Union University vs. Purdue

Deciding between Union 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.

Union University
Purdue University Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Union University Jackson, TN
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • Union University Small City
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Union University 2,713
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • Union University Private 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Union University #182
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Union University Southern Baptist
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • Union University Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Union University
  • Purdue
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Union University $40,025
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Union University $40,025
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • Union University $12,780
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • Union University $28,452
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Union University $30,120
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Union University 100%
  • Purdue 40%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Union University 1,970
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • Union University 1,190
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Union University 60.4%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Union University 30.1%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Union University 1280
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • Union University 26
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Union University 3.8
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Union University A-
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Union University Difficult
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Union University Low
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • Union University 22/30
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • Union University 1160/1390
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Union University Required
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Union University
  • Purdue
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Union University 9:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Union University
    • Health Professions (23%)
    • General Studies (19%)
    • Education (14%)
    • Human Services (6%)
    • Business (5%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Union University 61%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Union University $48,200
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Union University 66%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Union University $24,840
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Union University $256
  • Purdue $222
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Union University 36%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • Union University 64%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Union University Low
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • Union University No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • Union University 70%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • Union University 1%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • Union University 19%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Union University 2%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • Union University 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Union University 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Union University 2%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • Union University 1%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Union University 4%
  • Purdue 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Union University 65%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Union University 35%
  • Purdue 47%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Union University in Jackson, TN 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 Union University based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 2,713 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Union University is located in Jackson, TN (Small City setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Union University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Purdue University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Union University 9:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

Union University vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Union University 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 Union University ($13,722 vs. $28,452).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Union University are 0.3% lower than at Purdue University Main Campus ($12,780 vs. $12,820).
  • Union University is 300.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $30,033 more per year; $40,025.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 39% higher at Union University than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $11,231 more per year; $40,025.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Union University than at Purdue University Main Campus (100% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Union University students is 166.7% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($30,120 vs. $11,294).

Union University vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Union University 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 Union University.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Purdue University Main Campus (1340) is 60 points higher than at Union University (1280).
  • Incoming Purdue students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 26 at Union University).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Union University 1160/1390; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Union University 22/30; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Union University - Required; Purdue - Required.
  • Accepted freshman Union University students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at Purdue (3.67).
  • Union University has a higher acceptance rate (60.4%) than Purdue (49.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 30.1% at Union University vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

Union University vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Union University 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 Union University's (61%).
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $13,000 more per year than Union University graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,200 vs. $48,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Purdue University Main Campus graduates have a $3,340 lower median loan debt than Union University graduates ($21,500 vs. $24,840).
  • Among borrowers, Purdue graduates have an estimated $34 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Union University graduates ($222 vs. $256).
  • More Purdue graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Union University students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 66%)

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.