UCSB vs. Purdue

Deciding between University of California Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara
Purdue University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCSB Santa Barbara, CA
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • UCSB Midsize Suburban
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UCSB 26,133
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • UCSB Public 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCSB #112
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCSB -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • UCSB Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCSB
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCSB $16,414
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCSB $50,614
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • UCSB $20,279
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • UCSB $17,658
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCSB $24,695
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCSB 53%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCSB 110,259
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • UCSB 36,347
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCSB 33%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • UCSB 13.8%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCSB 1350
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCSB 31
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCSB 3.82
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCSB A-
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCSB Exceptional
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCSB High
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • UCSB 28/34
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • UCSB 1230/1460
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCSB Test-free
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • UCSB Nov 30, 2026
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCSB 17:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCSB
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCSB 80%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCSB $59,000
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCSB 73%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCSB $16,451
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCSB $170
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCSB 43%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • UCSB 57%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCSB Very High
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • UCSB No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • UCSB 35%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • UCSB 19%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • UCSB 2%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCSB 26%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • UCSB 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCSB 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCSB 8%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • UCSB 7%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCSB 3%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCSB 82%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCSB 9%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara, 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 UCSB based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 26,133 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Santa Barbara is located in Santa Barbara, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • University of California Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara 17:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

UCSB vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSB 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 UCSB ($13,722 vs. $17,658).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 36.8% lower than at University of California Santa Barbara ($12,820 vs. $20,279).
  • University of California Santa Barbara is 64.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $6,422 more per year; $16,414.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 75.8% higher at UCSB than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $21,820 more per year; $50,614.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Santa Barbara than at Purdue University Main Campus (53% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Barbara students is 118.7% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($24,695 vs. $11,294).

UCSB vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCSB 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 UCSB.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Santa Barbara (1350) is 10 points higher than at Purdue (1340).
  • Incoming UCSB 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 Santa Barbara 1230/1460; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Barbara 28/34; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSB - Test-free; Purdue - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCSB Nov 30, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman UCSB 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 UCSB (33%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.8% at UCSB vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

UCSB vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSB 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 Santa Barbara's six-year graduation rate (80%) is higher than Purdue University Main Campus's (68%).
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $2,200 more per year than UCSB graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,200 vs. $59,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Santa Barbara graduates have a $5,049 lower median loan debt than Purdue graduates ($16,451 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, UCSB graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Purdue graduates ($170 vs. $222).
  • More Purdue graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCSB students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 73%)

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.