UChicago vs. Purdue

Deciding between University of Chicago 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 Chicago
Purdue University Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UChicago Chicago, IL
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • UChicago Large City
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UChicago 18,566
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • UChicago Private 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UChicago #6
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UChicago -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • UChicago Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UChicago
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UChicago $70,662
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UChicago $70,662
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • UChicago $20,109
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • UChicago $28,060
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UChicago $62,300
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UChicago 47%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UChicago 43,612
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • UChicago 1,955
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UChicago 4.5%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • UChicago 88.3%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UChicago 1550
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • UChicago 34
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • UChicago 3.95
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UChicago A
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UChicago Elite
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UChicago Extreme
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • UChicago 34/35
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • UChicago 1510/1580
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UChicago Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • UChicago
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UChicago 5:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UChicago
    • Social Sciences (38%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Mathematics (7%)
    • Physical Sciences (7%)
    • Foreign Languages (6%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UChicago 92%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UChicago $98,500
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UChicago 86%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UChicago $14,500
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UChicago $149
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UChicago 54%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • UChicago 46%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UChicago High
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • UChicago No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • UChicago 45%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • UChicago 17%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • UChicago 5%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • UChicago 8%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • UChicago 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UChicago 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UChicago 3%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • UChicago 11%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UChicago 10%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UChicago 8%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UChicago 68%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Chicago in Chicago, IL 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 UChicago based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 18,566 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • University of Chicago is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Purdue University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Chicago 5:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

UChicago vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UChicago 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 UChicago ($13,722 vs. $28,060).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 36.2% lower than at University of Chicago ($12,820 vs. $20,109).
  • University of Chicago is 607.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $60,670 more per year; $70,662.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 145.4% higher at UChicago than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $41,868 more per year; $70,662.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Chicago than at Purdue University Main Campus (47% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Chicago students is 451.6% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($62,300 vs. $11,294).

UChicago vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UChicago 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 UChicago.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Chicago (1550) is 210 points higher than at Purdue (1340).
  • Incoming UChicago students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at Purdue).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Chicago 1510/1580; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Chicago 34/35; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UChicago - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Accepted freshman UChicago students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at Purdue (3.67).
  • Purdue has a higher acceptance rate (49.9%) than UChicago (4.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 88.3% at UChicago vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

UChicago vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UChicago 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 Chicago's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than Purdue University Main Campus's (68%).
  • Graduates from University of Chicago earn a median of about $37,300 more per year than Purdue graduates about ten years after starting college ($98,500 vs. $61,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Chicago graduates have a $7,000 lower median loan debt than Purdue graduates ($14,500 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, UChicago graduates have an estimated $73 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Purdue graduates ($149 vs. $222).
  • More UChicago graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purdue students, three years after graduation. (86% 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.