3.78
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ONU A-
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • ONU Difficult
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • ONU Low
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • ONU 24/29
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • ONU 1175/1400
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ONU Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • ONU Aug 15, 2027
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ONU 13:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ONU
    • Business (19%)
    • Engineering (16%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Education (7%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ONU 65%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ONU $71,200
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ONU 82%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ONU $27,000
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ONU $279
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ONU 53%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • ONU 47%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ONU Very Low
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • ONU No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • ONU 84%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • ONU 1%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • ONU 3%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • ONU 1%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • ONU 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ONU 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ONU 4%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • ONU 4%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ONU 3%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ONU 85%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ONU 13%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Ohio Northern University in Ada, 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 ONU based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 3,140 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Ohio Northern University is located in Ada, OH (Distant Town setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Ohio Northern 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: Ohio Northern University 13:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

ONU vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ONU 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 ONU ($13,722 vs. $25,941).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 12.2% lower than at Ohio Northern University ($12,820 vs. $14,604).
  • Ohio Northern University is 298.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $29,808 more per year; $39,800.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 38.2% higher at ONU than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $11,006 more per year; $39,800.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ohio Northern University than at Purdue University Main Campus (97% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ohio Northern University students is 145.2% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($27,696 vs. $11,294).

ONU vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ONU 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 ONU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Purdue University Main Campus (1340) is 50 points higher than at ONU (1290).
  • Incoming Purdue students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 26 at ONU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ohio Northern University 1175/1400; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ohio Northern University 24/29; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ONU - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: ONU Aug 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman ONU students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.78) than students at Purdue (3.67).
  • ONU has a higher acceptance rate (74.4%) than Purdue (49.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.9% at ONU vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

ONU vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ONU 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 Ohio Northern University's (65%).
  • Graduates from Ohio Northern University earn a median of about $10,000 more per year than Purdue graduates about ten years after starting college ($71,200 vs. $61,200), 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 ONU graduates ($21,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Purdue graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ONU graduates ($222 vs. $279).
  • More ONU 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.