UC Davis vs. Purdue

Deciding between University of California Davis 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 Davis
Purdue University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UC Davis Davis, CA
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • UC Davis Small Suburban
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UC Davis 40,065
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • UC Davis Public 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UC Davis #100
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UC Davis -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • UC Davis Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UC Davis
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UC Davis $16,774
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UC Davis $50,974
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • UC Davis $19,426
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • UC Davis $17,270
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UC Davis $24,591
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UC Davis 60%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UC Davis 98,864
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • UC Davis 41,353
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UC Davis 41.8%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • UC Davis 16.4%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UC Davis 1280
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • UC Davis 29
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • UC Davis 4.0
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UC Davis A/A+
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UC Davis Very High
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UC Davis Low
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • UC Davis 25/33
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • UC Davis 1160/1400
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UC Davis Test-free
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • UC Davis Nov 30, 2026
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UC Davis 22:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UC Davis
    • Biology (19%)
    • Social Sciences (19%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Engineering (7%)
    • Foreign Languages (5%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UC Davis 82%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UC Davis $65,200
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UC Davis 82%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UC Davis $14,676
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UC Davis $151
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UC Davis 42%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • UC Davis 58%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UC Davis Very High
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • UC Davis No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • UC Davis 28%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • UC Davis 32%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • UC Davis 2%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • UC Davis 19%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • UC Davis 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UC Davis 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UC Davis 5%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • UC Davis 11%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UC Davis 1%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UC Davis 78%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UC Davis 5%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Davis in Davis, 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 Davis based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 40,065 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Davis is located in Davis, CA (Small Suburban setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • University of California Davis 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 Davis 22:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

UC Davis vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Davis 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 Davis ($13,722 vs. $17,270).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 34% lower than at University of California Davis ($12,820 vs. $19,426).
  • University of California Davis is 67.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $6,782 more per year; $16,774.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 77% higher at UC Davis than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $22,180 more per year; $50,974.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Davis than at Purdue University Main Campus (60% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Davis students is 117.7% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($24,591 vs. $11,294).

UC Davis vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Purdue University Main Campus (1340) is 60 points higher than at UC Davis (1280).
  • Incoming Purdue students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 29 at UC Davis).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Davis 1160/1400; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Davis 25/33; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Davis - Test-free; Purdue - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UC Davis Nov 30, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman UC Davis students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Purdue (3.67).
  • Purdue has a higher acceptance rate (49.9%) than UC Davis (41.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.4% at UC Davis vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

UC Davis vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Davis 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 Davis's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than Purdue University Main Campus's (68%).
  • Graduates from University of California Davis earn a median of about $4,000 more per year than Purdue graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,200 vs. $61,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Davis graduates have a $6,824 lower median loan debt than Purdue graduates ($14,676 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, UC Davis graduates have an estimated $71 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Purdue graduates ($151 vs. $222).
  • More UC Davis graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purdue students, three years after graduation. (82% 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.