OWU vs. Purdue

Deciding between Ohio Wesleyan 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 Wesleyan University
Purdue University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • OWU Delaware, OH
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • OWU Distant Town
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • OWU 1,525
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • OWU Private 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • OWU #386
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • OWU United Methodist
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • OWU Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • OWU
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • OWU $53,888
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • OWU $53,888
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • OWU $14,684
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • OWU $23,006
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • OWU $45,481
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • OWU 100%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • OWU 6,144
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • OWU 3,416
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • OWU 55.6%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • OWU 12.6%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • OWU 1230
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • OWU 28
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • OWU 3.54
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • OWU A-
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • OWU Difficult
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • OWU Low
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • OWU 25/31
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • OWU 1105/1350
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • OWU Test-free
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • OWU Mar 1, 2027
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • OWU 12:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • OWU
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • OWU 61%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • OWU $49,600
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • OWU 80%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • OWU $27,000
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • OWU $279
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • OWU 44%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • OWU 56%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • OWU Medium
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • OWU No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • OWU 70%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • OWU 3%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • OWU 8%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • OWU 5%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • OWU 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • OWU 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • OWU 5%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • OWU 6%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • OWU 3%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • OWU 71%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • OWU 24%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, 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 OWU based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 1,525 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Ohio Wesleyan University is located in Delaware, OH (Distant Town setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Ohio Wesleyan 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 Wesleyan University 12:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

OWU vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, OWU 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 OWU ($13,722 vs. $23,006).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 12.7% lower than at Ohio Wesleyan University ($12,820 vs. $14,684).
  • Ohio Wesleyan University is 439.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $43,896 more per year; $53,888.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 87.2% higher at OWU than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $25,094 more per year; $53,888.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ohio Wesleyan University than at Purdue University Main Campus (100% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ohio Wesleyan University students is 302.7% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($45,481 vs. $11,294).

OWU vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, OWU 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 OWU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Purdue University Main Campus (1340) is 110 points higher than at OWU (1230).
  • Incoming Purdue students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 28 at OWU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ohio Wesleyan University 1105/1350; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ohio Wesleyan University 25/31; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: OWU - Test-free; Purdue - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: OWU Mar 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Purdue students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at OWU (3.54).
  • OWU has a higher acceptance rate (55.6%) than Purdue (49.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.6% at OWU vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

OWU vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for OWU 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 Wesleyan University's (61%).
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $11,600 more per year than OWU graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,200 vs. $49,600), 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 OWU graduates ($21,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Purdue graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than OWU graduates ($222 vs. $279).
  • More OWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purdue students, three years after graduation. (80% 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.