Purdue vs University of Kansas (KU)
Purdue University-Main Campus and the University of Kansas, both esteemed public research universities, offer distinct educational experiences. Purdue, known for its strength in STEM fields, boasts a lower acceptance rate (29%) compared to Kansas's 86%. While Purdue's student body is predominantly White (68%), Kansas has a more diverse population, with 60% White, 11% Hispanic, and 9% Black students. Both universities offer a wide range of undergraduate programs, with popular majors at Purdue including Engineering, Computer Science, and Management, while Kansas is known for its strong programs in Business, Education, and Health Professions. With graduation rates of 81% and 68% respectively, both institutions provide ample opportunities for students to succeed academically. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more about these universities and make an informed decision about your higher education journey.
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![]() Purdue University-Main Campus |
![]() University of Kansas |
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Overview |
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Location | West Lafayette, Indiana | Lawrence, Kansas |
Campus setting | City: Small | City: Small |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 91.0% | 85.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 68.8% | 92.5% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$60
Graduate:
$60
|
Undergraduate:
$40
Graduate:
$65
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SAT range | 1190 - 1430 | 1090 - 1330 |
ACT range | 26 - 33 | 21 - 29 |
Students submitting SAT score | 62.0% | 12.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 31.0% | 80.0% |
Total number of applicants | 59,436 | 15,275 |
Total number of admissions given out | 40,898 | 14,129 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 10,278 | 4,119 |
Yield rate | 25.1% | 29.2% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$22,812
Out of state:
$41,614
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In state:
$25,259
Out of state:
$42,127
|
Average net price | $14,619 | $18,608 |
Tuition |
In state:
$9,718
Out of state:
$28,520
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In state:
$10,092
Out of state:
$26,960
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$4,860
Meal plan:
$5,398
|
Room/dormitory:
$6,100
Meal plan:
$3,800
|
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
68.0%
Average amount $7,324 |
80.0%
Average amount $10,408 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
29.0%
Average amount $5,101 |
40.0%
Average amount $5,220 |
Students taking out private loans |
7.0%
Average amount $18,535 |
6.0%
Average amount $13,036 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
37,806
Men 57.8% Women 42.2% |
19,158
Men 46.8% Women 53.2% |
Graduate students |
12,538
Men 57.5% Women 42.5% |
7,622
Men 42.7% Women 57.3% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Low
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Out-of-state students | 51.2% | 41.5% |
International students | 17.8% | 6.8% |
Campus local/setting | City: Small | City: Small |
Dormitory capacity | 15,597 | 5,235 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Indiana Illinois California New Jersey Ohio | Kansas Missouri Illinois Texas Colorado |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 14:1 | 17:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 82.7% | 66.0% |
Dropout rate | 16.0% | 7.8% |
Transferred out | N/A | 24.6% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
Engineering, Other (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Veterinary Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
Chemistry (Doctoral Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Industrial Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (First Professional Degrees)
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Petroleum Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
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