Illinois vs. Purdue

Deciding between University of Illinois Urbana Champaign 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 Illinois Urbana Champaign
Purdue University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Illinois Champaign, IL
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • Illinois Small City
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Illinois 59,238
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • Illinois Public 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Illinois #117
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Illinois -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • Illinois Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Illinois
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Illinois $16,004
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Illinois $35,124
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • Illinois $14,522
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • Illinois $13,973
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Illinois $19,299
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Illinois 52%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Illinois 73,742
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • Illinois 31,247
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Illinois 42.4%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Illinois 28.8%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Illinois 1420
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • Illinois 32
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Illinois 3.79
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Illinois A-
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Illinois Exceptional
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Illinois Low
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • Illinois 30/34
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • Illinois 1310/1520
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Illinois Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Illinois Jan 5, 2027
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Illinois 20:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Illinois
    • Engineering (16%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Illinois 82%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Illinois $66,500
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Illinois 78%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Illinois $20,500
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Illinois $211
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Illinois 54%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • Illinois 46%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Illinois High
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • Illinois No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • Illinois 48%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • Illinois 17%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • Illinois 6%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Illinois 10%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • Illinois 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Illinois 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Illinois 3%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • Illinois 16%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Illinois 1%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Illinois 71%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Illinois 14%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Illinois Urbana Champaign in Champaign, IL with Purdue University Main Campus in West Lafayette, IN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is larger than Purdue based on total student enrollment (59,238 students vs. 58,658 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is located in Champaign, IL (Small City setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • University of Illinois Urbana Champaign 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 Illinois Urbana Champaign 20:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

Illinois vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Illinois 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 Illinois ($13,722 vs. $13,973).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 11.7% lower than at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign ($12,820 vs. $14,522).
  • University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is 60.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $6,012 more per year; $16,004.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 22% higher at Illinois than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $6,330 more per year; $35,124.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign than at Purdue University Main Campus (52% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Illinois Urbana Champaign students is 70.9% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($19,299 vs. $11,294).

Illinois vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Illinois 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 Illinois.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (1420) is 80 points higher than at Purdue (1340).
  • Incoming Illinois students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at Purdue).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Urbana Champaign 1310/1520; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Urbana Champaign 30/34; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Illinois - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Illinois Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Illinois students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at Purdue (3.67).
  • Purdue has a higher acceptance rate (49.9%) than Illinois (42.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.8% at Illinois vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

Illinois vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Illinois 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 Illinois Urbana Champaign's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than Purdue University Main Campus's (68%).
  • Graduates from University of Illinois Urbana Champaign earn a median of about $5,300 more per year than Purdue graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,500 vs. $61,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Purdue graduates ($20,500 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, Illinois graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Purdue graduates ($211 vs. $222).
  • More Illinois 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.