WPI vs. Purdue

Deciding between Worcester Polytechnic Institute 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.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Purdue University Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • WPI Worcester, MA
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • WPI Midsize City
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • WPI 7,584
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • WPI Private 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • WPI
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • WPI -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • WPI Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • WPI
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • WPI $60,965
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • WPI $60,965
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • WPI $18,386
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • WPI $47,372
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • WPI $31,545
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • WPI 100%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • WPI 12,559
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • WPI 7,555
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • WPI 60.2%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • WPI 18.1%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • WPI
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • WPI
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • WPI 3.9
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • WPI A
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • WPI Unavailable
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • WPI Low
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • WPI
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • WPI
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • WPI Test-free
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • WPI Feb 15, 2027
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • WPI 13:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • WPI
    • Engineering (61%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
    • General Studies (5%)
    • Business (4%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • WPI 76%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • WPI $82,700
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • WPI 92%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • WPI $27,000
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • WPI $279
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • WPI 68%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • WPI 32%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • WPI Medium
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • WPI No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • WPI 63%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • WPI 5%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • WPI 2%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • WPI 8%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • WPI 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • WPI 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • WPI 3%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • WPI 12%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • WPI 6%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • WPI 48%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • WPI 48%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, MA 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 WPI based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 7,584 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Worcester Polytechnic Institute is located in Worcester, MA (Midsize City setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Purdue University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Worcester Polytechnic Institute 13:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

WPI vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WPI 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 WPI ($13,722 vs. $47,372).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 30.3% lower than at Worcester Polytechnic Institute ($12,820 vs. $18,386).
  • Worcester Polytechnic Institute is 510.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $50,973 more per year; $60,965.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 111.7% higher at WPI than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $32,171 more per year; $60,965.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Worcester Polytechnic Institute than at Purdue University Main Campus (100% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Worcester Polytechnic Institute students is 179.3% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($31,545 vs. $11,294).

WPI vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, WPI 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 WPI.

  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsPurdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsPurdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: WPI - Test-free; Purdue - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: WPI Feb 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman WPI students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Purdue (3.67).
  • WPI has a higher acceptance rate (60.2%) than Purdue (49.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.1% at WPI vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

WPI vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for WPI 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).

  • Worcester Polytechnic Institute's six-year graduation rate (76%) is higher than Purdue University Main Campus's (68%).
  • Graduates from Worcester Polytechnic Institute earn a median of about $21,500 more per year than Purdue graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,700 vs. $61,200), 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 WPI graduates ($21,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Purdue graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WPI graduates ($222 vs. $279).
  • More WPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purdue students, three years after graduation. (92% 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.