University of Alabama at Birmingham vs. Purdue

Deciding between University of Alabama at Birmingham 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.

University of Alabama at Birmingham
Purdue University Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, AL
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham Midsize City
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham 20,905
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham Public 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham #420
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham $9,098
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham $22,562
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham $14,170
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham $17,997
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham $11,025
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham 90%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham 11,379
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham 10,034
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham 88.2%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham 20.1%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham 1330
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham 26
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham 3.82
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham A-
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham Very High
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham 23/30
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham 1210/1450
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham Jun 1, 2027
  • Purdue

  • Academics

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

  • Outcomes

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

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham 38%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham 62%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham High
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham 59%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham 6%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham 25%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham 3%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham 4%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham 2%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham 1%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham 81%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham 16%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham Yes
  • Purdue Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham No
  • Purdue No
  • Meal Plan
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham Yes
  • Purdue Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham No
  • Purdue No
  • Daycare Facility
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham No
  • Purdue Yes
  • Learn More
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham Details
  • Purdue Details

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Alabama at Birmingham in Birmingham, AL 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 University of Alabama at Birmingham based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 20,905 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Alabama at Birmingham is located in Birmingham, AL (Midsize City setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Purdue University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Alabama at Birmingham 18:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

University of Alabama at Birmingham vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Alabama at Birmingham 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 University of Alabama at Birmingham ($13,722 vs. $17,997).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 9.5% lower than at University of Alabama at Birmingham ($12,820 vs. $14,170).
  • Purdue University Main Campus is 9.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than University of Alabama at Birmingham (about $894 more per year; $9,992.00 vs. $9,098.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 27.6% higher at Purdue than at University of Alabama at Birmingham (about $6,232 more per year; $28,794.00 vs. $22,562.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Alabama at Birmingham than at Purdue University Main Campus (90% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students is 2.4% larger than aid received by University of Alabama at Birmingham students ($11,294 vs. $11,025).

University of Alabama at Birmingham vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, University of Alabama at Birmingham 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 University of Alabama at Birmingham.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Purdue University Main Campus (1340) is 10 points higher than at University of Alabama at Birmingham (1330).
  • Incoming Purdue students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 26 at University of Alabama at Birmingham).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Alabama at Birmingham 1210/1450; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Alabama at Birmingham 23/30; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: University of Alabama at Birmingham - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: University of Alabama at Birmingham Jun 1, 2027.
  • 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 (88.2%) than Purdue (49.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.1% at University of Alabama at Birmingham vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

University of Alabama at Birmingham vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for University of Alabama at Birmingham 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 University of Alabama at Birmingham's (45%).
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $14,800 more per year than University of Alabama at Birmingham graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,200 vs. $46,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Purdue University Main Campus and University of Alabama at Birmingham graduates have the same median loan debt ($21,500 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Purdue University Main Campus and University of Alabama at Birmingham graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.