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IU Virginia Tech Illinois Alabama Rose-Hulman Wisconsin UT Austin Ohio State UCSD Iowa NC State ISU| Louisiana State University | Purdue University Main Campus | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
LSU | Purdue | ||
| Location | Baton Rouge, LA | West Lafayette, IN | ||
| Setting | Rural Fringe | Midsize Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 39,418 | 52,905 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #287 | #103 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | lsu.edu | purdue.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
LSU | Purdue | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $8,038 | $9,718 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $8,038 | $28,520 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,296 | $11,650 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $21,808 | $12,421 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $13,509 | $11,126 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 88% | 39% |
Admission |
LSU | Purdue | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 42,558 | 73,083 | ||
| Admitted | 31,491 | 36,763 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 74% | 50.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 23.9% | 25.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.77 | 3.67 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 24/29 | 27/34 | ||
| SAT Range | 1150/1330 | 1190/1460 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Required to be considered for admission | ||
| Application Deadline | Jul 15, 2026 |
Academics |
LSU | Purdue | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 20:1 | 14:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
LSU | Purdue | ||
| Graduation Rate | 60% | 68% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $56,900 | $61,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 67% | 78% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $20,900 | $21,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $216 | $222 |
Diversity |
LSU | Purdue | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 7% | 15% | ||
| % Women | 11% | 10% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 73% | 65% | ||
| % Black | 12% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 2% | ||
| % International | 2% | 17% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 2% |
Students |
LSU | Purdue | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 61% | 46% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 37% | 44% | ||
Campus |
LSU | Purdue | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Purdue University Main Campus is larger than than LSU based on total student enrollment (52,905 students vs. 39,418 students)
LSU vs. Purdue Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, LSU or Purdue?
- Purdue University Main Campus is 20.9% more expensive to attend than LSU for in-state tuition ($9,718.00 vs. $8,038.00)
- Out of state tuition is 254.8% higher at Purdue than Louisiana State University ($28,520.00 vs. $8,038.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Purdue University Main Campus than LSU ($12,421 vs. $21,808)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 22.7% lower than costs at Louisiana State University ($11,650 vs. $14,296)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Louisiana State University than Purdue University Main Campus (88% vs. 39%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Louisiana State University students is 21.4% larger than aid received Purdue University Main Campus ($13,509 vs. $11,126)
LSU vs. Purdue Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, LSU or Purdue? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Purdue or LSU .
- The average SAT score at Purdue University Main Campus (1231) is 68 points higher than at LSU (1163)
- Incoming Purdue students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at LSU (26)
- Accepted freshman LSU students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at Purdue (3.67)
- LSU has a higher acceptance rate (74%) than Purdue (50.3%)
LSU vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, LSU 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 LSU.
- The graduation rate at Purdue is higher than Louisiana State University (68% vs. 60%)
- Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn on average $4,300 more per year than LSU graduates after ten years. ($61,200 vs. $56,900)
- Louisiana State University students graduate with a $600 lower median federal student loan debt than Purdue graduates. ($20,900 vs. $21,500)
- LSU graduates are paying $6 less per month on federal student loans than Purdue graduates. ($216 vs. $222)
- More Purdue graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former LSU students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 67%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/