Pitt vs. Purdue

Deciding between University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh 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 3,500 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
Purdue University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Pitt Pittsburgh, PA
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • Pitt Large City
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Enrollment
  • Pitt 35,724
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • Pitt Public 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Pitt #138
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Pitt -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • Pitt Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Pitt
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Pitt $21,926
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Pitt $41,430
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • Pitt $13,620
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • Pitt $25,223
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Pitt $16,494
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Pitt 53%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Pitt 60,898
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • Pitt 35,372
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Pitt 58.1%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Pitt 13%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Pitt 1370
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • Pitt 31
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Pitt 3.79
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Pitt A-
  • Purdue B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Pitt Very High
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Pitt Low
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • Pitt 29/33
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • Pitt 1280/1460
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Pitt Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Purdue Required to be considered for admission
  • Application Deadline
  • Pitt
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Pitt 13:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Pitt
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Pitt 79%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Pitt $58,000
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Pitt 75%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Pitt $26,909
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Pitt $278
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Pitt 11%
  • Purdue 14%
  • % Women
  • Pitt 16%
  • Purdue 9%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Pitt Low
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • Pitt No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • Pitt 74%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • Pitt 9%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • Pitt 5%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Pitt 3%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • Pitt 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Pitt 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Pitt 3%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • Pitt 4%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Pitt 1%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Pitt 64%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Pitt 33%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in Pittsburgh, PA 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 Pitt based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 35,724 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is located in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 13:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

Pitt vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pitt 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 Pitt ($13,722 vs. $25,223).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 5.9% lower than at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus ($12,820 vs. $13,620).
  • University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is 119.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $11,934 more per year; $21,926.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 43.9% higher at Pitt than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $12,636 more per year; $41,430.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus than at Purdue University Main Campus (53% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus students is 46% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($16,494 vs. $11,294).

Pitt vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Pitt 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 Pitt.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus (1370) is 30 points higher than at Purdue (1340).
  • Incoming Pitt 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 Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 1280/1460; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 29/33; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pitt - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Purdue - Required to be considered for admission.
  • Accepted freshman Pitt students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at Purdue (3.67).
  • Pitt has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than Purdue (49.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13% at Pitt vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

Pitt vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pitt 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 Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus's six-year graduation rate (79%) is higher than Purdue University Main Campus's (68%).
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $3,200 more per year than Pitt graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,200 vs. $58,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Purdue University Main Campus graduates have a $5,409 lower median loan debt than Pitt graduates ($21,500 vs. $26,909).
  • Among borrowers, Purdue graduates have an estimated $56 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pitt graduates ($222 vs. $278).
  • More Purdue graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pitt students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 75%)

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.