Purdue Calumet vs. Eastern

Should I go to Purdue University Calumet Campus or Eastern Kentucky University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Purdue Calumet or Eastern is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Purdue University Calumet Campus vs. Eastern Kentucky University comparison
Purdue University Calumet Campus Eastern Kentucky University College 3 College 4
Eastern Kentucky University
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Overview

 Purdue Calumet Eastern
Location Hammond, IN Richmond, KY
Setting Large Suburban Distant Town
Enrollment 9,194 15,008
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #873
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website purduecal.edu eku.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Purdue Calumet Eastern
Tuition (In State) $6,746 $9,830
Tuition (Out of State) $16,164 $20,520
Room & Board $7,560 $11,735
Avg Net Price $10,908 $10,852
Avg Grant Aid $5,703 $11,460
% Receiving Grant Aid 58% 98%

Admission

 Purdue Calumet Eastern
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,810 17,082
Admitted 1,649 13,340
Acceptance Rate 58.7% 78.1%
Enrolled % 54% 20.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.19 3.39
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/24 17/24
SAT Range 940/1140 930/1190
Submit Test Scores Required Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2026

Academics

 Purdue Calumet Eastern
Student to Faculty Ratio 0:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (31%)
  • Engineering Technology (14%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (14%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)

Outcomes

 Purdue Calumet Eastern
Graduation Rate 28% 38%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,500 $37,900
Making Student Loan Payments 38% 49%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,908 $23,695
Median Loan Payment $216 $245

Diversity

 Purdue Calumet Eastern
% Men 0% 4%
% Women 0% 11%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 55% 85%
% Black 13% 6%
% Hispanic 19% 2%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 6% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

 Purdue Calumet Eastern
% In-State - 92%
% Out-of-State - 8%

Campus

 Purdue Calumet Eastern
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan No Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Eastern Kentucky University is larger than than Purdue Calumet based on total student enrollment (15,008 students vs. 9,194 students)

Purdue Calumet vs. Eastern Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Purdue Calumet or Eastern?

  • Eastern Kentucky University is 45.7% more expensive to attend than Purdue Calumet for in-state tuition ($9,830.00 vs. $6,746.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 26.9% higher at Eastern than Purdue University Calumet Campus ($20,520.00 vs. $16,164.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Eastern Kentucky University than Purdue Calumet ($10,852 vs. $10,908)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Calumet Campus are 55.2% lower than costs at Eastern Kentucky University ($7,560 vs. $11,735)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Eastern Kentucky University than Purdue University Calumet Campus (98% vs. 58%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Eastern Kentucky University students is 100.9% larger than aid received Purdue University Calumet Campus ($11,460 vs. $5,703)

Purdue Calumet vs. Eastern Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Purdue Calumet or Eastern? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Eastern or Purdue Calumet .

  • The average SAT score at Eastern Kentucky University (1028) is 68 points higher than at Purdue Calumet (960)
  • Accepted freshman Eastern students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at Purdue Calumet (3.19)
  • Eastern has a higher acceptance rate (78.1%) than Purdue Calumet (58.7%)

Purdue Calumet vs. Eastern Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Purdue Calumet or Eastern? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Eastern and Purdue Calumet.

  • The graduation rate at Eastern is higher than Purdue University Calumet Campus (38% vs. 28%)
  • Graduates from Purdue University Calumet Campus earn on average $4,600 more per year than Eastern graduates after ten years. ($42,500 vs. $37,900)
  • Purdue University Calumet Campus students graduate with a $2,787 lower median federal student loan debt than Eastern graduates. ($20,908 vs. $23,695)
  • Purdue Calumet graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than Eastern graduates. ($216 vs. $245)
  • More Eastern graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purdue Calumet students, three years after graduation. (49% vs. 38%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/