Baylor vs. Purdue

Should I go to Baylor University or Purdue University Main Campus? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Baylor or Purdue is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

IU Texas A&M TCU SMU Virginia Tech Illinois Rose-Hulman Wisconsin UT Austin Ohio State UCSD Iowa
Baylor University vs. Purdue University Main Campus comparison
Baylor University Purdue University Main Campus College 3 College 4
Baylor University Purdue University Main Campus
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Baylor Purdue
Location Waco, TX West Lafayette, IN
Setting Midsize City Midsize Suburban
Enrollment 20,824 52,905
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #166 #103
Religious Affiliation Baptist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website baylor.edu purdue.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Baylor Purdue
Tuition (In State) $54,844 $9,718
Tuition (Out of State) $54,844 $28,520
Room & Board $14,235 $11,650
Avg Net Price $49,727 $12,421
Avg Grant Aid $20,409 $11,126
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 39%

Admission

Baylor Purdue
Applied 39,735 73,083
Admitted 20,262 36,763
Acceptance Rate 51% 50.3%
Enrolled % 16.4% 25.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.74 3.67
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 27/32 27/34
SAT Range 1210/1400 1190/1460
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Feb 1, 2026

Academics

Baylor Purdue
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (28%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Engineering (18%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Engineering Technology (8%)
  • Education (6%)
  • Work and Family Studies (6%)

Outcomes

Baylor Purdue
Graduation Rate 72% 68%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $56,200 $61,200
Making Student Loan Payments 73% 78%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $258 $222

Diversity

Baylor Purdue
% Men 9% 15%
% Women 18% 10%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 64% 65%
% Black 7% 3%
% Hispanic 14% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 2%
% International 3% 17%
% Unknown Race 0% 2%

Students

Baylor Purdue
% In-State 60% 46%
% Out-of-State 37% 44%

Campus

Baylor Purdue
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Purdue University Main Campus is larger than than Baylor based on total student enrollment (52,905 students vs. 20,824 students)

Baylor vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Baylor or Purdue?

  • Baylor University is 464.4% more expensive to attend than Purdue for in-state tuition ($54,844.00 vs. $9,718.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 92.3% higher at Baylor than Purdue University Main Campus ($54,844.00 vs. $28,520.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Purdue University Main Campus than Baylor ($12,421 vs. $49,727)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 22.2% lower than costs at Baylor University ($11,650 vs. $14,235)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Baylor University than Purdue University Main Campus (97% vs. 39%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Baylor University students is 83.4% larger than aid received Purdue University Main Campus ($20,409 vs. $11,126)

Baylor vs. Purdue Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Baylor or Purdue? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Purdue or Baylor .

  • The average SAT score at Baylor University (1239) is 8 points higher than at Purdue (1231)
  • Incoming Baylor students have at the same average ACT score (28) as students at Purdue (28)
  • Accepted freshman Baylor students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at Purdue (3.67)
  • Baylor has a higher acceptance rate (51%) than Purdue (50.3%)

Baylor vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Baylor or Purdue? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Purdue and Baylor.

  • The graduation rate at Baylor is higher than Purdue University Main Campus (72% vs. 68%)
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn on average $5,000 more per year than Baylor graduates after ten years. ($61,200 vs. $56,200)
  • Purdue University Main Campus students graduate with a $3,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Baylor graduates. ($21,500 vs. $25,000)
  • Purdue graduates are paying $36 less per month on federal student loans than Baylor graduates. ($222 vs. $258)
  • More Purdue graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Baylor students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 73%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/