WUSTL vs. Purdue

Deciding between Washington University in St Louis 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.

Washington University in St Louis
Purdue University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • WUSTL St. Louis, MO
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • WUSTL Large Suburban
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • WUSTL 16,357
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • WUSTL Private 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • WUSTL #21
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • WUSTL -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • WUSTL Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • WUSTL
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • WUSTL $65,790
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • WUSTL $65,790
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • WUSTL $21,854
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • WUSTL $22,408
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • WUSTL $66,080
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • WUSTL 49%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • WUSTL 32,754
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • WUSTL 3,951
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • WUSTL 12.1%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • WUSTL 46.7%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • WUSTL 1540
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • WUSTL 34
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • WUSTL 3.92
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • WUSTL A
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • WUSTL Elite
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • WUSTL Very High
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • WUSTL 33/35
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • WUSTL 1500/1570
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • WUSTL Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • WUSTL Jan 4, 2027
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • WUSTL 7:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • WUSTL
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • WUSTL 93%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • WUSTL $82,800
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • WUSTL 88%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • WUSTL $19,900
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • WUSTL $205
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • WUSTL 47%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • WUSTL 53%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • WUSTL High
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • WUSTL No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • WUSTL 55%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • WUSTL 19%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • WUSTL 6%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • WUSTL 7%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • WUSTL 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • WUSTL 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • WUSTL 4%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • WUSTL 8%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • WUSTL 2%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • WUSTL 15%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • WUSTL 73%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Washington University in St Louis in St. Louis, MO 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 WUSTL based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 16,357 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Washington University in St Louis is located in St. Louis, MO (Large Suburban setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Washington University in St Louis is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Purdue University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Washington University in St Louis 7:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

WUSTL vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WUSTL 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 WUSTL ($13,722 vs. $22,408).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 41.3% lower than at Washington University in St Louis ($12,820 vs. $21,854).
  • Washington University in St Louis is 558.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $55,798 more per year; $65,790.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 128.5% higher at WUSTL than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $36,996 more per year; $65,790.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Washington University in St Louis than at Purdue University Main Campus (49% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Washington University in St Louis students is 485.1% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($66,080 vs. $11,294).

WUSTL vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, WUSTL 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 WUSTL .

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Washington University in St Louis (1540) is 200 points higher than at Purdue (1340).
  • Incoming WUSTL 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: Washington University in St Louis 1500/1570; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Washington University in St Louis 33/35; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: WUSTL - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: WUSTL Jan 4, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman WUSTL students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at Purdue (3.67).
  • Purdue has a higher acceptance rate (49.9%) than WUSTL (12.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 46.7% at WUSTL vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

WUSTL vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for WUSTL 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).

  • Washington University in St Louis's six-year graduation rate (93%) is higher than Purdue University Main Campus's (68%).
  • Graduates from Washington University in St Louis earn a median of about $21,600 more per year than Purdue graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,800 vs. $61,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Washington University in St Louis graduates have a $1,600 lower median loan debt than Purdue graduates ($19,900 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, WUSTL graduates have an estimated $17 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Purdue graduates ($205 vs. $222).
  • More WUSTL graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purdue students, three years after graduation. (88% 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.