UCSC vs. Purdue

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

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCSC Santa Cruz, CA
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • UCSC Small City
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UCSC 19,938
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • UCSC Public 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCSC #255
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCSC -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • UCSC Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCSC
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCSC $16,005
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCSC $50,205
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • UCSC $19,948
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • UCSC $18,059
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCSC $22,774
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCSC 57%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCSC 71,722
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • UCSC 47,186
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCSC 65.8%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • UCSC 9.3%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCSC 1260
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCSC 29
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCSC 3.63
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCSC A-
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCSC Very High
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCSC Low
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • UCSC 25/33
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • UCSC 1160/1360
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCSC Test-free
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • UCSC Nov 30, 2026
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCSC 22:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCSC
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Business (9%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCSC 73%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCSC $50,400
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCSC 74%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCSC $19,959
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCSC $206
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCSC 48%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • UCSC 52%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCSC Very High
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • UCSC No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • UCSC 33%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • UCSC 21%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • UCSC 2%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCSC 31%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • UCSC 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCSC 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCSC 7%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • UCSC 4%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCSC 2%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCSC 92%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCSC 5%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, 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 UCSC based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 19,938 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

UCSC vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSC 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 UCSC ($13,722 vs. $18,059).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 35.7% lower than at University of California Santa Cruz ($12,820 vs. $19,948).
  • University of California Santa Cruz is 60.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $6,013 more per year; $16,005.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 74.4% higher at UCSC than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $21,411 more per year; $50,205.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Santa Cruz than at Purdue University Main Campus (57% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students is 101.6% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($22,774 vs. $11,294).

UCSC vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCSC 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 UCSC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Purdue University Main Campus (1340) is 80 points higher than at UCSC (1260).
  • Incoming Purdue students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 29 at UCSC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 1160/1360; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 25/33; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSC - Test-free; Purdue - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCSC Nov 30, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman Purdue students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at UCSC (3.63).
  • UCSC has a higher acceptance rate (65.8%) than Purdue (49.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.3% at UCSC vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

UCSC vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSC 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 Cruz's six-year graduation rate (73%) is higher than Purdue University Main Campus's (68%).
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $10,800 more per year than UCSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,200 vs. $50,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Santa Cruz graduates have a $1,541 lower median loan debt than Purdue graduates ($19,959 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, UCSC graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Purdue graduates ($206 vs. $222).
  • More Purdue graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCSC students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 74%)

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.