UM-Dearborn vs. Purdue

Deciding between University of Michigan Dearborn 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 Michigan Dearborn
Purdue University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UM-Dearborn Dearborn, MI
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • UM-Dearborn Small City
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UM-Dearborn 8,104
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • UM-Dearborn Public 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UM-Dearborn #451
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UM-Dearborn -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • UM-Dearborn Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UM-Dearborn
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UM-Dearborn $15,640
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UM-Dearborn $32,896
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • UM-Dearborn $11,241
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • UM-Dearborn $11,521
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UM-Dearborn $12,124
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UM-Dearborn 99%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UM-Dearborn 14,105
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • UM-Dearborn 7,844
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UM-Dearborn 55.6%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • UM-Dearborn 14.2%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UM-Dearborn 1120
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • UM-Dearborn 26
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • UM-Dearborn 3.66
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UM-Dearborn A-
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UM-Dearborn Average
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UM-Dearborn Low
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • UM-Dearborn 24/28
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • UM-Dearborn 990/1255
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UM-Dearborn Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • UM-Dearborn Apr 1, 2027
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UM-Dearborn 16:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UM-Dearborn
    • Business (22%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Biology (8%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UM-Dearborn 49%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UM-Dearborn $52,800
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UM-Dearborn 46%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UM-Dearborn $25,750
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UM-Dearborn $266
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UM-Dearborn 54%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • UM-Dearborn 46%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UM-Dearborn Medium
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • UM-Dearborn No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • UM-Dearborn 69%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • UM-Dearborn 7%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • UM-Dearborn 9%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • UM-Dearborn 6%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • UM-Dearborn 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UM-Dearborn 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UM-Dearborn 3%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • UM-Dearborn 2%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UM-Dearborn 3%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UM-Dearborn 96%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UM-Dearborn 2%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Michigan Dearborn in Dearborn, MI 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 UM-Dearborn based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 8,104 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Michigan Dearborn is located in Dearborn, MI (Small City setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • University of Michigan Dearborn 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 Michigan Dearborn 16:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

UM-Dearborn vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UM-Dearborn 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 University of Michigan Dearborn than Purdue ($11,521 vs. $13,722).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Michigan Dearborn are 12.3% lower than at Purdue University Main Campus ($11,241 vs. $12,820).
  • University of Michigan Dearborn is 56.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $5,648 more per year; $15,640.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 14.2% higher at UM-Dearborn than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $4,102 more per year; $32,896.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Michigan Dearborn than at Purdue University Main Campus (99% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Michigan Dearborn students is 7.3% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($12,124 vs. $11,294).

UM-Dearborn vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UM-Dearborn 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 UM-Dearborn.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Purdue University Main Campus (1340) is 220 points higher than at UM-Dearborn (1120).
  • Incoming Purdue students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 26 at UM-Dearborn).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Michigan Dearborn 990/1255; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Michigan Dearborn 24/28; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UM-Dearborn - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UM-Dearborn Apr 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Purdue students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at UM-Dearborn (3.66).
  • UM-Dearborn has a higher acceptance rate (55.6%) than Purdue (49.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.2% at UM-Dearborn vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

UM-Dearborn vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UM-Dearborn 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 Michigan Dearborn's (49%).
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $8,400 more per year than UM-Dearborn graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,200 vs. $52,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Purdue University Main Campus graduates have a $4,250 lower median loan debt than UM-Dearborn graduates ($21,500 vs. $25,750).
  • Among borrowers, Purdue graduates have an estimated $44 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UM-Dearborn graduates ($222 vs. $266).
  • More Purdue graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UM-Dearborn students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 46%)

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.