UC Berkeley vs. Purdue

Deciding between University of California Berkeley 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 California Berkeley
Purdue University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UC Berkeley Berkeley, CA
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • UC Berkeley Midsize City
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UC Berkeley 45,882
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • UC Berkeley Public 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UC Berkeley #65
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UC Berkeley -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • UC Berkeley Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UC Berkeley
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UC Berkeley $16,347
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UC Berkeley $50,547
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • UC Berkeley $23,750
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • UC Berkeley $16,538
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UC Berkeley $29,608
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UC Berkeley 53%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UC Berkeley 124,242
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • UC Berkeley 13,639
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UC Berkeley 11%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • UC Berkeley 46%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UC Berkeley 1420
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • UC Berkeley 32
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • UC Berkeley 3.87
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UC Berkeley A
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UC Berkeley Elite
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UC Berkeley Very High
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • UC Berkeley 30/35
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • UC Berkeley 1310/1530
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UC Berkeley Test-free
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • UC Berkeley Nov 30, 2026
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UC Berkeley 18:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UC Berkeley
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • English and Literature (5%)
    • Natural Resources Conservation (5%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UC Berkeley 90%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UC Berkeley $74,700
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UC Berkeley 79%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UC Berkeley $14,200
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UC Berkeley $146
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UC Berkeley 46%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • UC Berkeley 54%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UC Berkeley Very High
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • UC Berkeley No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • UC Berkeley 27%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • UC Berkeley 35%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • UC Berkeley 2%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • UC Berkeley 14%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • UC Berkeley 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UC Berkeley 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UC Berkeley 5%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • UC Berkeley 14%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UC Berkeley 3%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UC Berkeley 84%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UC Berkeley 9%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Berkeley in Berkeley, CA 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 UC Berkeley based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 45,882 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Berkeley is located in Berkeley, CA (Midsize City setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • University of California Berkeley 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 California Berkeley 18:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

UC Berkeley vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Berkeley 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 UC Berkeley ($13,722 vs. $16,538).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 46% lower than at University of California Berkeley ($12,820 vs. $23,750).
  • University of California Berkeley is 63.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $6,355 more per year; $16,347.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 75.5% higher at UC Berkeley than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $21,753 more per year; $50,547.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Berkeley than at Purdue University Main Campus (53% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Berkeley students is 162.2% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($29,608 vs. $11,294).

UC Berkeley vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UC Berkeley 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 UC Berkeley.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Berkeley (1420) is 80 points higher than at Purdue (1340).
  • Incoming UC Berkeley students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at Purdue).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Berkeley 1310/1530; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Berkeley 30/35; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Berkeley - Test-free; Purdue - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UC Berkeley Nov 30, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman UC Berkeley students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.87) than students at Purdue (3.67).
  • Purdue has a higher acceptance rate (49.9%) than UC Berkeley (11%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 46% at UC Berkeley vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

UC Berkeley vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Berkeley 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).

  • University of California Berkeley's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than Purdue University Main Campus's (68%).
  • Graduates from University of California Berkeley earn a median of about $13,500 more per year than Purdue graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,700 vs. $61,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Berkeley graduates have a $7,300 lower median loan debt than Purdue graduates ($14,200 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, UC Berkeley graduates have an estimated $76 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Purdue graduates ($146 vs. $222).
  • More UC Berkeley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purdue students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 78%)

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.