Michigan vs. Purdue

Deciding between University of Michigan Ann Arbor 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 Michigan Ann Arbor
Purdue University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Michigan Ann Arbor, MI
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • Michigan Midsize City
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Michigan 52,855
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • Michigan Public 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Michigan #48
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Michigan -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • Michigan Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Michigan
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Michigan $17,736
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Michigan $60,946
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • Michigan $15,328
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • Michigan $17,574
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Michigan $25,099
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Michigan 59%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Michigan 98,310
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • Michigan 15,373
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Michigan 15.6%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Michigan 47.3%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Michigan 1450
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • Michigan 32
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Michigan 3.88
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Michigan A
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Michigan Exceptional
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Michigan Very High
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • Michigan 31/34
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • Michigan 1360/1530
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Michigan Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Michigan Feb 1, 2027
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Michigan 11:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Michigan
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Michigan 90%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Michigan $74,400
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Michigan 78%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Michigan $20,103
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Michigan $207
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Michigan 47%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • Michigan 53%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Michigan Medium
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • Michigan No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • Michigan 62%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • Michigan 13%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • Michigan 4%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Michigan 5%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • Michigan 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Michigan 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Michigan 3%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • Michigan 7%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Michigan 6%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Michigan 52%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Michigan 43%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Michigan Ann Arbor in Ann Arbor, MI 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 Michigan based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 52,855 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is located in Ann Arbor, MI (Midsize City setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor 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 Michigan Ann Arbor 11:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

Michigan vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan 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 Michigan ($13,722 vs. $17,574).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 16.4% lower than at University of Michigan Ann Arbor ($12,820 vs. $15,328).
  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is 77.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $7,744 more per year; $17,736.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 111.7% higher at Michigan than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $32,152 more per year; $60,946.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Michigan Ann Arbor than at Purdue University Main Campus (59% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Michigan Ann Arbor students is 122.2% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($25,099 vs. $11,294).

Michigan vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Michigan 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 Michigan.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (1450) is 110 points higher than at Purdue (1340).
  • Incoming Michigan students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at Purdue).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 1360/1530; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 31/34; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Michigan - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Michigan Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Michigan students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at Purdue (3.67).
  • Purdue has a higher acceptance rate (49.9%) than Michigan (15.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.3% at Michigan vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

Michigan vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Michigan 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).

  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than Purdue University Main Campus's (68%).
  • Graduates from University of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of about $13,200 more per year than Purdue graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,400 vs. $61,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates have a $1,397 lower median loan debt than Purdue graduates ($20,103 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, Michigan graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Purdue graduates ($207 vs. $222).
  • More Purdue graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 78%)

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.