Purdue vs University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL)
Purdue University-Main Campus and University of Nebraska-Lincoln, both esteemed public research universities, offer distinct educational experiences. Purdue, known for its rigorous engineering and technology programs, boasts a lower acceptance rate and a higher graduation rate compared to Nebraska. Nebraska, on the other hand, offers a broader range of undergraduate majors, including popular choices like business, education, and biological sciences. While Purdue's student body is slightly more diverse, Nebraska has a larger international student population. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more key differences and make an informed decision about which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Purdue University-Main Campus |
![]() University of Nebraska-Lincoln |
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Overview |
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Location | West Lafayette, Indiana | Lincoln, Nebraska |
Campus setting | City: Small | City: Large |
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% | 80.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 68.8% | 81.1% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$60
Graduate:
$60
|
Undergraduate:
$45
Graduate:
$50
|
SAT range | 1190 - 1430 | 1090 - 1320 |
ACT range | 26 - 33 | 22 - 28 |
Students submitting SAT score | 62.0% | 8.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 31.0% | 85.0% |
Total number of applicants | 59,436 | 17,775 |
Total number of admissions given out | 40,898 | 14,411 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 10,278 | 4,736 |
Yield rate | 25.1% | 32.9% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$22,812
Out of state:
$41,614
|
In state:
$26,316
Out of state:
$43,446
|
Average net price | $14,619 | $18,403 |
Tuition |
In state:
$9,718
Out of state:
$28,520
|
In state:
$7,770
Out of state:
$24,900
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$4,860
Meal plan:
$5,398
|
Room/dormitory:
$7,485
Meal plan:
$4,653
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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 |
96.0%
Average amount $8,608 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
29.0%
Average amount $5,101 |
34.0%
Average amount $4,691 |
Students taking out private loans |
7.0%
Average amount $18,535 |
5.0%
Average amount $13,909 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
37,806
Men 57.8% Women 42.2% |
19,552
Men 50.5% Women 49.5% |
Graduate students |
12,538
Men 57.5% Women 42.5% |
4,879
Men 49.2% Women 50.8% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Very Low
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Out-of-state students | 51.2% | 25.7% |
International students | 17.8% | 7.4% |
Campus local/setting | City: Small | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 15,597 | 6,936 |
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 | Nebraska Illinois Minnesota Kansas Iowa |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 14:1 | 16:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 82.7% | 66.4% |
Dropout rate | 16.0% | 10.7% |
Transferred out | N/A | 21.4% |
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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Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Education, Other (Doctoral Degrees)
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Doctoral Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
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