Saint Louis University vs. Purdue

Deciding between Saint Louis 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.

Saint Louis University
Purdue University Main Campus

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Saint Louis University Saint Louis, MO
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • Saint Louis University Large City
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Saint Louis University 17,059
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • Saint Louis University Private 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Saint Louis University #166
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Saint Louis University Roman Catholic
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • Saint Louis University Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Saint Louis University
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Saint Louis University $55,760
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Saint Louis University $55,760
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • Saint Louis University $15,280
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • Saint Louis University $27,749
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Saint Louis University $44,657
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Saint Louis University 100%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Saint Louis University 15,533
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • Saint Louis University 11,656
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Saint Louis University 75%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Saint Louis University 13.9%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Saint Louis University 1310
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • Saint Louis University 28
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Saint Louis University 3.95
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Saint Louis University A
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Saint Louis University Very High
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Saint Louis University
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • Saint Louis University 25/31
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • Saint Louis University 1200/1410
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Saint Louis University Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Saint Louis University
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Saint Louis University 9:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Saint Louis University
    • Business (24%)
    • Health Professions (20%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
    • Biology (6%)
    • Psychology (5%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Saint Louis University 61%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Saint Louis University $61,800
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Saint Louis University 74%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Saint Louis University $26,000
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Saint Louis University $268
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Saint Louis University 44%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • Saint Louis University 56%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Saint Louis University Medium
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • Saint Louis University No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • Saint Louis University 68%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • Saint Louis University 9%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • Saint Louis University 6%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Saint Louis University 5%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • Saint Louis University 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Saint Louis University 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Saint Louis University 4%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • Saint Louis University 6%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Saint Louis University 1%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Saint Louis University 46%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Saint Louis University 47%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Saint Louis University in Saint Louis, MO 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 Saint Louis University based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 17,059 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Saint Louis University is located in Saint Louis, MO (Large City setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Saint Louis 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: Saint Louis University 9:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

Saint Louis University vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Saint Louis 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 Saint Louis University ($13,722 vs. $27,749).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 16.1% lower than at Saint Louis University ($12,820 vs. $15,280).
  • Saint Louis University is 458% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $45,768 more per year; $55,760.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 93.7% higher at Saint Louis University than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $26,966 more per year; $55,760.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Saint Louis University than at Purdue University Main Campus (100% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Louis University students is 295.4% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($44,657 vs. $11,294).

Saint Louis University vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Saint Louis 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 Saint Louis University.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Purdue University Main Campus (1340) is 30 points higher than at Saint Louis University (1310).
  • Incoming Purdue students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 28 at Saint Louis University).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Saint Louis University 1200/1410; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Saint Louis University 25/31; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Saint Louis University - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Accepted freshman Saint Louis University students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at Purdue (3.67).
  • Saint Louis University has a higher acceptance rate (75%) than Purdue (49.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.9% at Saint Louis University vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

Saint Louis University vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Saint Louis 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 Saint Louis University's (61%).
  • Graduates from Saint Louis University earn a median of about $600 more per year than Purdue graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,800 vs. $61,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Purdue University Main Campus graduates have a $4,500 lower median loan debt than Saint Louis University graduates ($21,500 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, Purdue graduates have an estimated $46 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Saint Louis University graduates ($222 vs. $268).
  • More Purdue graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Saint Louis University 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.