Otterbein University vs. Purdue

Deciding between Otterbein 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.

Otterbein University
Purdue University Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Otterbein University Westerville, OH
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • Otterbein University Large Suburban
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Otterbein University 2,332
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • Otterbein University Private 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Otterbein University #541
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Otterbein University United Methodist
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • Otterbein University Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Otterbein University
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Otterbein University $35,548
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Otterbein University $35,548
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • Otterbein University $13,236
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • Otterbein University $20,457
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Otterbein University $27,923
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Otterbein University 100%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Otterbein University 3,923
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • Otterbein University 3,316
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Otterbein University 84.5%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Otterbein University 17.7%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Otterbein University 1150
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • Otterbein University 23
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Otterbein University 3.66
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Otterbein University A-
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Otterbein University Average
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Otterbein University
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • Otterbein University 20/27
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • Otterbein University 1035/1260
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Otterbein University Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Otterbein University
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Otterbein University 12:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Otterbein University
    • Visual and Performing Arts (15%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Communication (12%)
    • Education (11%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Otterbein University 62%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Otterbein University $44,800
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Otterbein University 69%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Otterbein University $27,000
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Otterbein University $279
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Otterbein University 39%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • Otterbein University 61%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Otterbein University Very Low
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • Otterbein University No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • Otterbein University 76%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • Otterbein University 2%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • Otterbein University 6%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Otterbein University 2%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • Otterbein University 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Otterbein University 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Otterbein University 4%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • Otterbein University 1%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Otterbein University 10%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Otterbein University 86%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Otterbein University 14%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Otterbein University in Westerville, 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 Otterbein University based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 2,332 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Otterbein University is located in Westerville, OH (Large Suburban setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Otterbein 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: Otterbein University 12:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

Otterbein University vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Otterbein University 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 Otterbein University ($13,722 vs. $20,457).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 3.1% lower than at Otterbein University ($12,820 vs. $13,236).
  • Otterbein University is 255.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $25,556 more per year; $35,548.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 23.5% higher at Otterbein University than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $6,754 more per year; $35,548.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Otterbein University than at Purdue University Main Campus (100% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Otterbein University students is 147.2% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($27,923 vs. $11,294).

Otterbein University vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Otterbein University 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 Otterbein University.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Purdue University Main Campus (1340) is 190 points higher than at Otterbein University (1150).
  • Incoming Purdue students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 23 at Otterbein University).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Otterbein University 1035/1260; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Otterbein University 20/27; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Otterbein University - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Accepted freshman Purdue students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at Otterbein University (3.66).
  • Otterbein University has a higher acceptance rate (84.5%) than Purdue (49.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.7% at Otterbein University vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

Otterbein University vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Otterbein University 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 Otterbein University's (62%).
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $16,400 more per year than Otterbein University graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,200 vs. $44,800), 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 Otterbein University graduates ($21,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Purdue graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Otterbein University graduates ($222 vs. $279).
  • More Purdue graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Otterbein University students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 69%)

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.