Valpo vs. Purdue

Deciding between Valparaiso University 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.

Valparaiso University
Purdue University Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Valpo Valparaiso, IN
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • Valpo Large Suburban
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Valpo 2,579
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • Valpo Private 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Valpo #302
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Valpo Lutheran Church in America
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • Valpo Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Valpo
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Valpo $48,450
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Valpo $48,450
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • Valpo $13,618
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • Valpo $21,766
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Valpo $37,548
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Valpo 100%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Valpo 6,199
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • Valpo 5,544
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Valpo 89.4%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Valpo 9.6%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Valpo 1170
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • Valpo 27
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Valpo 3.76
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Valpo A-
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Valpo Difficult
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Valpo
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • Valpo 23/31
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • Valpo 1060/1280
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Valpo Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Valpo
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Valpo 10:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Valpo
    • Business (13%)
    • Health Professions (12%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Education (5%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Valpo 71%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Valpo $54,000
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Valpo 77%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Valpo $27,000
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Valpo $279
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Valpo 42%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • Valpo 58%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Valpo Medium
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • Valpo No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • Valpo 72%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • Valpo 2%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • Valpo 6%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Valpo 8%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • Valpo 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Valpo 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Valpo 3%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • Valpo 7%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Valpo 2%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Valpo 56%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Valpo 42%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, 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 Valpo based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 2,579 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Valparaiso University is located in Valparaiso, IN (Large Suburban setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Valparaiso University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Purdue University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Valparaiso University 10:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

Valpo vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Valpo 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 Valpo ($13,722 vs. $21,766).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 5.9% lower than at Valparaiso University ($12,820 vs. $13,618).
  • Valparaiso University is 384.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $38,458 more per year; $48,450.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 68.3% higher at Valpo than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $19,656 more per year; $48,450.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Valparaiso University than at Purdue University Main Campus (100% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Valparaiso University students is 232.5% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($37,548 vs. $11,294).

Valpo vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Valpo 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 Valpo.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Purdue University Main Campus (1340) is 170 points higher than at Valpo (1170).
  • Incoming Purdue students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 27 at Valpo).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Valparaiso University 1060/1280; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Valparaiso University 23/31; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Valpo - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Accepted freshman Valpo students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at Purdue (3.67).
  • Valpo has a higher acceptance rate (89.4%) than Purdue (49.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.6% at Valpo vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

Valpo vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Valpo 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).

  • Valparaiso University's six-year graduation rate (71%) is higher than Purdue University Main Campus's (68%).
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $7,200 more per year than Valpo graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,200 vs. $54,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Purdue University Main Campus graduates have a $5,500 lower median loan debt than Valpo graduates ($21,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Purdue graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Valpo graduates ($222 vs. $279).
  • More Purdue graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Valpo students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 77%)

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.