Hillsdale College vs. Purdue

Deciding between Hillsdale 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.

Purdue University Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Hillsdale College Hillsdale, Michigan
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • Hillsdale College Distant Town
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Hillsdale College 1,792
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • Hillsdale College Private 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Hillsdale College
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Hillsdale College Undenominational
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • Hillsdale College Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Hillsdale College
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Hillsdale College $33,189
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Hillsdale College $33,189
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • Hillsdale College $13,600
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • Hillsdale College $23,993
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Hillsdale College $24,328
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Hillsdale College 99%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Hillsdale College 3,181
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • Hillsdale College 659
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Hillsdale College 20.7%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Hillsdale College 55.5%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Hillsdale College 1410
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • Hillsdale College 31
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Hillsdale College 3.93
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Hillsdale College A
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Hillsdale College Exceptional
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Hillsdale College Very High
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • Hillsdale College 30/33
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • Hillsdale College 1320/1490
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Hillsdale College Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Hillsdale College Mar 15, 2027
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Hillsdale College 8:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Hillsdale College
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Hillsdale College -
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Hillsdale College N/A
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Hillsdale College -
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Hillsdale College N/A
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Hillsdale College N/A
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Hillsdale College 51%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • Hillsdale College 49%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Hillsdale College -
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • Hillsdale College No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • Hillsdale College 0%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • Hillsdale College 0%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • Hillsdale College 0%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Hillsdale College 0%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • Hillsdale College 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Hillsdale College 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Hillsdale College 0%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • Hillsdale College 0%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Hillsdale College 0%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Hillsdale College 19%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Hillsdale College 77%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan 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 Hillsdale College based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 1,792 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Hillsdale College is located in Hillsdale, Michigan (Distant Town setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Hillsdale 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: Hillsdale College 8:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

Hillsdale College vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Hillsdale 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 Hillsdale College ($13,722 vs. $23,993).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 5.7% lower than at Hillsdale College ($12,820 vs. $13,600).
  • Hillsdale College is 232.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $23,197 more per year; $33,189.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 15.3% higher at Hillsdale College than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $4,395 more per year; $33,189.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hillsdale College than at Purdue University Main Campus (99% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Hillsdale College students is 115.4% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($24,328 vs. $11,294).

Hillsdale College vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Hillsdale College (1410) is 70 points higher than at Purdue (1340).
  • Incoming Hillsdale College students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at Purdue).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Hillsdale College 1320/1490; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Hillsdale College 30/33; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Hillsdale College - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Hillsdale College Mar 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Hillsdale College students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.93) than students at Purdue (3.67).
  • Purdue has a higher acceptance rate (49.9%) than Hillsdale College (20.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 55.5% at Hillsdale College vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

Hillsdale College vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Hillsdale 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).

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.