UC vs. Purdue

Deciding between University of Cincinnati Main Campus 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.

University of Cincinnati Main Campus
Purdue University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UC Cincinnati, OH
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • UC Large City
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UC 45,026
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • UC Public 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UC #429
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UC -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • UC Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UC
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UC $13,976
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UC $29,310
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • UC $13,564
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • UC $24,696
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UC $8,196
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UC 73%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UC 34,285
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • UC 29,242
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UC 85.3%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • UC 22.5%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UC 1270
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • UC 26
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • UC 3.69
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UC A-
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UC Difficult
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UC
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • UC 24/29
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • UC 1160/1370
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UC Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • UC Mar 1, 2027
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UC 19:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UC
    • Health Professions (16%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UC 59%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UC $45,600
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UC 57%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UC $23,000
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UC $237
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UC 47%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • UC 53%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UC Low
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • UC No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • UC 75%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • UC 3%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • UC 7%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • UC 3%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • UC 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UC 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UC 3%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • UC 4%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UC 4%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UC 74%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UC 22%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Cincinnati Main Campus in Cincinnati, OH 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 UC based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 45,026 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Cincinnati Main Campus is located in Cincinnati, OH (Large City setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • University of Cincinnati Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Purdue University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Cincinnati Main Campus 19:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

UC vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC 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 UC ($13,722 vs. $24,696).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 5.5% lower than at University of Cincinnati Main Campus ($12,820 vs. $13,564).
  • University of Cincinnati Main Campus is 39.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $3,984 more per year; $13,976.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.8% higher at UC than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $516 more per year; $29,310.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Cincinnati Main Campus than at Purdue University Main Campus (73% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students is 37.8% larger than aid received by University of Cincinnati Main Campus students ($11,294 vs. $8,196).

UC vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UC 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 UC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Purdue University Main Campus (1340) is 70 points higher than at UC (1270).
  • Incoming Purdue students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 26 at UC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Cincinnati Main Campus 1160/1370; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Cincinnati Main Campus 24/29; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UC Mar 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UC students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at Purdue (3.67).
  • UC has a higher acceptance rate (85.3%) than Purdue (49.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.5% at UC vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

UC vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC 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 University of Cincinnati Main Campus's (59%).
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $15,600 more per year than UC graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,200 vs. $45,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Purdue University Main Campus graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than UC graduates ($21,500 vs. $23,000).
  • Among borrowers, Purdue graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UC graduates ($222 vs. $237).
  • More Purdue graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 57%)

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.