Virginia Tech vs. Purdue

Deciding between Virginia Tech 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.

Virginia Tech
Purdue University Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • Virginia Tech Small City
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Virginia Tech 38,857
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • Virginia Tech Public 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Virginia Tech #142
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Virginia Tech -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • Virginia Tech Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Virginia Tech
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Virginia Tech $15,948
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Virginia Tech $37,764
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • Virginia Tech $16,550
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • Virginia Tech $24,912
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Virginia Tech $9,168
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Virginia Tech 60%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Virginia Tech 52,498
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • Virginia Tech 28,758
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Virginia Tech 54.8%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Virginia Tech 25.3%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Virginia Tech 1370
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • Virginia Tech 30
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Virginia Tech 3.97
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Virginia Tech A-
  • Purdue B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Virginia Tech Very High
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Virginia Tech Low
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • Virginia Tech 28/32
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • Virginia Tech 1280/1450
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Virginia Tech Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Purdue Required to be considered for admission
  • Application Deadline
  • Virginia Tech Jan 15, 2027
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Virginia Tech 17:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Virginia Tech
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (19%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Virginia Tech 82%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Virginia Tech $65,000
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Virginia Tech 81%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Virginia Tech $23,966
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Virginia Tech $247
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Virginia Tech 55%
  • Purdue 61%
  • % Women
  • Virginia Tech 45%
  • Purdue 39%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Virginia Tech Medium
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • Virginia Tech No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • Virginia Tech 68%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • Virginia Tech 9%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • Virginia Tech 4%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Virginia Tech 5%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • Virginia Tech 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Virginia Tech 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Virginia Tech 4%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • Virginia Tech 6%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Virginia Tech 3%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Virginia Tech 61%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Virginia Tech 34%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA 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 Virginia Tech based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 38,857 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Virginia Tech is located in Blacksburg, VA (Small City setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Virginia Tech is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Purdue University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Virginia Tech 17:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

Virginia Tech vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Virginia Tech 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 Virginia Tech ($13,722 vs. $24,912).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 22.5% lower than at Virginia Tech ($12,820 vs. $16,550).
  • Virginia Tech is 59.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $5,956 more per year; $15,948.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 31.2% higher at Virginia Tech than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $8,970 more per year; $37,764.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Virginia Tech than at Purdue University Main Campus (60% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students is 23.2% larger than aid received by Virginia Tech students ($11,294 vs. $9,168).

Virginia Tech vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Virginia Tech 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 Virginia Tech.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Virginia Tech (1370) is 30 points higher than at Purdue (1340).
  • Incoming Virginia Tech students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 30) as students at Purdue (30).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Virginia Tech 1280/1450; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Virginia Tech 28/32; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Virginia Tech - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Purdue - Required to be considered for admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Virginia Tech Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Virginia Tech students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at Purdue (3.67).
  • Virginia Tech has a higher acceptance rate (54.8%) than Purdue (49.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 25.3% at Virginia Tech vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

Virginia Tech vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Virginia Tech 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).

  • Virginia Tech's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than Purdue University Main Campus's (68%).
  • Graduates from Virginia Tech earn a median of about $3,800 more per year than Purdue graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,000 vs. $61,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Purdue University Main Campus graduates have a $2,466 lower median loan debt than Virginia Tech graduates ($21,500 vs. $23,966).
  • Among borrowers, Purdue graduates have an estimated $25 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Virginia Tech graduates ($222 vs. $247).
  • More Virginia Tech graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purdue students, three years after graduation. (81% 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.