ISU vs. Purdue

Deciding between Iowa State University 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.

Iowa State University
Purdue University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ISU Ames, IA
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • ISU Small City
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • ISU 30,380
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ISU #343
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ISU -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • ISU Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ISU
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ISU $10,787
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ISU $28,881
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • ISU $10,808
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • ISU $17,779
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ISU $10,791
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ISU 77%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ISU 23,095
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • ISU 20,475
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ISU 88.7%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • ISU 28.8%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ISU 1240
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • ISU 24
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • ISU 3.7
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ISU A-
  • Purdue B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • ISU Challenging
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • ISU
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • ISU 21/28
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • ISU 1120/1360
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ISU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Purdue Required to be considered for admission
  • Application Deadline
  • ISU
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ISU 18:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ISU 68%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ISU $53,700
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ISU 74%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ISU $23,868
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ISU $246
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ISU 54%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • ISU 46%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ISU Low
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • ISU No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • ISU 76%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • ISU 3%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • ISU 3%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • ISU 5%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • ISU 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ISU 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ISU 2%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • ISU 7%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ISU 5%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ISU 54%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ISU 43%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Iowa State University in Ames, IA 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 ISU based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 30,380 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Iowa State University is located in Ames, IA (Small City setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Iowa State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Purdue University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Iowa State University 18:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

ISU vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU 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 ISU ($13,722 vs. $17,779).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa State University are 15.7% lower than at Purdue University Main Campus ($10,808 vs. $12,820).
  • Iowa State University is 8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $795 more per year; $10,787.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.3% higher at ISU than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $87 more per year; $28,881.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Iowa State University than at Purdue University Main Campus (77% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students is 4.7% larger than aid received by Iowa State University students ($11,294 vs. $10,791).

ISU vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ISU 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 ISU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Purdue University Main Campus (1340) is 100 points higher than at ISU (1240).
  • Incoming Purdue students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 24 at ISU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Iowa State University 1120/1360; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Iowa State University 21/28; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ISU - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Purdue - Required to be considered for admission.
  • Accepted freshman ISU students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Purdue (3.67).
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (88.7%) than Purdue (49.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.8% at ISU vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

ISU vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ISU 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).

  • The graduation rate at ISU is the same as at Purdue University Main Campus (68% vs. 68%).
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $7,500 more per year than ISU graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,200 vs. $53,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Purdue University Main Campus graduates have a $2,368 lower median loan debt than ISU graduates ($21,500 vs. $23,868).
  • Among borrowers, Purdue graduates have an estimated $24 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ISU graduates ($222 vs. $246).
  • More Purdue graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ISU students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 74%)

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.