Louisville vs. Purdue

Deciding between University of Louisville 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 Louisville
Purdue University Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Louisville Louisville, KY
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • Louisville Large City
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Louisville 23,065
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • Louisville Public 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Louisville #408
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Louisville -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • Louisville Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Louisville
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Louisville $13,136
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Louisville $29,482
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • Louisville $12,576
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • Louisville $19,785
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Louisville $14,677
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Louisville 98%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Louisville 15,668
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • Louisville 12,442
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Louisville 79.4%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Louisville 25.1%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Louisville 1160
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • Louisville 23
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Louisville 3.64
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Louisville A-
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Louisville Average
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Louisville
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • Louisville 19/27
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • Louisville 1040/1270
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Louisville Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Louisville Feb 15, 2027
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Louisville 14:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Louisville
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Louisville 51%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Louisville $45,200
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Louisville 58%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Louisville $19,656
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Louisville $203
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Louisville 44%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • Louisville 56%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Louisville Low
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • Louisville No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • Louisville 76%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • Louisville 3%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • Louisville 11%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Louisville 4%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • Louisville 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Louisville 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Louisville 4%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • Louisville 1%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Louisville 0%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Louisville 71%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Louisville 28%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Louisville in Louisville, KY 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 Louisville based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 23,065 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Louisville is located in Louisville, KY (Large City setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • University of Louisville 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 Louisville 14:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

Louisville vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Louisville 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 Louisville ($13,722 vs. $19,785).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Louisville are 1.9% lower than at Purdue University Main Campus ($12,576 vs. $12,820).
  • University of Louisville is 31.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $3,144 more per year; $13,136.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.4% higher at Louisville than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $688 more per year; $29,482.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Louisville than at Purdue University Main Campus (98% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Louisville students is 30% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($14,677 vs. $11,294).

Louisville vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Louisville 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 Louisville.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Purdue University Main Campus (1340) is 180 points higher than at Louisville (1160).
  • Incoming Purdue students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 23 at Louisville).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Louisville 1040/1270; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Louisville 19/27; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Louisville - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Louisville Feb 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Purdue students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at Louisville (3.64).
  • Louisville has a higher acceptance rate (79.4%) than Purdue (49.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 25.1% at Louisville vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

Louisville vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Louisville 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).

  • Purdue University Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than University of Louisville's (51%).
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $16,000 more per year than Louisville graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,200 vs. $45,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Louisville graduates have a $1,844 lower median loan debt than Purdue graduates ($19,656 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, Louisville graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Purdue graduates ($203 vs. $222).
  • More Purdue graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Louisville students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 58%)

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.