UVA vs. Purdue

Deciding between University of Virginia Main Campus 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 Virginia Main Campus
Purdue University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UVA Charlottesville, VA
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • UVA Small City
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UVA 26,409
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • UVA Public 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UVA #58
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UVA -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • UVA Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UVA
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UVA $21,803
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UVA $59,512
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • UVA $14,800
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • UVA $18,427
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UVA $28,715
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UVA 39%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UVA 58,951
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • UVA 9,909
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UVA 16.8%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • UVA 40%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UVA 1480
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • UVA 33
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • UVA 3.85
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UVA A
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UVA Elite
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UVA Very High
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • UVA 32/35
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • UVA 1410/1540
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UVA Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • UVA
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UVA 15:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UVA
    • Social Sciences (23%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UVA 94%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UVA $77,200
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UVA 86%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UVA $19,500
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UVA $201
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UVA 45%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • UVA 55%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UVA Medium
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • UVA No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • UVA 60%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • UVA 13%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • UVA 6%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • UVA 6%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • UVA 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UVA 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UVA 5%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • UVA 5%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UVA 6%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UVA 66%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UVA 29%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Virginia Main Campus in Charlottesville, VA 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 UVA based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 26,409 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Virginia Main Campus is located in Charlottesville, VA (Small City setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • University of Virginia Main Campus 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 Virginia Main Campus 15:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

UVA vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UVA 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 UVA ($13,722 vs. $18,427).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 13.4% lower than at University of Virginia Main Campus ($12,820 vs. $14,800).
  • University of Virginia Main Campus is 118.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $11,811 more per year; $21,803.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 106.7% higher at UVA than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $30,718 more per year; $59,512.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Purdue University Main Campus than at University of Virginia Main Campus (40% vs. 39%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Virginia Main Campus students is 154.3% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($28,715 vs. $11,294).

UVA vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UVA 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 UVA.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Virginia Main Campus (1480) is 140 points higher than at Purdue (1340).
  • Incoming UVA students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 30 at Purdue).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Virginia Main Campus 1410/1540; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Virginia Main Campus 32/35; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UVA - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Accepted freshman UVA students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.85) than students at Purdue (3.67).
  • Purdue has a higher acceptance rate (49.9%) than UVA (16.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 40% at UVA vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

UVA vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UVA 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 Virginia Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (94%) is higher than Purdue University Main Campus's (68%).
  • Graduates from University of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of about $16,000 more per year than Purdue graduates about ten years after starting college ($77,200 vs. $61,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Virginia Main Campus graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Purdue graduates ($19,500 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, UVA graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Purdue graduates ($201 vs. $222).
  • More UVA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purdue students, three years after graduation. (86% 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.