University of Alabama at Birmingham vs. Purdue

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

University of Alabama at Birmingham Purdue
Location Birmingham, AL West Lafayette, IN
Setting Midsize City Midsize Suburban
Enrollment 21,160 52,905
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #430 #103
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uab.edu purdue.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of Alabama at Birmingham Purdue
Tuition (In State) $8,832 $9,718
Tuition (Out of State) $21,864 $28,520
Room & Board $13,590 $11,650
Avg Net Price $17,413 $12,421
Avg Grant Aid $11,333 $11,126
% Receiving Grant Aid 95% 39%

Admission

University of Alabama at Birmingham Purdue
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 10,919 73,083
Admitted 9,655 36,763
Acceptance Rate 88.4% 50.3%
Enrolled % 21.7% 25.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.82 3.67
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 22/30 27/34
SAT Range 1130/1400 1190/1460
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Jun 1, 2026

Academics

University of Alabama at Birmingham Purdue
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (22%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Engineering (18%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Engineering Technology (8%)
  • Education (6%)
  • Work and Family Studies (6%)

Outcomes

University of Alabama at Birmingham Purdue
Graduation Rate 45% 68%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,400 $61,200
Making Student Loan Payments 52% 78%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $222 $222

Diversity

University of Alabama at Birmingham Purdue
% Men 15% 15%
% Women 26% 10%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 59% 65%
% Black 25% 3%
% Hispanic 3% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 2%
% International 2% 17%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

University of Alabama at Birmingham Purdue
% In-State 82% 46%
% Out-of-State 16% 44%

Campus

University of Alabama at Birmingham 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 University of Alabama at Birmingham based on total student enrollment (52,905 students vs. 21,160 students)

University of Alabama at Birmingham vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Alabama at Birmingham or Purdue?

  • Purdue University Main Campus is 10% more expensive to attend than University of Alabama at Birmingham for in-state tuition ($9,718.00 vs. $8,832.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 30.4% higher at Purdue than University of Alabama at Birmingham ($28,520.00 vs. $21,864.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Purdue University Main Campus than University of Alabama at Birmingham ($12,421 vs. $17,413)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 16.7% lower than costs at University of Alabama at Birmingham ($11,650 vs. $13,590)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Alabama at Birmingham than Purdue University Main Campus (95% vs. 39%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Alabama at Birmingham students is 1.9% larger than aid received Purdue University Main Campus ($11,333 vs. $11,126)

University of Alabama at Birmingham vs. Purdue Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Purdue University Main Campus (1231) is 84 points higher than at University of Alabama at Birmingham (1147)
  • Incoming Purdue students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at University of Alabama at Birmingham (25)
  • Accepted freshman University of Alabama at Birmingham students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.82) than students at Purdue (3.67)
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham has a higher acceptance rate (88.4%) than Purdue (50.3%)

University of Alabama at Birmingham vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, University of Alabama at Birmingham 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 University of Alabama at Birmingham.

  • The graduation rate at Purdue is higher than University of Alabama at Birmingham (68% vs. 45%)
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn on average $14,800 more per year than University of Alabama at Birmingham graduates after ten years. ($61,200 vs. $46,400)
  • Purdue University Main Campus and University of Alabama at Birmingham graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($21,500 vs. $21,500)
  • Purdue University Main Campus and University of Alabama at Birmingham graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($222 vs. $222)
  • More Purdue graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Alabama at Birmingham students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 52%)

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