UConn vs. Purdue

Deciding between University of Connecticut 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 Connecticut
Purdue University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UConn Storrs, CT
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • UConn Town Fringe
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UConn 28,306
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • UConn Public 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UConn #106
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UConn -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • UConn Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UConn
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UConn $21,044
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UConn $43,712
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • UConn $14,380
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • UConn $25,310
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UConn $16,503
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UConn 81%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UConn 55,479
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • UConn 29,065
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UConn 52.4%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • UConn 15.4%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UConn 1330
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • UConn 30
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • UConn 3.74
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UConn A-
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UConn Very High
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UConn Low
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • UConn 28/33
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • UConn 1210/1440
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UConn Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • UConn Jan 15, 2027
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UConn 17:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UConn
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UConn 83%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UConn $62,000
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UConn 78%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UConn $21,500
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UConn $222
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UConn 45%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • UConn 55%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UConn Medium
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • UConn No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • UConn 61%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • UConn 10%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • UConn 5%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • UConn 9%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • UConn 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UConn 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UConn 3%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • UConn 5%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UConn 7%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UConn 53%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UConn 42%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT 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 UConn based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 28,306 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Connecticut is located in Storrs, CT (Town Fringe setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • University of Connecticut 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 Connecticut 17:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

UConn vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UConn 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 UConn ($13,722 vs. $25,310).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 10.8% lower than at University of Connecticut ($12,820 vs. $14,380).
  • University of Connecticut is 110.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $11,052 more per year; $21,044.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 51.8% higher at UConn than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $14,918 more per year; $43,712.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Connecticut than at Purdue University Main Campus (81% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Connecticut students is 46.1% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($16,503 vs. $11,294).

UConn vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UConn 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 UConn.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Purdue University Main Campus (1340) is 10 points higher than at UConn (1330).
  • Incoming UConn students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 30) as students at Purdue (30).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Connecticut 1210/1440; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Connecticut 28/33; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UConn - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UConn Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UConn students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at Purdue (3.67).
  • UConn has a higher acceptance rate (52.4%) than Purdue (49.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.4% at UConn vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

UConn vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UConn 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 Connecticut's six-year graduation rate (83%) is higher than Purdue University Main Campus's (68%).
  • Graduates from University of Connecticut earn a median of about $800 more per year than Purdue graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,000 vs. $61,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Purdue University Main Campus and UConn graduates have the same median loan debt ($21,500 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Purdue University Main Campus and UConn graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($222 vs. $222).
  • More UConn 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.