Sonoma State University vs. Purdue Northwest

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

Sonoma State University Purdue Northwest
Location Rohnert Park, CA Hammond, Indiana
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 5,990 8,679
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #625
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website sonoma.edu pnw.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Sonoma State University Purdue Northwest
Tuition (In State) $5,742 $7,594
Tuition (Out of State) $17,622 $14,795
Room & Board $15,770 $9,097
Avg Net Price $15,113 $9,637
Avg Grant Aid $8,546 $6,420
% Receiving Grant Aid 83% 85%

Admission

Sonoma State University Purdue Northwest
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 10,529 6,394
Admitted 9,974 4,516
Acceptance Rate 94.7% 70.6%
Enrolled % 9.1% 26.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.4 3.19
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Very Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 17/23 16/25
SAT Range 950/1150 920/1140
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2026

Academics

Sonoma State University Purdue Northwest
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (19%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (5%)

Outcomes

Sonoma State University Purdue Northwest
Graduation Rate 57% -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,300 N/A
Making Student Loan Payments 69% -
Median Student Loan Debt $17,500 N/A
Median Loan Payment $180 N/A

Diversity

Sonoma State University Purdue Northwest
% Men 3% 4%
% Women 7% 5%
Racial Diversity Very High -
HBCU No No
% White 48% 0%
% Black 2% 0%
% Hispanic 29% 0%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 0%
% International 2% 0%
% Unknown Race 7% 0%

Students

Sonoma State University Purdue Northwest
% In-State 98% 80%
% Out-of-State 2% 14%

Campus

Sonoma State University Purdue Northwest
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Purdue University Northwest is larger than than Sonoma State University based on total student enrollment (8,679 students vs. 5,990 students)

Sonoma State University vs. Purdue Northwest Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Sonoma State University or Purdue Northwest?

  • Purdue University Northwest is 32.3% more expensive to attend than Sonoma State University for in-state tuition ($7,594.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 19.1% higher at Sonoma State University than Purdue University Northwest ($17,622.00 vs. $14,795.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Purdue University Northwest than Sonoma State University ($9,637 vs. $15,113)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Northwest are 73.4% lower than costs at Sonoma State University ($9,097 vs. $15,770)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Purdue University Northwest than Sonoma State University (85% vs. 83%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Sonoma State University students is 33.1% larger than aid received Purdue University Northwest ($8,546 vs. $6,420)

Sonoma State University vs. Purdue Northwest Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Sonoma State University students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.4) than students at Purdue Northwest (3.19)
  • Sonoma State University has a higher acceptance rate (94.7%) than Purdue Northwest (70.6%)

Sonoma State University vs. Purdue Northwest Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Sonoma State University or Purdue Northwest? 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 Purdue Northwest and Sonoma State University.

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