UIC vs. Purdue

Deciding between University of Illinois Chicago 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 Illinois Chicago
Purdue University Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UIC Chicago, IL
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • UIC Large City
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UIC 33,906
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • UIC Public 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UIC #215
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UIC -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • UIC Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UIC
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UIC $14,338
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UIC $29,884
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • UIC $16,500
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • UIC $10,852
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UIC $16,755
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UIC 74%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UIC 27,085
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • UIC 20,951
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UIC 77.4%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • UIC 21.1%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UIC 1240
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • UIC 28
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • UIC 3.41
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UIC B+
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UIC Difficult
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UIC
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • UIC 25/31
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • UIC 1130/1350
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UIC Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • UIC Feb 1, 2027
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UIC 17:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UIC
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UIC 54%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UIC $61,900
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UIC 68%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UIC $18,750
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UIC $193
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UIC 44%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • UIC 56%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UIC Very High
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • UIC No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • UIC 34%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • UIC 22%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • UIC 8%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • UIC 28%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • UIC 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UIC 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UIC 3%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • UIC 2%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UIC 2%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UIC 89%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UIC 4%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Illinois Chicago in Chicago, IL 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 UIC based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 33,906 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Illinois Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • University of Illinois Chicago 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 Illinois Chicago 17:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

UIC vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UIC 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 University of Illinois Chicago than Purdue ($10,852 vs. $13,722).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 22.3% lower than at University of Illinois Chicago ($12,820 vs. $16,500).
  • University of Illinois Chicago is 43.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $4,346 more per year; $14,338.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.8% higher at UIC than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $1,090 more per year; $29,884.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Illinois Chicago than at Purdue University Main Campus (74% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Illinois Chicago students is 48.4% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($16,755 vs. $11,294).

UIC vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UIC 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 UIC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Purdue University Main Campus (1340) is 100 points higher than at UIC (1240).
  • Incoming Purdue students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 28 at UIC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 1130/1350; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 25/31; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UIC - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UIC Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Purdue students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at UIC (3.41).
  • UIC has a higher acceptance rate (77.4%) than Purdue (49.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.1% at UIC vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

UIC vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UIC 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 Illinois Chicago's (54%).
  • Graduates from University of Illinois Chicago earn a median of about $700 more per year than Purdue graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $61,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Illinois Chicago graduates have a $2,750 lower median loan debt than Purdue graduates ($18,750 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, UIC graduates have an estimated $29 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Purdue graduates ($193 vs. $222).
  • More Purdue graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UIC students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 68%)

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.