Ohio State vs. Purdue

Deciding between Ohio State University Main Campus 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 State University Main Campus
Purdue University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Ohio State Columbus, OH
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • Ohio State Large City
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Ohio State 61,443
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • Ohio State Public 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Ohio State #135
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Ohio State -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • Ohio State Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Ohio State
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Ohio State $13,244
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Ohio State $40,022
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • Ohio State $14,738
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • Ohio State $19,783
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Ohio State $13,151
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Ohio State 70%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Ohio State 72,829
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • Ohio State 44,116
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Ohio State 60.6%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Ohio State 21.8%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Ohio State 1400
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • Ohio State 30
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Ohio State 3.76
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Ohio State A-
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Ohio State Very High
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Ohio State Low
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • Ohio State 28/32
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • Ohio State 1310/1480
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Ohio State Required
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Ohio State Feb 1, 2027
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Ohio State 16:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Ohio State
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Ohio State 80%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Ohio State $50,600
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Ohio State 63%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Ohio State $21,500
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Ohio State $222
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Ohio State 48%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • Ohio State 52%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Ohio State Medium
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • Ohio State No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • Ohio State 71%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • Ohio State 6%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • Ohio State 6%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Ohio State 4%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • Ohio State 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Ohio State 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Ohio State 3%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • Ohio State 7%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Ohio State 3%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Ohio State 64%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Ohio State 28%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Ohio State University Main Campus in Columbus, OH with Purdue University Main Campus in West Lafayette, IN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Ohio State University Main Campus is larger than Purdue based on total student enrollment (61,443 students vs. 58,658 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Ohio State University Main Campus is located in Columbus, OH (Large City setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Ohio State University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Purdue University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Ohio State University Main Campus 16:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

Ohio State vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Ohio State 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 Ohio State ($13,722 vs. $19,783).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 13% lower than at Ohio State University Main Campus ($12,820 vs. $14,738).
  • Ohio State University Main Campus is 32.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $3,252 more per year; $13,244.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 39% higher at Ohio State than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $11,228 more per year; $40,022.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ohio State University Main Campus than at Purdue University Main Campus (70% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ohio State University Main Campus students is 16.4% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($13,151 vs. $11,294).

Ohio State vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Ohio State 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 Ohio State.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Ohio State University Main Campus (1400) is 60 points higher than at Purdue (1340).
  • Incoming Ohio State students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 30) as students at Purdue (30).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ohio State University Main Campus 1310/1480; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ohio State University Main Campus 28/32; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Ohio State - Required; Purdue - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Ohio State Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Ohio State students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at Purdue (3.67).
  • Ohio State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than Purdue (49.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.8% at Ohio State vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

Ohio State vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Ohio State 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).

  • Ohio State University Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (80%) is higher than Purdue University Main Campus's (68%).
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $10,600 more per year than Ohio State graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,200 vs. $50,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Purdue University Main Campus and Ohio State graduates have the same median loan debt ($21,500 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Purdue University Main Campus and Ohio State graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($222 vs. $222).
  • More Purdue graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ohio State students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 63%)

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.