Wisconsin vs. Purdue

Deciding between University of Wisconsin Madison 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 Wisconsin Madison
Purdue University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Wisconsin Madison, WI
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • Wisconsin Midsize City
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Wisconsin 51,044
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • Wisconsin Public 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Wisconsin #109
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Wisconsin -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • Wisconsin Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Wisconsin
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Wisconsin $11,603
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Wisconsin $42,103
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • Wisconsin $14,124
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • Wisconsin $14,235
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Wisconsin $17,741
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Wisconsin 35%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Wisconsin 65,894
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • Wisconsin 29,782
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Wisconsin 45.2%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Wisconsin 28.6%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Wisconsin 1450
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • Wisconsin 31
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Wisconsin 3.88
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Wisconsin A
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Wisconsin Exceptional
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Wisconsin Low
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • Wisconsin 29/33
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • Wisconsin 1380/1520
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Wisconsin Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Wisconsin 18:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Wisconsin
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Wisconsin 82%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Wisconsin $64,800
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Wisconsin 84%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Wisconsin $22,250
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Wisconsin $230
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Wisconsin 47%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • Wisconsin 53%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Wisconsin Low
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • Wisconsin No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • Wisconsin 76%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • Wisconsin 6%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • Wisconsin 2%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Wisconsin 5%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Wisconsin 3%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • Wisconsin 8%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Wisconsin 45%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Wisconsin 46%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Wisconsin Madison in Madison, WI 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 Wisconsin based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 51,044 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Wisconsin Madison is located in Madison, WI (Midsize City setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • University of Wisconsin Madison 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 Wisconsin Madison 18:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

Wisconsin vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin ($13,722 vs. $14,235).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 9.2% lower than at University of Wisconsin Madison ($12,820 vs. $14,124).
  • University of Wisconsin Madison is 16.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $1,611 more per year; $11,603.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 46.2% higher at Wisconsin than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $13,309 more per year; $42,103.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Purdue University Main Campus than at University of Wisconsin Madison (40% vs. 35%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Wisconsin Madison students is 57.1% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($17,741 vs. $11,294).

Wisconsin vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Wisconsin Madison (1450) is 110 points higher than at Purdue (1340).
  • Incoming Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin Madison 1380/1520; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Wisconsin Madison 29/33; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wisconsin - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin (45.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.6% at Wisconsin vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

Wisconsin vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin Madison's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than Purdue University Main Campus's (68%).
  • Graduates from University of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of about $3,600 more per year than Purdue graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,800 vs. $61,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Purdue University Main Campus graduates have a $750 lower median loan debt than Wisconsin graduates ($21,500 vs. $22,250).
  • Among borrowers, Purdue graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wisconsin graduates ($222 vs. $230).
  • More Wisconsin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purdue students, three years after graduation. (84% 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.