Notre Dame vs. Purdue

Deciding between University of Notre Dame 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 Notre Dame
Purdue University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • Notre Dame Rural Fringe
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Notre Dame 13,042
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • Notre Dame Private 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Notre Dame #27
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Notre Dame Roman Catholic
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • Notre Dame Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Notre Dame
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Notre Dame $65,025
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Notre Dame $65,025
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • Notre Dame $17,900
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • Notre Dame $29,300
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Notre Dame $53,971
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Notre Dame 61%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Notre Dame 29,942
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • Notre Dame 3,374
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Notre Dame 11.3%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Notre Dame 61.7%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Notre Dame 1510
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • Notre Dame 34
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Notre Dame 3.91
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Notre Dame A
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Notre Dame Elite
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Notre Dame Very High
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • Notre Dame 33/35
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • Notre Dame 1455/1560
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Notre Dame Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Notre Dame Jan 1, 2027
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Notre Dame 8:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Notre Dame
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Notre Dame 96%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Notre Dame $89,800
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Notre Dame 92%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Notre Dame $21,500
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Notre Dame $222
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Notre Dame 52%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • Notre Dame 48%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Notre Dame Medium
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • Notre Dame No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • Notre Dame 69%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • Notre Dame 6%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • Notre Dame 4%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Notre Dame 11%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • Notre Dame 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Notre Dame 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Notre Dame 4%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • Notre Dame 6%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Notre Dame 1%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Notre Dame 8%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Notre Dame 82%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, IN 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 Notre Dame based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 13,042 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Notre Dame is located in Notre Dame, IN (Rural Fringe setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • University of Notre Dame is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Purdue University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Notre Dame 8:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

Notre Dame vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Notre Dame 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 Notre Dame ($13,722 vs. $29,300).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 28.4% lower than at University of Notre Dame ($12,820 vs. $17,900).
  • University of Notre Dame is 550.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $55,033 more per year; $65,025.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 125.8% higher at Notre Dame than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $36,231 more per year; $65,025.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Notre Dame than at Purdue University Main Campus (61% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Notre Dame students is 377.9% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($53,971 vs. $11,294).

Notre Dame vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Notre Dame 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 Notre Dame .

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Notre Dame (1510) is 170 points higher than at Purdue (1340).
  • Incoming Notre Dame students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at Purdue).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Notre Dame 1455/1560; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Notre Dame 33/35; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Notre Dame - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Notre Dame Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Notre Dame students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Purdue (3.67).
  • Purdue has a higher acceptance rate (49.9%) than Notre Dame (11.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 61.7% at Notre Dame vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

Notre Dame vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Notre Dame 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 Notre Dame's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Purdue University Main Campus's (68%).
  • Graduates from University of Notre Dame earn a median of about $28,600 more per year than Purdue graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,800 vs. $61,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Purdue University Main Campus and Notre Dame graduates have the same median loan debt ($21,500 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Purdue University Main Campus and Notre Dame graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($222 vs. $222).
  • More Notre Dame graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purdue students, three years after graduation. (92% 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.