Luther- Norse vs. Purdue

Deciding between Luther 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.

Luther College
Purdue University Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Luther- Norse Decorah, IA
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • Luther- Norse Remote Town
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Luther- Norse 1,384
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • Luther- Norse Private 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Luther- Norse #235
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Luther- Norse Evangelical Lutheran Church
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • Luther- Norse Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Luther- Norse
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Luther- Norse $52,120
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Luther- Norse $52,120
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • Luther- Norse $11,530
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • Luther- Norse $24,511
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Luther- Norse $40,917
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Luther- Norse 100%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Luther- Norse 2,632
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • Luther- Norse 1,883
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Luther- Norse 71.5%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Luther- Norse 19.9%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Luther- Norse 1240
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • Luther- Norse 25
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Luther- Norse 3.65
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Luther- Norse A-
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Luther- Norse Difficult
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Luther- Norse Low
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • Luther- Norse 22/29
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • Luther- Norse 1078/1406
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Luther- Norse Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Luther- Norse
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Luther- Norse 9:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Luther- Norse
    • Business (13%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Foreign Languages (6%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Luther- Norse 69%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Luther- Norse $50,000
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Luther- Norse 82%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Luther- Norse $27,000
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Luther- Norse $279
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Luther- Norse 48%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • Luther- Norse 52%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Luther- Norse Very Low
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • Luther- Norse No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • Luther- Norse 84%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • Luther- Norse 2%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • Luther- Norse 2%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Luther- Norse 4%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • Luther- Norse 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Luther- Norse 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Luther- Norse 2%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • Luther- Norse 6%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Luther- Norse 0%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Luther- Norse 27%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Luther- Norse 59%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Luther College in Decorah, 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 Luther- Norse based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 1,384 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Luther College is located in Decorah, IA (Remote Town setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Luther 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: Luther College 9:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

Luther- Norse vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Luther- Norse 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 Luther- Norse ($13,722 vs. $24,511).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Luther College are 10.1% lower than at Purdue University Main Campus ($11,530 vs. $12,820).
  • Luther College is 421.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $42,128 more per year; $52,120.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 81% higher at Luther- Norse than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $23,326 more per year; $52,120.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Luther College than at Purdue University Main Campus (100% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Luther College students is 262.3% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($40,917 vs. $11,294).

Luther- Norse vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Luther- Norse 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 Luther- Norse.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Purdue University Main Campus (1340) is 100 points higher than at Luther- Norse (1240).
  • Incoming Purdue students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 25 at Luther- Norse).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Luther College 1078/1406; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Luther College 22/29; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Luther- Norse - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Accepted freshman Purdue students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at Luther- Norse (3.65).
  • Luther- Norse has a higher acceptance rate (71.5%) than Purdue (49.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.9% at Luther- Norse vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

Luther- Norse vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Luther- Norse 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).

  • Luther College's six-year graduation rate (69%) is higher than Purdue University Main Campus's (68%).
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $11,200 more per year than Luther- Norse graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,200 vs. $50,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Purdue University Main Campus graduates have a $5,500 lower median loan debt than Luther- Norse graduates ($21,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Purdue graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Luther- Norse graduates ($222 vs. $279).
  • More Luther- Norse graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purdue students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 78%)

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.