Tennessee vs. Purdue

Deciding between The University of Tennessee Knoxville 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.

The University of Tennessee Knoxville
Purdue University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Tennessee Knoxville, TN
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • Tennessee Midsize City
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Tennessee 38,728
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • Tennessee Public 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Tennessee #226
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Tennessee -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • Tennessee Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Tennessee
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Tennessee $13,812
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Tennessee $33,256
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • Tennessee $13,356
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • Tennessee $21,648
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Tennessee $11,434
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Tennessee 94%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Tennessee 59,764
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • Tennessee 24,863
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Tennessee 41.6%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Tennessee 27.4%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Tennessee 1290
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • Tennessee 28
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Tennessee 3.66
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Tennessee B+
  • Purdue B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Tennessee Difficult
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Tennessee Low
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • Tennessee 25/31
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • Tennessee 1200/1370
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Tennessee Required to be considered for admission
  • Purdue Required to be considered for admission
  • Application Deadline
  • Tennessee
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Tennessee 18:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Tennessee
    • Business (20%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Engineering (8%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Tennessee 63%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Tennessee $56,300
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Tennessee 69%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Tennessee $20,000
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Tennessee $206
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Tennessee 44%
  • Purdue 61%
  • % Women
  • Tennessee 56%
  • Purdue 39%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Tennessee Low
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • Tennessee No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • Tennessee 79%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • Tennessee 3%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • Tennessee 7%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Tennessee 3%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • Tennessee 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Tennessee 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Tennessee 3%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • Tennessee 1%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Tennessee 3%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Tennessee 64%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Tennessee 35%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare The University of Tennessee Knoxville in Knoxville, TN 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 Tennessee based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 38,728 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • The University of Tennessee Knoxville is located in Knoxville, TN (Midsize City setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • The University of Tennessee Knoxville is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Purdue University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: The University of Tennessee Knoxville 18:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

Tennessee vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Tennessee 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 Tennessee ($13,722 vs. $21,648).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 4% lower than at The University of Tennessee Knoxville ($12,820 vs. $13,356).
  • The University of Tennessee Knoxville is 38.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $3,820 more per year; $13,812.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 15.5% higher at Tennessee than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $4,462 more per year; $33,256.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at The University of Tennessee Knoxville than at Purdue University Main Campus (94% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The University of Tennessee Knoxville students is 1.2% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($11,434 vs. $11,294).

Tennessee vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Tennessee 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 Tennessee.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Purdue University Main Campus (1340) is 50 points higher than at Tennessee (1290).
  • Incoming Purdue students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 28 at Tennessee).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The University of Tennessee Knoxville 1200/1370; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The University of Tennessee Knoxville 25/31; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Tennessee - Required to be considered for admission; Purdue - Required to be considered for admission.
  • Accepted freshman Purdue students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at Tennessee (3.66).
  • Purdue has a higher acceptance rate (49.9%) than Tennessee (41.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.4% at Tennessee vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

Tennessee vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Tennessee 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).

  • Purdue University Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than The University of Tennessee Knoxville's (63%).
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $4,900 more per year than Tennessee graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,200 vs. $56,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, The University of Tennessee Knoxville graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than Purdue graduates ($20,000 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, Tennessee graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Purdue graduates ($206 vs. $222).
  • More Purdue graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Tennessee students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 69%)

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.