UA Huntsville vs. Purdue

Deciding between University of Alabama in Huntsville 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 in Huntsville
Purdue University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UA Huntsville Huntsville, AL
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • UA Huntsville Midsize City
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UA Huntsville 8,564
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • UA Huntsville Public 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UA Huntsville #471
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UA Huntsville -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • UA Huntsville Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UA Huntsville
  • Purdue
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UA Huntsville $12,132
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UA Huntsville $26,408
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • UA Huntsville $12,428
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • UA Huntsville $19,396
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UA Huntsville $9,268
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UA Huntsville 95%
  • Purdue 40%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UA Huntsville 7,630
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • UA Huntsville 5,232
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UA Huntsville 68.6%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • UA Huntsville 23.2%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UA Huntsville 1310
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • UA Huntsville 27
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • UA Huntsville 3.81
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UA Huntsville A-
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UA Huntsville Very High
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UA Huntsville Low
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • UA Huntsville 24/31
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • UA Huntsville 1210/1410
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UA Huntsville Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • UA Huntsville
  • Purdue
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UA Huntsville 17:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UA Huntsville
    • Engineering (24%)
    • Business (24%)
    • Health Professions (17%)
    • Biology (6%)
    • Psychology (4%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UA Huntsville 45%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UA Huntsville $50,500
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UA Huntsville 55%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UA Huntsville $23,500
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UA Huntsville $242
  • Purdue $222
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UA Huntsville 59%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • UA Huntsville 41%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UA Huntsville Medium
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • UA Huntsville No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • UA Huntsville 70%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • UA Huntsville 4%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • UA Huntsville 12%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • UA Huntsville 4%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • UA Huntsville 1%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UA Huntsville 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UA Huntsville 2%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • UA Huntsville 3%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UA Huntsville 3%
  • Purdue 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UA Huntsville 67%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UA Huntsville 31%
  • Purdue 47%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Alabama in Huntsville in Huntsville, 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 UA Huntsville based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 8,564 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Alabama in Huntsville is located in Huntsville, AL (Midsize City setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • University of Alabama in Huntsville 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 in Huntsville 17:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

UA Huntsville vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UA Huntsville 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 UA Huntsville ($13,722 vs. $19,396).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Alabama in Huntsville are 3.1% lower than at Purdue University Main Campus ($12,428 vs. $12,820).
  • University of Alabama in Huntsville is 21.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $2,140 more per year; $12,132.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 9% higher at Purdue than at University of Alabama in Huntsville (about $2,386 more per year; $28,794.00 vs. $26,408.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Alabama in Huntsville than at Purdue University Main Campus (95% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students is 21.9% larger than aid received by University of Alabama in Huntsville students ($11,294 vs. $9,268).

UA Huntsville vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UA Huntsville 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 UA Huntsville.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Purdue University Main Campus (1340) is 30 points higher than at UA Huntsville (1310).
  • Incoming Purdue students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 27 at UA Huntsville).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Alabama in Huntsville 1210/1410; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Alabama in Huntsville 24/31; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UA Huntsville - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Accepted freshman UA Huntsville students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at Purdue (3.67).
  • UA Huntsville has a higher acceptance rate (68.6%) than Purdue (49.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.2% at UA Huntsville vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

UA Huntsville vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UA Huntsville 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 in Huntsville's (45%).
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $10,700 more per year than UA Huntsville graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,200 vs. $50,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Purdue University Main Campus graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than UA Huntsville graduates ($21,500 vs. $23,500).
  • Among borrowers, Purdue graduates have an estimated $20 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UA Huntsville graduates ($222 vs. $242).
  • More Purdue graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UA Huntsville students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 55%)

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.