Wisconsin vs. Purdue

Should I go to University of Wisconsin Madison or Purdue University Main Campus? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Wisconsin or Purdue is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

IU Minnesota Michigan Illinois Virginia Tech Ohio State Rose-Hulman UW-Seattle UT Austin Maryland UCSD Iowa
University of Wisconsin Madison vs. Purdue University Main Campus comparison
University of Wisconsin Madison Purdue University Main Campus College 3 College 4
University of Wisconsin Madison Purdue University Main Campus
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Wisconsin Purdue
Location Madison, WI West Lafayette, IN
Setting Midsize City Midsize Suburban
Enrollment 49,605 52,905
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #110 #103
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wisc.edu purdue.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Wisconsin Purdue
Tuition (In State) $9,644 $9,718
Tuition (Out of State) $39,042 $28,520
Room & Board $13,500 $11,650
Avg Net Price $14,216 $12,421
Avg Grant Aid $11,350 $11,126
% Receiving Grant Aid 49% 39%

Admission

Wisconsin Purdue
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 63,505 73,083
Admitted 27,529 36,763
Acceptance Rate 43.3% 50.3%
Enrolled % 28.9% 25.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.88 3.67
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 28/32 27/34
SAT Range 1360/1510 1190/1460
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Wisconsin Purdue
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (15%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Business (10%)
  • Engineering (8%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Engineering (18%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Engineering Technology (8%)
  • Education (6%)
  • Work and Family Studies (6%)

Outcomes

Wisconsin Purdue
Graduation Rate 82% 68%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $64,800 $61,200
Making Student Loan Payments 84% 78%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,250 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $230 $222

Diversity

Wisconsin Purdue
% Men 12% 15%
% Women 14% 10%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 76% 65%
% Black 2% 3%
% Hispanic 5% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 8% 17%
% Unknown Race 0% 2%

Students

Wisconsin Purdue
% In-State 48% 46%
% Out-of-State 44% 44%

Campus

Wisconsin Purdue
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Purdue University Main Campus is larger than than Wisconsin based on total student enrollment (52,905 students vs. 49,605 students)

Wisconsin vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wisconsin or Purdue?

  • Purdue University Main Campus is 0.8% more expensive to attend than Wisconsin for in-state tuition ($9,718.00 vs. $9,644.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 36.9% higher at Wisconsin than Purdue University Main Campus ($39,042.00 vs. $28,520.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Purdue University Main Campus than Wisconsin ($12,421 vs. $14,216)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 15.9% lower than costs at University of Wisconsin Madison ($11,650 vs. $13,500)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Wisconsin Madison than Purdue University Main Campus (49% vs. 39%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Wisconsin Madison students is 2% larger than aid received Purdue University Main Campus ($11,350 vs. $11,126)

Wisconsin vs. Purdue Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Wisconsin or Purdue? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Purdue or Wisconsin .

  • The average SAT score at University of Wisconsin Madison (1300) is 69 points higher than at Purdue (1231)
  • Incoming Wisconsin students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Purdue (28)
  • Accepted freshman Wisconsin students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at Purdue (3.67)
  • Purdue has a higher acceptance rate (50.3%) than Wisconsin (43.3%)

Wisconsin vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Wisconsin or Purdue? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Purdue and Wisconsin.

  • The graduation rate at Wisconsin is higher than Purdue University Main Campus (82% vs. 68%)
  • Graduates from University of Wisconsin Madison earn on average $3,600 more per year than Purdue graduates after ten years. ($64,800 vs. $61,200)
  • Purdue University Main Campus students graduate with a $750 lower median federal student loan debt than Wisconsin graduates. ($21,500 vs. $22,250)
  • Purdue graduates are paying $8 less per month on federal student loans than Wisconsin graduates. ($222 vs. $230)
  • More Wisconsin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purdue students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 78%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/