NC State vs. Purdue

Deciding between North Carolina State University at Raleigh 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.

North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Purdue University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • NC State Raleigh, NC
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • NC State Large City
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • NC State 38,464
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • NC State Public 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • NC State #124
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • NC State -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • NC State Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • NC State
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • NC State $8,799
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • NC State $32,847
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • NC State $14,332
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • NC State $15,522
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • NC State $11,675
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • NC State 51%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • NC State 44,047
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • NC State 18,385
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • NC State 41.7%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • NC State 31.8%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • NC State 1390
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • NC State 30
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • NC State 3.83
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • NC State A-
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • NC State Very High
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • NC State Low
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • NC State 28/32
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • NC State 1300/1470
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • NC State Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • NC State Jan 15, 2027
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • NC State 15:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • NC State
    • Engineering (22%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Agriculture (9%)
    • Social Sciences (5%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • NC State 72%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • NC State $57,200
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • NC State 76%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • NC State $20,782
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • NC State $214
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • NC State 50%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • NC State 50%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • NC State Low
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • NC State No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • NC State 74%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • NC State 5%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • NC State 6%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • NC State 5%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • NC State 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • NC State 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • NC State 4%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • NC State 4%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • NC State 2%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • NC State 86%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • NC State 12%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare North Carolina State University at Raleigh in Raleigh, NC 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 NC State based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 38,464 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • North Carolina State University at Raleigh is located in Raleigh, NC (Large City setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Purdue University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: North Carolina State University at Raleigh 15:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

NC State vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NC State 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 NC State ($13,722 vs. $15,522).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 10.5% lower than at North Carolina State University at Raleigh ($12,820 vs. $14,332).
  • Purdue University Main Campus is 13.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than NC State (about $1,193 more per year; $9,992.00 vs. $8,799.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 14.1% higher at NC State than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $4,053 more per year; $32,847.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at North Carolina State University at Raleigh than at Purdue University Main Campus (51% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by North Carolina State University at Raleigh students is 3.4% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($11,675 vs. $11,294).

NC State vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NC State 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 NC State.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (1390) is 50 points higher than at Purdue (1340).
  • Incoming NC State students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 30) as students at Purdue (30).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: North Carolina State University at Raleigh 1300/1470; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: North Carolina State University at Raleigh 28/32; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: NC State - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: NC State Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman NC State students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at Purdue (3.67).
  • Purdue has a higher acceptance rate (49.9%) than NC State (41.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 31.8% at NC State vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

NC State vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NC State 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).

  • North Carolina State University at Raleigh's six-year graduation rate (72%) is higher than Purdue University Main Campus's (68%).
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $4,000 more per year than NC State graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,200 vs. $57,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, North Carolina State University at Raleigh graduates have a $718 lower median loan debt than Purdue graduates ($20,782 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, NC State graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Purdue graduates ($214 vs. $222).
  • More Purdue graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NC State students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 76%)

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.