Wheaton College vs. Purdue

Deciding between Wheaton College 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.

Wheaton College
Purdue University Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Wheaton College Wheaton, IL
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • Wheaton College Large Suburban
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Wheaton College 2,874
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • Wheaton College Private 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Wheaton College #146
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Wheaton College Undenominational
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • Wheaton College Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Wheaton College
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Wheaton College $45,546
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Wheaton College $45,546
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • Wheaton College $13,010
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • Wheaton College $31,356
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Wheaton College $27,987
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Wheaton College 98%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Wheaton College 2,040
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • Wheaton College 1,783
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Wheaton College 87.4%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Wheaton College 29.9%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Wheaton College 1370
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • Wheaton College 30
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Wheaton College 3.75
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Wheaton College A-
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Wheaton College Very High
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Wheaton College
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • Wheaton College 28/32
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • Wheaton College 1260/1470
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Wheaton College Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Wheaton College Aug 1, 2027
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Wheaton College 10:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Wheaton College
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (9%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Business (8%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Wheaton College 87%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Wheaton College $54,300
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Wheaton College 90%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Wheaton College $22,500
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Wheaton College $232
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Wheaton College 46%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • Wheaton College 54%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Wheaton College Low
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • Wheaton College No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • Wheaton College 76%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • Wheaton College 9%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • Wheaton College 3%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Wheaton College 6%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • Wheaton College 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Wheaton College 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Wheaton College 5%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • Wheaton College 3%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Wheaton College 0%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Wheaton College 25%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Wheaton College 68%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL 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 Wheaton College based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 2,874 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Wheaton College vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wheaton College 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 Wheaton College ($13,722 vs. $31,356).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 1.5% lower than at Wheaton College ($12,820 vs. $13,010).
  • Wheaton College is 355.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $35,554 more per year; $45,546.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 58.2% higher at Wheaton College than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $16,752 more per year; $45,546.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wheaton College than at Purdue University Main Campus (98% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wheaton College students is 147.8% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($27,987 vs. $11,294).

Wheaton College vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Wheaton College 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 Wheaton College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Wheaton College (1370) is 30 points higher than at Purdue (1340).
  • Incoming Wheaton College 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: Wheaton College 1260/1470; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wheaton College 28/32; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wheaton College - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Wheaton College Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Wheaton College students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Purdue (3.67).
  • Wheaton College has a higher acceptance rate (87.4%) than Purdue (49.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 29.9% at Wheaton College vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

Wheaton College vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wheaton College 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).

  • Wheaton College's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Purdue University Main Campus's (68%).
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $6,900 more per year than Wheaton College graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,200 vs. $54,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Purdue University Main Campus graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Wheaton College graduates ($21,500 vs. $22,500).
  • Among borrowers, Purdue graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wheaton College graduates ($222 vs. $232).
  • More Wheaton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purdue students, three years after graduation. (90% 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.