Butler vs. Purdue

Butler University and Purdue University Main Campus side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Butler University
Purdue University Main Campus

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Purdue (49.9% admitted vs 85.1%). Typical SAT 1340 vs 1260.
  • Cheaper after aid: Purdue. Average net price is $13,722 vs $38,438 at Butler.
  • Graduation: Butler 72% vs Purdue 68%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Butler $68,400 vs Purdue $61,200 (median).
See your own chances ->

Key differences

Butler University Purdue University Main Campus
Acceptance rate
Purdue more selective
Butler85.1%
Purdue49.9%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Purdue higher
Butler1160-1350
Purdue1200-1480
Average net price
Purdue $24,716 less
Butler$38,438
Purdue$13,722
In-state tuition
Purdue $37,568 less
Butler$47,560
Purdue$9,992
Out-of-state tuition
Purdue $18,766 less
Butler$47,560
Purdue$28,794
Graduation rate
Butler +4 pts
Butler72%
Purdue68%
Median earnings (10 years)
Butler +$7,200
Butler$68,400
Purdue$61,200

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

Admission calculator

Partner

Not sure you'd get in? Check your chances at Butler and Purdue with Appily's free admission calculator.

Check my chances at Butler Check my chances at Purdue
  • Applied
  • Butler 9,471
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • Butler 8,058
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance rate
  • Butler 85.1%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Butler 12.9%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Butler 1260
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • Butler 28
  • Purdue 30
  • Average high school GPA
  • Butler 3.92
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical high school grades
  • Butler A
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions standards
  • Butler Difficult
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant competition
  • Butler
  • Purdue Low
  • SAT range
  • Butler 1160-1350
  • Purdue 1200-1480
  • ACT range
  • Butler 26-31
  • Purdue 27-34
  • Submit test scores
  • Butler Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application deadline
  • Butler Aug 1, 2027
  • Purdue
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Butler $47,560
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Butler $47,560
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & board
  • Butler $16,430
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average net price
  • Butler $38,438
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average grant aid
  • Butler $27,790
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Butler 97%
  • Purdue 40%
  • Graduation rate
  • Butler 72%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Butler $68,400
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making student loan payments
  • Butler 84%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Butler $27,000
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median loan payment
  • Butler $279
  • Purdue $222
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Butler 11:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular majors
  • Butler
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Communication (9%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)
  • Location
  • Butler Indianapolis, IN
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • Butler Large City
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Butler 5,746
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • Butler Private 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Butler #209
  • Purdue #102

Comparable Facts

Compare Butler University in Indianapolis, IN with Purdue University Main Campus in West Lafayette, IN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Purdue University Main Campus is larger than Butler based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 5,746 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Butler University is located in Indianapolis, IN (Large City setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Butler 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: Butler University 11:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 22% lower than at Butler University ($12,820 vs. $16,430).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 65.2% higher at Butler than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $18,766 more per year; $47,560 vs. $28,794).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Butler University than at Purdue University Main Campus (97% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Butler University students is 146.1% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($27,790 vs. $11,294).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 2 points higher at Purdue than at Butler (30 vs. 28, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at Butler, required at Purdue.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Butler Aug 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Butler average a 3.92 high school GPA, 0.25 higher than at Purdue (3.67).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.9% at Butler vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Purdue University Main Campus graduates have a $5,500 lower median loan debt than Butler graduates ($21,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Purdue graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Butler graduates ($222 vs. $279).
  • More Butler graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purdue students, three years after graduation (84% vs. 78%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

Change schools

You can add up to two more colleges. Each one gets its own column.

Butler University
Purdue University Main Campus
Add a college Compare up to 4

Frequently compared to these colleges