UNC Chapel Hill vs. Purdue

Deciding between University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 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 North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Purdue University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UNC Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • UNC Chapel Hill Small City
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UNC Chapel Hill 32,438
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • UNC Chapel Hill Public 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UNC Chapel Hill #59
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UNC Chapel Hill -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • UNC Chapel Hill Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UNC Chapel Hill
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UNC Chapel Hill $8,994
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UNC Chapel Hill $41,203
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • UNC Chapel Hill $13,804
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • UNC Chapel Hill $10,154
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UNC Chapel Hill $17,814
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UNC Chapel Hill 38%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UNC Chapel Hill 66,535
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • UNC Chapel Hill 10,209
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UNC Chapel Hill 15.3%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • UNC Chapel Hill 45.5%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UNC Chapel Hill 1460
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • UNC Chapel Hill 31
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • UNC Chapel Hill 3.83
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UNC Chapel Hill A-
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UNC Chapel Hill Exceptional
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UNC Chapel Hill Very High
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • UNC Chapel Hill 28/34
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • UNC Chapel Hill 1390/1530
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UNC Chapel Hill Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • UNC Chapel Hill Jan 15, 2027
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UNC Chapel Hill 15:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UNC Chapel Hill
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Communication (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UNC Chapel Hill 89%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UNC Chapel Hill $66,100
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UNC Chapel Hill 82%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UNC Chapel Hill $16,479
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UNC Chapel Hill $170
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UNC Chapel Hill 40%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • UNC Chapel Hill 60%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UNC Chapel Hill Medium
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • UNC Chapel Hill No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • UNC Chapel Hill 64%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • UNC Chapel Hill 10%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • UNC Chapel Hill 8%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • UNC Chapel Hill 8%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • UNC Chapel Hill 1%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UNC Chapel Hill 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UNC Chapel Hill 4%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • UNC Chapel Hill 2%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UNC Chapel Hill 3%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UNC Chapel Hill 84%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UNC Chapel Hill 11%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Chapel Hill, NC 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 UNC Chapel Hill based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 32,438 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is located in Chapel Hill, NC (Small City setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 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 North Carolina at Chapel Hill 15:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

UNC Chapel Hill vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UNC Chapel Hill 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 North Carolina at Chapel Hill than Purdue ($10,154 vs. $13,722).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 7.1% lower than at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ($12,820 vs. $13,804).
  • Purdue University Main Campus is 11.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than UNC Chapel Hill (about $998 more per year; $9,992.00 vs. $8,994.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 43.1% higher at UNC Chapel Hill than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $12,409 more per year; $41,203.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Purdue University Main Campus than at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (40% vs. 38%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill students is 57.7% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($17,814 vs. $11,294).

UNC Chapel Hill vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UNC Chapel Hill 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 UNC Chapel Hill.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1460) is 120 points higher than at Purdue (1340).
  • Incoming UNC Chapel Hill students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at Purdue).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 1390/1530; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 28/34; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UNC Chapel Hill - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UNC Chapel Hill Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UNC Chapel Hill students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at Purdue (3.67).
  • Purdue has a higher acceptance rate (49.9%) than UNC Chapel Hill (15.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 45.5% at UNC Chapel Hill vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

UNC Chapel Hill vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UNC Chapel Hill 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 North Carolina at Chapel Hill's six-year graduation rate (89%) is higher than Purdue University Main Campus's (68%).
  • Graduates from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill earn a median of about $4,900 more per year than Purdue graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,100 vs. $61,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduates have a $5,021 lower median loan debt than Purdue graduates ($16,479 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, UNC Chapel Hill graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Purdue graduates ($170 vs. $222).
  • More UNC Chapel Hill graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purdue students, three years after graduation. (82% 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.