UCI vs. Purdue

Deciding between University of California Irvine 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 Irvine
Purdue University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCI Irvine, CA
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • UCI Rural Fringe
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UCI 37,297
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • UCI Public 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCI #98
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCI -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • UCI Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCI
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCI $15,722
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCI $49,922
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • UCI $18,991
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • UCI $15,889
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCI $23,110
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCI 55%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCI 122,699
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • UCI 35,054
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCI 28.6%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • UCI 19.2%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCI 1330
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCI 29
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCI 3.75
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCI A-
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCI Very High
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCI High
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • UCI 26/33
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • UCI 1230/1430
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCI Test-free
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • UCI Nov 30, 2026
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCI 19:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCI
    • Social Sciences (23%)
    • Biology (16%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Engineering (8%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCI 85%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCI $61,800
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCI 76%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCI $17,000
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCI $175
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCI 45%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • UCI 55%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCI Very High
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • UCI No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • UCI 15%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • UCI 37%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • UCI 2%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCI 25%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • UCI 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCI 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCI 4%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • UCI 16%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCI 1%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCI 74%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCI 7%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Irvine in Irvine, 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 UCI based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 37,297 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Irvine is located in Irvine, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • University of California Irvine 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 Irvine 19:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

UCI vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCI 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 UCI ($13,722 vs. $15,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 32.5% lower than at University of California Irvine ($12,820 vs. $18,991).
  • University of California Irvine is 57.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $5,730 more per year; $15,722.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 73.4% higher at UCI than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $21,128 more per year; $49,922.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Irvine than at Purdue University Main Campus (55% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Irvine students is 104.6% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($23,110 vs. $11,294).

UCI vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCI 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 UCI.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Purdue University Main Campus (1340) is 10 points higher than at UCI (1330).
  • Incoming Purdue students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 29 at UCI).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Irvine 1230/1430; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Irvine 26/33; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCI - Test-free; Purdue - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCI Nov 30, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman UCI students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Purdue (3.67).
  • Purdue has a higher acceptance rate (49.9%) than UCI (28.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.2% at UCI vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

UCI vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCI 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 Irvine's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Purdue University Main Campus's (68%).
  • Graduates from University of California Irvine earn a median of about $600 more per year than Purdue graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,800 vs. $61,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Irvine graduates have a $4,500 lower median loan debt than Purdue graduates ($17,000 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, UCI graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Purdue graduates ($175 vs. $222).
  • More Purdue graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCI students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 76%)

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.