Purdue vs. University of Minnesota-Rochester

Deciding between Purdue University Main Campus and University of Minnesota Rochester? 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.

Purdue University Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester Rochester, MN
  • Setting
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Purdue 58,658
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester 578
  • Type
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Purdue #102
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Purdue -
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester -
  • Status
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Purdue
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Purdue $9,992
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester $15,016
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Purdue $28,794
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester $15,016
  • Room & Board
  • Purdue $12,820
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester $13,994
  • Average Net Price
  • Purdue $13,722
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester $14,953
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Purdue $11,294
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester $14,057
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Purdue 40%
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester 78%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Purdue 78,745
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester 1,269
  • Admitted
  • Purdue 39,272
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester 901
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester 71%
  • Enrolled
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester 20.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Purdue 1340
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester 1170
  • Typical ACT score
  • Purdue 30
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester 25
  • Average High School GPA
  • Purdue 3.67
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Purdue A-
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Purdue Low
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester Low
  • ACT Range
  • Purdue 27/34
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester 21/29
  • SAT Range
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester 950/1380
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Purdue Required
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Purdue
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester Jul 31, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Purdue 14:1
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Purdue 68%
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Purdue $61,200
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester $58,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Purdue 78%
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester 74%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Purdue $21,500
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester $20,185
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Purdue $222
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester $208

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Purdue 59%
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester 21%
  • % Women
  • Purdue 41%
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester 79%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Purdue Medium
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester Low
  • HBCU
  • Purdue No
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester No
  • % White
  • Purdue 65%
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester 79%
  • % Asian
  • Purdue 6%
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester 9%
  • % Black
  • Purdue 3%
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Purdue 4%
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester 3%
  • % Native American
  • Purdue 0%
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Purdue 0%
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Purdue 2%
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester 2%
  • % International
  • Purdue 17%
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Purdue 2%
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Purdue 41%
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester 85%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Purdue 47%
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester 13%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Purdue Yes
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Purdue No
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester No
  • Meal Plan
  • Purdue Yes
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Purdue No
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Purdue Yes
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester No

Comparable Facts

Compare Purdue University Main Campus in West Lafayette, IN with University of Minnesota Rochester in Rochester, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Purdue University Main Campus is larger than University of Minnesota-Rochester based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 578 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Purdue University Main Campus is located in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting); University of Minnesota Rochester is in Rochester, MN (Midsize City setting).
  • Purdue University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Minnesota Rochester is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Purdue University Main Campus 14:1; University of Minnesota Rochester 13:1.

Purdue vs. University of Minnesota-Rochester Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Purdue or University of Minnesota-Rochester? 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 University of Minnesota-Rochester ($13,722 vs. $14,953).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 8.4% lower than at University of Minnesota Rochester ($12,820 vs. $13,994).
  • University of Minnesota Rochester is 50.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $5,024 more per year; $15,016.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 91.8% higher at Purdue than at University of Minnesota Rochester (about $13,778 more per year; $28,794.00 vs. $15,016.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Minnesota Rochester than at Purdue University Main Campus (78% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Minnesota Rochester students is 24.5% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($14,057 vs. $11,294).

Purdue vs. University of Minnesota-Rochester Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Purdue or University of Minnesota-Rochester? 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 University of Minnesota-Rochester and Purdue.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Purdue University Main Campus (1340) is 170 points higher than at University of Minnesota-Rochester (1170).
  • Incoming Purdue students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 25 at University of Minnesota-Rochester).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480; University of Minnesota Rochester 950/1380.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Purdue University Main Campus 27/34; University of Minnesota Rochester 21/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Purdue - Required; University of Minnesota-Rochester - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: University of Minnesota-Rochester Jul 31, 2027.
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester has a higher acceptance rate (71%) than Purdue (49.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 29.2% at Purdue vs. 20.3% at University of Minnesota-Rochester.

Purdue vs. University of Minnesota-Rochester Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Purdue and University of Minnesota-Rochester? 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).

  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $3,000 more per year than University of Minnesota-Rochester graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,200 vs. $58,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Minnesota Rochester graduates have a $1,315 lower median loan debt than Purdue graduates ($20,185 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, University of Minnesota-Rochester graduates have an estimated $14 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Purdue graduates ($208 vs. $222).
  • More Purdue graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Minnesota-Rochester students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 74%)

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.