Truman State vs. Purdue

Deciding between Truman State University 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.

Truman State University
Purdue University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Truman State Kirksville, MO
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • Truman State Remote Town
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Truman State 3,664
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • Truman State Public 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Truman State #256
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Truman State -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • Truman State Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Truman State
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Truman State $9,838
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Truman State $18,566
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • Truman State $11,128
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • Truman State $13,602
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Truman State $12,186
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Truman State 100%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Truman State 2,883
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • Truman State 2,415
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Truman State 83.8%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Truman State 25.9%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Truman State 1270
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • Truman State 28
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Truman State 3.81
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Truman State A-
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Truman State Difficult
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Truman State
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • Truman State 25/31
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • Truman State 1170/1370
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Truman State Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Truman State
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Truman State 12:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Truman State
    • Business (15%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (10%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (9%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Truman State 69%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Truman State $49,800
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Truman State 76%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Truman State $22,656
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Truman State $234
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Truman State 39%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • Truman State 61%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Truman State Low
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • Truman State No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • Truman State 80%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • Truman State 2%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • Truman State 4%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Truman State 3%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • Truman State 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Truman State 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Truman State 3%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • Truman State 7%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Truman State 2%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Truman State 79%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Truman State 15%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Truman State University in Kirksville, MO 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 Truman State based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 3,664 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Truman State University is located in Kirksville, MO (Remote Town setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Truman State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Purdue University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Truman State University 12:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

Truman State vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Truman State 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 Truman State University than Purdue ($13,602 vs. $13,722).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Truman State University are 13.2% lower than at Purdue University Main Campus ($11,128 vs. $12,820).
  • Purdue University Main Campus is 1.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Truman State (about $154 more per year; $9,992.00 vs. $9,838.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 55.1% higher at Purdue than at Truman State University (about $10,228 more per year; $28,794.00 vs. $18,566.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Truman State University than at Purdue University Main Campus (100% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Truman State University students is 7.9% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($12,186 vs. $11,294).

Truman State vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Truman State 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 Truman State.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Purdue University Main Campus (1340) is 70 points higher than at Truman State (1270).
  • Incoming Purdue students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 28 at Truman State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Truman State University 1170/1370; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Truman State University 25/31; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Truman State - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Accepted freshman Truman State students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at Purdue (3.67).
  • Truman State has a higher acceptance rate (83.8%) than Purdue (49.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 25.9% at Truman State vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

Truman State vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Truman State 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).

  • Truman State University's six-year graduation rate (69%) is higher than Purdue University Main Campus's (68%).
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $11,400 more per year than Truman State graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,200 vs. $49,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Purdue University Main Campus graduates have a $1,156 lower median loan debt than Truman State graduates ($21,500 vs. $22,656).
  • Among borrowers, Purdue graduates have an estimated $12 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Truman State graduates ($222 vs. $234).
  • More Purdue graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Truman State 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.