Minnesota vs. Purdue

Deciding between University of Minnesota Twin Cities 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 Minnesota Twin Cities
Purdue University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Minnesota Minneapolis, MN
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • Minnesota Large City
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Minnesota 56,666
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • Minnesota Public 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Minnesota #159
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Minnesota -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • Minnesota Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Minnesota
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Minnesota $17,214
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Minnesota $38,362
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • Minnesota $13,856
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • Minnesota $17,209
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Minnesota $12,552
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Minnesota 65%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Minnesota 41,496
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • Minnesota 33,091
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Minnesota 79.7%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Minnesota 22.3%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Minnesota 1400
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • Minnesota 28
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Minnesota 3.75
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Minnesota A-
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Minnesota Very High
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Minnesota
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • Minnesota 26/31
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • Minnesota 1300/1500
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Minnesota Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Minnesota Jan 1, 2027
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Minnesota 17:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Minnesota
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Minnesota 70%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Minnesota $58,200
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Minnesota 74%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Minnesota $20,185
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Minnesota $208
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Minnesota 44%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • Minnesota 56%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Minnesota Medium
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • Minnesota No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • Minnesota 70%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • Minnesota 9%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • Minnesota 4%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Minnesota 4%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • Minnesota 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Minnesota 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Minnesota 4%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • Minnesota 9%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Minnesota 1%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Minnesota 65%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Minnesota 27%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Minnesota Twin Cities in Minneapolis, MN 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 Minnesota based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 56,666 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Minnesota Twin Cities is located in Minneapolis, MN (Large City setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • University of Minnesota Twin Cities 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 Minnesota Twin Cities 17:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

Minnesota vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Minnesota 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 Minnesota ($13,722 vs. $17,209).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 7.5% lower than at University of Minnesota Twin Cities ($12,820 vs. $13,856).
  • University of Minnesota Twin Cities is 72.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $7,222 more per year; $17,214.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 33.2% higher at Minnesota than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $9,568 more per year; $38,362.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Minnesota Twin Cities than at Purdue University Main Campus (65% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Minnesota Twin Cities students is 11.1% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($12,552 vs. $11,294).

Minnesota vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Minnesota 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 Minnesota.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Minnesota Twin Cities (1400) is 60 points higher than at Purdue (1340).
  • Incoming Purdue students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 28 at Minnesota).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Minnesota Twin Cities 1300/1500; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Minnesota Twin Cities 26/31; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Minnesota - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Minnesota Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Minnesota students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Purdue (3.67).
  • Minnesota has a higher acceptance rate (79.7%) than Purdue (49.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.3% at Minnesota vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

Minnesota vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Minnesota 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 Minnesota Twin Cities's six-year graduation rate (70%) is higher than Purdue University Main Campus's (68%).
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $3,000 more per year than Minnesota graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,200 vs. $58,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates have a $1,315 lower median loan debt than Purdue graduates ($20,185 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, Minnesota graduates have an estimated $14 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Purdue graduates ($208 vs. $222).
  • More Purdue graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Minnesota students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 74%)

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.