Rose-Hulman vs. Purdue

Deciding between Rose Hulman Institute of Technology 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.

Rose Hulman Institute of Technology
Purdue University Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Rose-Hulman Terre Haute, IN
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • Rose-Hulman Rural Fringe
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Rose-Hulman 2,334
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • Rose-Hulman Private 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Rose-Hulman #137
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Rose-Hulman -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • Rose-Hulman Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Rose-Hulman
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Rose-Hulman $58,649
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Rose-Hulman $58,649
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • Rose-Hulman $17,727
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • Rose-Hulman $45,406
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Rose-Hulman $32,484
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Rose-Hulman 100%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Rose-Hulman 6,097
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • Rose-Hulman 4,686
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Rose-Hulman 76.9%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Rose-Hulman 12.9%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Rose-Hulman 1410
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • Rose-Hulman 31
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Rose-Hulman 4.0
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Rose-Hulman A/A+
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Rose-Hulman Exceptional
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Rose-Hulman
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • Rose-Hulman 29/34
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • Rose-Hulman 1320/1500
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Rose-Hulman Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Rose-Hulman Mar 1, 2027
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Rose-Hulman 12:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Rose-Hulman
    • Engineering (84%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (6%)
    • Physical Sciences (3%)
    • Biology (3%)
    • Mathematics (3%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Rose-Hulman 77%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Rose-Hulman $84,200
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Rose-Hulman 90%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Rose-Hulman $27,000
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Rose-Hulman $279
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Rose-Hulman 76%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • Rose-Hulman 24%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Rose-Hulman Low
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • Rose-Hulman No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • Rose-Hulman 74%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • Rose-Hulman 4%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • Rose-Hulman 2%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Rose-Hulman 3%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • Rose-Hulman 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Rose-Hulman 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Rose-Hulman 4%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • Rose-Hulman 12%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Rose-Hulman 0%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Rose-Hulman 26%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Rose-Hulman 61%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Rose Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, IN 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 Rose-Hulman based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 2,334 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rose Hulman Institute of Technology is located in Terre Haute, IN (Rural Fringe setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Rose Hulman Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Purdue University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rose Hulman Institute of Technology 12:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

Rose-Hulman vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rose-Hulman 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 Rose-Hulman ($13,722 vs. $45,406).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 27.7% lower than at Rose Hulman Institute of Technology ($12,820 vs. $17,727).
  • Rose Hulman Institute of Technology is 487% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $48,657 more per year; $58,649.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 103.7% higher at Rose-Hulman than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $29,855 more per year; $58,649.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rose Hulman Institute of Technology than at Purdue University Main Campus (100% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rose Hulman Institute of Technology students is 187.6% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($32,484 vs. $11,294).

Rose-Hulman vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rose-Hulman 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 Rose-Hulman.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rose Hulman Institute of Technology (1410) is 70 points higher than at Purdue (1340).
  • Incoming Rose-Hulman students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at Purdue).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rose Hulman Institute of Technology 1320/1500; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rose Hulman Institute of Technology 29/34; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Rose-Hulman - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Rose-Hulman Mar 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Rose-Hulman students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Purdue (3.67).
  • Rose-Hulman has a higher acceptance rate (76.9%) than Purdue (49.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.9% at Rose-Hulman vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

Rose-Hulman vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rose-Hulman 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).

  • Rose Hulman Institute of Technology's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than Purdue University Main Campus's (68%).
  • Graduates from Rose Hulman Institute of Technology earn a median of about $23,000 more per year than Purdue graduates about ten years after starting college ($84,200 vs. $61,200), 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 Rose-Hulman graduates ($21,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Purdue graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rose-Hulman graduates ($222 vs. $279).
  • More Rose-Hulman graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purdue students, three years after graduation. (90% 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.