Purdue Calumet vs. NSU

Should I go to Purdue University Calumet Campus or Northern State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Purdue Calumet or NSU 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. Northern State University comparison
Purdue University Calumet Campus Northern State University College 3 College 4
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Overview

 Purdue Calumet NSU
Location Hammond, IN Aberdeen, SD
Setting Large Suburban Remote Town
Enrollment 9,194 3,344
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #820
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website purduecal.edu northern.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Purdue Calumet NSU
Tuition (In State) $6,746 $7,616
Tuition (Out of State) $16,164 $10,718
Room & Board $7,560 $9,150
Avg Net Price $10,908 $17,264
Avg Grant Aid $5,703 $5,715
% Receiving Grant Aid 58% 91%

Admission

 Purdue Calumet NSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,810 1,322
Admitted 1,649 1,033
Acceptance Rate 58.7% 78.1%
Enrolled % 54% 28.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.19 3.37
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/24 18/24
SAT Range 940/1140 800/1150
Submit Test Scores Required Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

 Purdue Calumet NSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 0:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (31%)
  • Engineering Technology (14%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Business (35%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Biology (4%)

Outcomes

 Purdue Calumet NSU
Graduation Rate 28% 42%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,500 $37,400
Making Student Loan Payments 38% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,908 $24,399
Median Loan Payment $216 $252

Diversity

 Purdue Calumet NSU
% Men 0% 37%
% Women 0% 63%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 55% 83%
% Black 13% 2%
% Hispanic 19% 4%
% Native American 0% 3%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 6% 4%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

 Purdue Calumet NSU
% In-State - 69%
% Out-of-State - 30%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Purdue University Calumet Campus is larger than than NSU based on total student enrollment (9,194 students vs. 3,344 students)

Purdue Calumet vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Purdue Calumet or NSU?

  • Northern State University is 12.9% more expensive to attend than Purdue Calumet for in-state tuition ($7,616.00 vs. $6,746.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 50.8% higher at Purdue Calumet than Northern State University ($16,164.00 vs. $10,718.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Purdue University Calumet Campus than NSU ($10,908 vs. $17,264)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Calumet Campus are 21% lower than costs at Northern State University ($7,560 vs. $9,150)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northern State University than Purdue University Calumet Campus (91% vs. 58%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northern State University students is 0.2% larger than aid received Purdue University Calumet Campus ($5,715 vs. $5,703)

Purdue Calumet vs. NSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Northern State University (1024) is 64 points higher than at Purdue Calumet (960)
  • Accepted freshman NSU students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.37) than students at Purdue Calumet (3.19)
  • NSU has a higher acceptance rate (78.1%) than Purdue Calumet (58.7%)

Purdue Calumet vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Purdue Calumet or NSU? 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 NSU and Purdue Calumet.

  • The graduation rate at NSU is higher than Purdue University Calumet Campus (42% vs. 28%)
  • Graduates from Purdue University Calumet Campus earn on average $5,100 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($42,500 vs. $37,400)
  • Purdue University Calumet Campus students graduate with a $3,491 lower median federal student loan debt than NSU graduates. ($20,908 vs. $24,399)
  • Purdue Calumet graduates are paying $36 less per month on federal student loans than NSU graduates. ($216 vs. $252)
  • More NSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purdue Calumet students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 38%)

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