UCLA vs. Purdue

Deciding between University of California Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles
Purdue University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCLA Los Angeles, CA
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • UCLA Large City
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UCLA 47,335
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • UCLA Public 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCLA #66
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCLA -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • UCLA Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCLA
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCLA $15,203
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCLA $49,403
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • UCLA $18,369
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • UCLA $14,512
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCLA $25,627
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCLA 49%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCLA 146,272
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • UCLA 13,114
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCLA 9%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • UCLA 50.4%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCLA 1420
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCLA 32
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCLA 3.92
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCLA A
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCLA Elite
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCLA Extreme
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • UCLA 29/35
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • UCLA 1300/1530
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCLA Test-free
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • UCLA Nov 30, 2026
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCLA 20:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCLA
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • History (7%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCLA 90%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCLA $70,700
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCLA 78%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCLA $16,300
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCLA $168
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCLA 43%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • UCLA 57%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCLA Very High
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • UCLA No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • UCLA 27%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • UCLA 29%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • UCLA 3%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCLA 21%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • UCLA 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCLA 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCLA 5%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • UCLA 13%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCLA 2%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCLA 79%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCLA 12%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Los Angeles in Los Angeles, 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 UCLA based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 47,335 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • University of California Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles 20:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

UCLA vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCLA 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 UCLA ($13,722 vs. $14,512).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 30.2% lower than at University of California Los Angeles ($12,820 vs. $18,369).
  • University of California Los Angeles is 52.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $5,211 more per year; $15,203.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 71.6% higher at UCLA than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $20,609 more per year; $49,403.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Los Angeles than at Purdue University Main Campus (49% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Los Angeles students is 126.9% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($25,627 vs. $11,294).

UCLA vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCLA 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 UCLA.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Los Angeles (1420) is 80 points higher than at Purdue (1340).
  • Incoming UCLA 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 Los Angeles 1300/1530; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Los Angeles 29/35; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCLA - Test-free; Purdue - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCLA Nov 30, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman UCLA students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at Purdue (3.67).
  • Purdue has a higher acceptance rate (49.9%) than UCLA (9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 50.4% at UCLA vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

UCLA vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCLA 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 Los Angeles's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than Purdue University Main Campus's (68%).
  • Graduates from University of California Los Angeles earn a median of about $9,500 more per year than Purdue graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,700 vs. $61,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Los Angeles graduates have a $5,200 lower median loan debt than Purdue graduates ($16,300 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, UCLA graduates have an estimated $54 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Purdue graduates ($168 vs. $222).
  • More UCLA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purdue students, three years after graduation. (78% 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.