Purdue Calumet vs. USC Aiken

Should I go to Purdue University Calumet Campus or University of South Carolina Aiken? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Purdue Calumet or USC Aiken is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Purdue University Calumet Campus vs. University of South Carolina Aiken comparison
Purdue University Calumet Campus University of South Carolina Aiken College 3 College 4
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Overview

Purdue Calumet USC Aiken
Location Hammond, IN Aiken, SC
Setting Large Suburban Rural Fringe
Enrollment 9,194 3,840
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #888
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website purduecal.edu usca.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Purdue Calumet USC Aiken
Tuition (In State) $6,746 $10,398
Tuition (Out of State) $16,164 $20,856
Room & Board $7,560 $8,376
Avg Net Price $10,908 $11,872
Avg Grant Aid $5,703 $9,891
% Receiving Grant Aid 58% 100%

Admission

Purdue Calumet USC Aiken
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,810 2,453
Admitted 1,649 1,855
Acceptance Rate 58.7% 75.6%
Enrolled % 54% 29.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.19 3.19
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Very Easy Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/24 18/24
SAT Range 940/1140 950/1180
Submit Test Scores Required Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2024

Academics

Purdue Calumet USC Aiken
Student to Faculty Ratio 0:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (31%)
  • Engineering Technology (14%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Business (25%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)

Outcomes

Purdue Calumet USC Aiken
Graduation Rate 28% 41%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,500 $39,600
Making Student Loan Payments 38% 54%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,908 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $216 $268

Diversity

Purdue Calumet USC Aiken
% Men 0% 36%
% Women 0% 64%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU No No
% White 55% 58%
% Black 13% 27%
% Hispanic 19% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 6% 4%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

Purdue Calumet USC Aiken
% In-State - 87%
% Out-of-State - 11%

Campus

Purdue Calumet USC Aiken
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan No Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Purdue University Calumet Campus is larger than than USC Aiken based on total student enrollment (9,194 students vs. 3,840 students)

Purdue Calumet vs. USC Aiken Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Purdue Calumet or USC Aiken?

  • University of South Carolina Aiken is 54.1% more expensive to attend than Purdue Calumet for in-state tuition ($10,398.00 vs. $6,746.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 29% higher at USC Aiken than Purdue University Calumet Campus ($20,856.00 vs. $16,164.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Purdue University Calumet Campus than USC Aiken ($10,908 vs. $11,872)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Calumet Campus are 10.8% lower than costs at University of South Carolina Aiken ($7,560 vs. $8,376)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of South Carolina Aiken than Purdue University Calumet Campus (100% vs. 58%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of South Carolina Aiken students is 73.4% larger than aid received Purdue University Calumet Campus ($9,891 vs. $5,703)

Purdue Calumet vs. USC Aiken Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Purdue Calumet or USC Aiken? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between USC Aiken or Purdue Calumet .

  • The average SAT score at University of South Carolina Aiken (976) is 16 points higher than at Purdue Calumet (960)
  • Accepted freshman Purdue Calumet students have at the same average high school GPA (3.19) as students at USC Aiken (3.19)
  • USC Aiken has a higher acceptance rate (75.6%) than Purdue Calumet (58.7%)

Purdue Calumet vs. USC Aiken Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Purdue Calumet or USC Aiken? 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 USC Aiken and Purdue Calumet.

  • The graduation rate at USC Aiken is higher than Purdue University Calumet Campus (41% vs. 28%)
  • Graduates from Purdue University Calumet Campus earn on average $2,900 more per year than USC Aiken graduates after ten years. ($42,500 vs. $39,600)
  • Purdue University Calumet Campus students graduate with a $5,092 lower median federal student loan debt than USC Aiken graduates. ($20,908 vs. $26,000)
  • Purdue Calumet graduates are paying $52 less per month on federal student loans than USC Aiken graduates. ($216 vs. $268)
  • More USC Aiken graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purdue Calumet students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 38%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/