UCSD vs. Purdue

Deciding between University of California San Diego 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 San Diego
Purdue University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCSD La Jolla, CA
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • UCSD Large City
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UCSD 44,256
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • UCSD Public 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCSD #87
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCSD -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • UCSD Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCSD
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCSD $16,758
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCSD $50,958
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • UCSD $18,970
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • UCSD $14,047
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCSD $25,757
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCSD 59%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCSD 134,450
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • UCSD 35,917
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCSD 26.7%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • UCSD 20.4%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCSD 1380
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCSD 31
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCSD 3.82
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCSD A-
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCSD Exceptional
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCSD High
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • UCSD 28/34
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • UCSD 1270/1480
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCSD Test-free
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • UCSD Nov 30, 2026
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCSD 19:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCSD
    • Biology (23%)
    • Social Sciences (21%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • General Studies (7%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCSD 85%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCSD $67,900
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCSD 82%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCSD $18,500
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCSD $191
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCSD 47%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • UCSD 53%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCSD Very High
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • UCSD No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • UCSD 21%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • UCSD 37%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • UCSD 1%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCSD 16%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • UCSD 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCSD 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCSD 5%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • UCSD 17%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCSD 2%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCSD 78%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCSD 9%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California San Diego in La Jolla, 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 UCSD based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 44,256 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California San Diego is located in La Jolla, CA (Large City setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • University of California San Diego 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 San Diego 19:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

UCSD vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSD 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 UCSD ($13,722 vs. $14,047).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 32.4% lower than at University of California San Diego ($12,820 vs. $18,970).
  • University of California San Diego is 67.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $6,766 more per year; $16,758.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 77% higher at UCSD than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $22,164 more per year; $50,958.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California San Diego than at Purdue University Main Campus (59% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California San Diego students is 128.1% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($25,757 vs. $11,294).

UCSD vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCSD 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 UCSD.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California San Diego (1380) is 40 points higher than at Purdue (1340).
  • Incoming UCSD students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at Purdue).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California San Diego 1270/1480; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California San Diego 28/34; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSD - Test-free; Purdue - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCSD Nov 30, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman UCSD students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.82) than students at Purdue (3.67).
  • Purdue has a higher acceptance rate (49.9%) than UCSD (26.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.4% at UCSD vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

UCSD vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSD 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 San Diego's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Purdue University Main Campus's (68%).
  • Graduates from University of California San Diego earn a median of about $6,700 more per year than Purdue graduates about ten years after starting college ($67,900 vs. $61,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California San Diego graduates have a $3,000 lower median loan debt than Purdue graduates ($18,500 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, UCSD graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Purdue graduates ($191 vs. $222).
  • More UCSD 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.