Trine University vs. Purdue

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

Trine University Purdue
Location Angola, IN West Lafayette, IN
Setting Distant Town Midsize Suburban
Enrollment 4,088 51,528
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #772 #101
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website trine.edu purdue.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Trine University Purdue
Tuition (In State) $34,330 $9,718
Tuition (Out of State) $34,330 $28,520
Room & Board $11,920 $10,030
Avg Net Price $24,276 $12,576
Avg Grant Aid $24,645 $8,950
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 48%

Admission

Trine University Purdue
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,904 68,582
Admitted 3,587 36,146
Acceptance Rate 91.9% 52.7%
Enrolled % 18.2% 26.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.51 3.67
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/28 27/34
SAT Range 1030/1240 1200/1470
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025

Academics

Trine University Purdue
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (30%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (13%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Engineering Technology (7%)
  • Engineering (18%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Engineering Technology (8%)
  • Education (6%)
  • Work and Family Studies (6%)

Outcomes

Trine University Purdue
Graduation Rate 44% 68%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,400 $61,200
Making Student Loan Payments 60% 78%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,150 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $260 $222

Diversity

Trine University Purdue
% Men 51% 58%
% Women 49% 42%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 79% 65%
% Black 3% 3%
% Hispanic 4% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 7% 17%
% Unknown Race 3% 2%

Students

Trine University Purdue
% In-State 55% 46%
% Out-of-State 44% 44%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Purdue University Main Campus is larger than than Trine University based on total student enrollment (51,528 students vs. 4,088 students)

Trine University vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Trine University or Purdue?

  • Trine University is 253.3% more expensive to attend than Purdue for in-state tuition ($34,330.00 vs. $9,718.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 20.4% higher at Trine University than Purdue University Main Campus ($34,330.00 vs. $28,520.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Purdue University Main Campus than Trine University ($12,576 vs. $24,276)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 18.8% lower than costs at Trine University ($10,030 vs. $11,920)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Trine University than Purdue University Main Campus (97% vs. 48%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Trine University students is 175.4% larger than aid received Purdue University Main Campus ($24,645 vs. $8,950)

Trine University vs. Purdue Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Purdue University Main Campus (1231) is 142 points higher than at Trine University (1089)
  • Incoming Purdue students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at Trine University (24)
  • Accepted freshman Purdue students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at Trine University (3.51)
  • Trine University has a higher acceptance rate (91.9%) than Purdue (52.7%)

Trine University vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Trine University or Purdue? 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 and Trine University.

  • The graduation rate at Purdue is higher than Trine University (68% vs. 44%)
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn on average $14,800 more per year than Trine University graduates after ten years. ($61,200 vs. $46,400)
  • Purdue University Main Campus students graduate with a $3,650 lower median federal student loan debt than Trine University graduates. ($21,500 vs. $25,150)
  • Purdue graduates are paying $38 less per month on federal student loans than Trine University graduates. ($222 vs. $260)
  • More Purdue graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Trine University students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 60%)

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