UW-Seattle vs. Purdue

Deciding between University of Washington Seattle 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 Washington Seattle Campus
Purdue University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UW-Seattle Seattle, WA
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • UW-Seattle Large City
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UW-Seattle 56,997
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • UW-Seattle Public 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UW-Seattle #90
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UW-Seattle -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • UW-Seattle Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UW-Seattle
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UW-Seattle $12,973
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UW-Seattle $43,209
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • UW-Seattle $18,405
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • UW-Seattle $11,784
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UW-Seattle $16,156
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UW-Seattle 43%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UW-Seattle 69,166
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • UW-Seattle 27,076
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UW-Seattle 39.1%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • UW-Seattle 26.6%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UW-Seattle 1330
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • UW-Seattle 30
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • UW-Seattle 3.82
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UW-Seattle A-
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UW-Seattle Very High
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UW-Seattle High
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • UW-Seattle 27/33
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • UW-Seattle 1200/1453
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UW-Seattle Test-free
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • UW-Seattle Nov 16, 2026
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UW-Seattle 20:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UW-Seattle
    • Social Sciences (19%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UW-Seattle 80%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UW-Seattle $65,800
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UW-Seattle 76%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UW-Seattle $15,000
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UW-Seattle $155
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UW-Seattle 52%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • UW-Seattle 48%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UW-Seattle Very High
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • UW-Seattle No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • UW-Seattle 42%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • UW-Seattle 24%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • UW-Seattle 3%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • UW-Seattle 7%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • UW-Seattle 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UW-Seattle 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UW-Seattle 7%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • UW-Seattle 15%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UW-Seattle 1%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UW-Seattle 64%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UW-Seattle 24%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Washington Seattle Campus in Seattle, WA 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 UW-Seattle based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 56,997 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Washington Seattle Campus is located in Seattle, WA (Large City setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • University of Washington Seattle 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 Washington Seattle Campus 20:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

UW-Seattle vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UW-Seattle 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 Washington Seattle Campus than Purdue ($11,784 vs. $13,722).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 30.3% lower than at University of Washington Seattle Campus ($12,820 vs. $18,405).
  • University of Washington Seattle Campus is 29.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $2,981 more per year; $12,973.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 50.1% higher at UW-Seattle than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $14,415 more per year; $43,209.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Washington Seattle Campus than at Purdue University Main Campus (43% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Washington Seattle Campus students is 43% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($16,156 vs. $11,294).

UW-Seattle vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UW-Seattle 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 UW-Seattle.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Purdue University Main Campus (1340) is 10 points higher than at UW-Seattle (1330).
  • Incoming UW-Seattle students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 30) as students at Purdue (30).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Washington Seattle Campus 1200/1453; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Washington Seattle Campus 27/33; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UW-Seattle - Test-free; Purdue - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UW-Seattle Nov 16, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman UW-Seattle students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.82) than students at Purdue (3.67).
  • Purdue has a higher acceptance rate (49.9%) than UW-Seattle (39.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 26.6% at UW-Seattle vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

UW-Seattle vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UW-Seattle 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 Washington Seattle Campus's six-year graduation rate (80%) is higher than Purdue University Main Campus's (68%).
  • Graduates from University of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of about $4,600 more per year than Purdue graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,800 vs. $61,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Washington Seattle Campus graduates have a $6,500 lower median loan debt than Purdue graduates ($15,000 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, UW-Seattle graduates have an estimated $67 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Purdue graduates ($155 vs. $222).
  • More Purdue graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UW-Seattle students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 76%)

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.