USC vs. UT Austin vs. Purdue

Compare University of Southern California, The University of Texas at Austin, and Purdue University Main Campus side by side. Review cost and aid, selectivity and test-score context, academics, campus setting, and post-graduation benchmarks to see which option lines up with your goals. Data comes from the same catalog CollegeSimply maintains across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities.

University of Southern California
The University of Texas at Austin
Purdue University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • USC Los Angeles, CA
  • UT Austin Austin, TX
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • USC Large City
  • UT Austin Large City
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • USC 46,566
  • UT Austin 53,864
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • USC Private 4 Year
  • UT Austin Public 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • USC #37
  • UT Austin #105
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • USC -
  • UT Austin -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • USC Non-profit
  • UT Austin Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • USC
  • UT Austin
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • USC $72,097
  • UT Austin $11,688
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • USC $72,097
  • UT Austin $44,908
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • USC $19,931
  • UT Austin $14,828
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • USC $43,412
  • UT Austin $17,942
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • USC $46,897
  • UT Austin $13,681
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • USC 70%
  • UT Austin 42%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • USC 82,027
  • UT Austin 72,885
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • USC 8,050
  • UT Austin 19,417
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • USC 9.8%
  • UT Austin 26.6%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • USC 43.3%
  • UT Austin 47.4%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • USC 1500
  • UT Austin 1380
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • USC 33
  • UT Austin 30
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • USC 3.83
  • UT Austin 3.8
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • USC A-
  • UT Austin A-
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • USC Elite
  • UT Austin Exceptional
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • USC Very High
  • UT Austin High
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • USC 32/35
  • UT Austin 27/33
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • USC 1450/1550
  • UT Austin 1250/1510
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • USC Test optional
  • UT Austin Required
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • USC
  • UT Austin Dec 1, 2026
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • USC 9:1
  • UT Austin 18:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • USC
    • Business (25%)
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (13%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Engineering (8%)
  • UT Austin
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Communication (13%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • USC 90%
  • UT Austin 81%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • USC $85,500
  • UT Austin $68,600
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • USC 81%
  • UT Austin 77%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • USC $22,375
  • UT Austin $22,250
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • USC $231
  • UT Austin $230
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • USC 47%
  • UT Austin 44%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • USC 53%
  • UT Austin 56%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • USC Very High
  • UT Austin Very High
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • USC No
  • UT Austin No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • USC 40%
  • UT Austin 44%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • USC 22%
  • UT Austin 20%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • USC 4%
  • UT Austin 4%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • USC 14%
  • UT Austin 22%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • USC 0%
  • UT Austin 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • USC 0%
  • UT Austin 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • USC 5%
  • UT Austin 4%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • USC 13%
  • UT Austin 5%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • USC 1%
  • UT Austin 1%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • USC 42%
  • UT Austin 87%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • USC 39%
  • UT Austin 8%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Southern California in Los Angeles, CA with The University of Texas at Austin in Austin, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

The University of Texas at Austin is larger than USC based on total student enrollment (53,864 students vs. 46,566 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Southern California is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); The University of Texas at Austin is in Austin, TX (Large City setting).
  • University of Southern California is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. The University of Texas at Austin is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Southern California 9:1; The University of Texas at Austin 18:1.

USC vs. UT Austin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, USC or UT Austin? 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 The University of Texas at Austin than USC ($17,942 vs. $43,412).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Texas at Austin are 25.6% lower than at University of Southern California ($14,828 vs. $19,931).
  • University of Southern California is 516.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than UT Austin (about $60,409 more per year; $72,097.00 vs. $11,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 60.5% higher at USC than at The University of Texas at Austin (about $27,189 more per year; $72,097.00 vs. $44,908.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Southern California than at The University of Texas at Austin (70% vs. 42%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Southern California students is 242.8% larger than aid received by The University of Texas at Austin students ($46,897 vs. $13,681).

USC vs. UT Austin Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, USC or UT Austin? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UT Austin and USC.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at University of Southern California (1500) is 120 points higher than at UT Austin (1380).
  • Incoming USC students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (33 vs. 30 at UT Austin).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of Southern California 1450/1550; The University of Texas at Austin 1250/1510.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of Southern California 32/35; The University of Texas at Austin 27/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: USC - Test optional; UT Austin - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UT Austin Dec 1, 2026.
  • Enrolled freshman USC students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at UT Austin (3.8).
  • UT Austin has a higher acceptance rate (26.6%) than USC (9.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43.3% at USC vs. 47.4% at UT Austin.

USC vs. UT Austin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for USC and UT Austin? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • University of Southern California's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than The University of Texas at Austin's (81%).
  • Graduates from University of Southern California earn a median of about $16,900 more per year than UT Austin graduates about ten years after starting college ($85,500 vs. $68,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, The University of Texas at Austin graduates have a $125 lower median loan debt than USC graduates ($22,250 vs. $22,375).
  • Among borrowers, UT Austin graduates have an estimated $1 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than USC graduates ($230 vs. $231).
  • More USC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UT Austin students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 77%)

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.