UT Dallas vs. Purdue

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

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UT Dallas Richardson, TX
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • UT Dallas Small City
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UT Dallas 29,886
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • UT Dallas Public 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UT Dallas #242
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UT Dallas -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • UT Dallas Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UT Dallas
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UT Dallas $14,644
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UT Dallas $40,144
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • UT Dallas $14,430
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • UT Dallas $14,916
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UT Dallas $14,909
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UT Dallas 64%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UT Dallas 31,789
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • UT Dallas 20,704
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UT Dallas 65.1%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • UT Dallas 20.3%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UT Dallas 1290
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • UT Dallas 28
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • UT Dallas 3.78
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UT Dallas A-
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UT Dallas Very High
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UT Dallas Low
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • UT Dallas 24/32
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • UT Dallas 1160/1410
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UT Dallas Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • UT Dallas May 1, 2027
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UT Dallas 23:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UT Dallas
    • Business (32%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • General Studies (8%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UT Dallas 61%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UT Dallas $59,000
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UT Dallas 64%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UT Dallas $18,750
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UT Dallas $193
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UT Dallas 56%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • UT Dallas 44%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UT Dallas Very High
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • UT Dallas No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • UT Dallas 37%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • UT Dallas 29%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • UT Dallas 6%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • UT Dallas 18%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • UT Dallas 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UT Dallas 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UT Dallas 4%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • UT Dallas 3%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UT Dallas 2%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UT Dallas 92%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UT Dallas 5%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare The University of Texas at Dallas in Richardson, 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 Dallas based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 29,886 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • The University of Texas at Dallas is located in Richardson, TX (Small City setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • The University of Texas at Dallas 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 Dallas 23:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

UT Dallas vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UT Dallas 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 Dallas ($13,722 vs. $14,916).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 11.2% lower than at The University of Texas at Dallas ($12,820 vs. $14,430).
  • The University of Texas at Dallas is 46.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $4,652 more per year; $14,644.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 39.4% higher at UT Dallas than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $11,350 more per year; $40,144.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at The University of Texas at Dallas than at Purdue University Main Campus (64% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The University of Texas at Dallas students is 32% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($14,909 vs. $11,294).

UT Dallas vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Purdue University Main Campus (1340) is 50 points higher than at UT Dallas (1290).
  • Incoming Purdue students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 28 at UT Dallas).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The University of Texas at Dallas 1160/1410; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The University of Texas at Dallas 24/32; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UT Dallas - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UT Dallas May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UT Dallas students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.78) than students at Purdue (3.67).
  • UT Dallas has a higher acceptance rate (65.1%) than Purdue (49.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.3% at UT Dallas vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

UT Dallas vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UT Dallas 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 The University of Texas at Dallas's (61%).
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $2,200 more per year than UT Dallas graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,200 vs. $59,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, The University of Texas at Dallas graduates have a $2,750 lower median loan debt than Purdue graduates ($18,750 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, UT Dallas graduates have an estimated $29 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Purdue graduates ($193 vs. $222).
  • More Purdue graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UT Dallas students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 64%)

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.