Wooster vs. Purdue

Deciding between The College of Wooster 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.

The College of Wooster
Purdue University Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Wooster Wooster, OH
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • Wooster Distant Town
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Wooster 1,738
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • Wooster Private 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Wooster #187
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Wooster -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • Wooster Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Wooster
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Wooster $61,640
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Wooster $61,640
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • Wooster $14,490
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • Wooster $28,004
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Wooster $47,672
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Wooster 100%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Wooster 5,473
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • Wooster 3,258
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Wooster 59.5%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Wooster 11.4%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Wooster 1340
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • Wooster 30
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Wooster 3.76
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Wooster A-
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Wooster Very High
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Wooster Low
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • Wooster 27/33
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • Wooster 1220/1460
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Wooster Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Wooster Feb 15, 2027
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Wooster 10:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Wooster
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Wooster 75%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Wooster $51,200
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Wooster 76%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Wooster $26,000
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Wooster $268
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Wooster 47%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • Wooster 53%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Wooster Medium
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • Wooster No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • Wooster 69%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • Wooster 5%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • Wooster 8%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Wooster 5%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • Wooster 1%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Wooster 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Wooster 0%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • Wooster 9%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Wooster 3%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Wooster 41%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Wooster 47%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare The College of Wooster in Wooster, OH 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 Wooster based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 1,738 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • The College of Wooster is located in Wooster, OH (Distant Town setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • The College of Wooster is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Purdue University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: The College of Wooster 10:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

Wooster vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wooster 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 Wooster ($13,722 vs. $28,004).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 11.5% lower than at The College of Wooster ($12,820 vs. $14,490).
  • The College of Wooster is 516.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $51,648 more per year; $61,640.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 114.1% higher at Wooster than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $32,846 more per year; $61,640.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at The College of Wooster than at Purdue University Main Campus (100% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The College of Wooster students is 322.1% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($47,672 vs. $11,294).

Wooster vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Wooster 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 Wooster.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The College of Wooster (1340) is the same as at Purdue (1340).
  • Incoming Wooster students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 30) as students at Purdue (30).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The College of Wooster 1220/1460; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The College of Wooster 27/33; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wooster - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Wooster Feb 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Wooster students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at Purdue (3.67).
  • Wooster has a higher acceptance rate (59.5%) than Purdue (49.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.4% at Wooster vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

Wooster vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wooster 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).

  • The College of Wooster's six-year graduation rate (75%) is higher than Purdue University Main Campus's (68%).
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $10,000 more per year than Wooster graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,200 vs. $51,200), 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 Wooster graduates ($21,500 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, Purdue graduates have an estimated $46 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wooster graduates ($222 vs. $268).
  • More Purdue graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wooster students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 76%)

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.