UT Austin vs. Purdue

Deciding between The University of Texas at Austin 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 University of Texas at Austin
Purdue University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UT Austin Austin, TX
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • UT Austin Large City
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UT Austin 53,864
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • UT Austin Public 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UT Austin #105
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UT Austin -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • UT Austin Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UT Austin
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UT Austin $11,688
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UT Austin $44,908
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • UT Austin $14,828
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • UT Austin $17,942
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UT Austin $13,681
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UT Austin 42%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UT Austin 72,885
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • UT Austin 19,417
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UT Austin 26.6%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • UT Austin 47.4%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UT Austin 1380
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • UT Austin 30
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • UT Austin 3.8
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UT Austin A-
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UT Austin Exceptional
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UT Austin High
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • UT Austin 27/33
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • UT Austin 1250/1510
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UT Austin Required
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • UT Austin Dec 1, 2026
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UT Austin 18:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UT Austin
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Communication (13%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UT Austin 81%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UT Austin $68,600
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UT Austin 77%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UT Austin $22,250
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UT Austin $230
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UT Austin 44%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • UT Austin 56%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UT Austin Very High
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • UT Austin No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • UT Austin 44%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • UT Austin 20%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • UT Austin 4%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • UT Austin 22%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • UT Austin 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UT Austin 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UT Austin 4%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • UT Austin 5%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UT Austin 1%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UT Austin 87%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UT Austin 8%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare The University of Texas at Austin in Austin, TX 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 UT Austin based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 53,864 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • The University of Texas at Austin is located in Austin, TX (Large City setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • The University of Texas at Austin is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Purdue University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: The University of Texas at Austin 18:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

UT Austin vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UT Austin 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 UT Austin ($13,722 vs. $17,942).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 13.5% lower than at The University of Texas at Austin ($12,820 vs. $14,828).
  • The University of Texas at Austin is 17% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $1,696 more per year; $11,688.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 56% higher at UT Austin than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $16,114 more per year; $44,908.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at The University of Texas at Austin than at Purdue University Main Campus (42% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The University of Texas at Austin students is 21.1% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($13,681 vs. $11,294).

UT Austin vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UT Austin 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 UT Austin.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The University of Texas at Austin (1380) is 40 points higher than at Purdue (1340).
  • Incoming UT Austin 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 University of Texas at Austin 1250/1510; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The University of Texas at Austin 27/33; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UT Austin - Required; Purdue - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UT Austin Dec 1, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman UT Austin students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at Purdue (3.67).
  • Purdue has a higher acceptance rate (49.9%) than UT Austin (26.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.4% at UT Austin vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

UT Austin vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UT Austin 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 University of Texas at Austin's six-year graduation rate (81%) is higher than Purdue University Main Campus's (68%).
  • Graduates from The University of Texas at Austin earn a median of about $7,400 more per year than Purdue graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,600 vs. $61,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Purdue University Main Campus graduates have a $750 lower median loan debt than UT Austin graduates ($21,500 vs. $22,250).
  • Among borrowers, Purdue graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UT Austin graduates ($222 vs. $230).
  • More Purdue graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UT Austin students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 77%)

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.