CU Boulder vs. Purdue

Deciding between University of Colorado Boulder 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 Colorado Boulder
Purdue University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • CU Boulder Boulder, CO
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • CU Boulder Small City
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • CU Boulder 38,799
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • CU Boulder Public 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CU Boulder #199
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CU Boulder -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • CU Boulder Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CU Boulder
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CU Boulder $15,666
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CU Boulder $44,918
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • CU Boulder $18,468
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • CU Boulder $26,231
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CU Boulder $11,225
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CU Boulder 53%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CU Boulder 67,286
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • CU Boulder 52,539
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CU Boulder 78.1%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • CU Boulder 14.1%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CU Boulder 1340
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • CU Boulder 31
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • CU Boulder 3.68
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CU Boulder A-
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • CU Boulder Very High
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • CU Boulder
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • CU Boulder 29/33
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • CU Boulder 1240/1430
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CU Boulder Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • CU Boulder Jan 15, 2027
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CU Boulder 19:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CU Boulder
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CU Boulder 68%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CU Boulder $56,900
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CU Boulder 73%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CU Boulder $19,500
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CU Boulder $201
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CU Boulder 53%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • CU Boulder 47%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CU Boulder Medium
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • CU Boulder No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • CU Boulder 71%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • CU Boulder 5%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • CU Boulder 2%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • CU Boulder 11%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • CU Boulder 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CU Boulder 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CU Boulder 5%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • CU Boulder 6%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CU Boulder 1%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CU Boulder 54%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CU Boulder 45%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Colorado Boulder in Boulder, CO 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 CU Boulder based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 38,799 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Colorado Boulder is located in Boulder, CO (Small City setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • University of Colorado Boulder 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 Colorado Boulder 19:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

CU Boulder vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CU Boulder 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 CU Boulder ($13,722 vs. $26,231).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 30.6% lower than at University of Colorado Boulder ($12,820 vs. $18,468).
  • University of Colorado Boulder is 56.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $5,674 more per year; $15,666.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 56% higher at CU Boulder than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $16,124 more per year; $44,918.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Colorado Boulder than at Purdue University Main Campus (53% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students is 0.6% larger than aid received by University of Colorado Boulder students ($11,294 vs. $11,225).

CU Boulder vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CU Boulder 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 CU Boulder.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Colorado Boulder (1340) is the same as at Purdue (1340).
  • Incoming CU Boulder students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at Purdue).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Colorado Boulder 1240/1430; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Colorado Boulder 29/33; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CU Boulder - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CU Boulder Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman CU Boulder students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Purdue (3.67).
  • CU Boulder has a higher acceptance rate (78.1%) than Purdue (49.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.1% at CU Boulder vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

CU Boulder vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CU Boulder 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).

  • The graduation rate at CU Boulder is the same as at Purdue University Main Campus (68% vs. 68%).
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $4,300 more per year than CU Boulder graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,200 vs. $56,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Colorado Boulder graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Purdue graduates ($19,500 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, CU Boulder graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Purdue graduates ($201 vs. $222).
  • More Purdue graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CU Boulder students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 73%)

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.