Vanderbilt vs. Purdue

Deciding between Vanderbilt 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.

Vanderbilt University
Purdue University Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Vanderbilt Nashville, TN
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • Vanderbilt Large City
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Vanderbilt 13,575
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • Vanderbilt Private 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Vanderbilt #16
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Vanderbilt -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • Vanderbilt Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Vanderbilt
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Vanderbilt $67,498
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Vanderbilt $67,498
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • Vanderbilt $22,054
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • Vanderbilt $25,186
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Vanderbilt $64,404
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Vanderbilt 67%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Vanderbilt 45,409
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • Vanderbilt 2,662
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Vanderbilt 5.9%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Vanderbilt 61.2%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Vanderbilt 1540
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • Vanderbilt 34
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Vanderbilt 3.89
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Vanderbilt A
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Vanderbilt Elite
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Vanderbilt Extreme
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • Vanderbilt 34/35
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • Vanderbilt 1500/1570
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Vanderbilt Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Vanderbilt Jan 1, 2027
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Vanderbilt 8:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Vanderbilt
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Engineering (13%)
    • General Studies (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (6%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Vanderbilt 92%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Vanderbilt $83,100
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Vanderbilt 83%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Vanderbilt $14,000
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Vanderbilt $144
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Vanderbilt 44%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • Vanderbilt 56%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Vanderbilt High
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • Vanderbilt No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • Vanderbilt 55%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • Vanderbilt 12%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • Vanderbilt 8%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Vanderbilt 8%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • Vanderbilt 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Vanderbilt 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Vanderbilt 5%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • Vanderbilt 7%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Vanderbilt 5%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Vanderbilt 13%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Vanderbilt 73%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN 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 Vanderbilt based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 13,575 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Vanderbilt University is located in Nashville, TN (Large City setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Vanderbilt 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: Vanderbilt University 8:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

Vanderbilt vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Vanderbilt 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 Vanderbilt ($13,722 vs. $25,186).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 41.9% lower than at Vanderbilt University ($12,820 vs. $22,054).
  • Vanderbilt University is 575.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $57,506 more per year; $67,498.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 134.4% higher at Vanderbilt than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $38,704 more per year; $67,498.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Vanderbilt University than at Purdue University Main Campus (67% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Vanderbilt University students is 470.2% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($64,404 vs. $11,294).

Vanderbilt vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Vanderbilt 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 Vanderbilt.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Vanderbilt University (1540) is 200 points higher than at Purdue (1340).
  • Incoming Vanderbilt 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: Vanderbilt University 1500/1570; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Vanderbilt University 34/35; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Vanderbilt - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Vanderbilt Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Vanderbilt students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at Purdue (3.67).
  • Purdue has a higher acceptance rate (49.9%) than Vanderbilt (5.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 61.2% at Vanderbilt vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

Vanderbilt vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Vanderbilt 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).

  • Vanderbilt University's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than Purdue University Main Campus's (68%).
  • Graduates from Vanderbilt University earn a median of about $21,900 more per year than Purdue graduates about ten years after starting college ($83,100 vs. $61,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Vanderbilt University graduates have a $7,500 lower median loan debt than Purdue graduates ($14,000 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, Vanderbilt graduates have an estimated $78 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Purdue graduates ($144 vs. $222).
  • More Vanderbilt graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purdue students, three years after graduation. (83% 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.