Purdue vs Virginia Tech
Purdue University-Main Campus and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, commonly known as Purdue and Virginia Tech, are two highly regarded public research universities with distinct characteristics. Purdue, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, boasts a larger student body and a higher acceptance rate compared to Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia. While both universities offer a wide range of academic programs, Purdue is renowned for its engineering, technology, and agriculture programs, while Virginia Tech excels in engineering, business, and agriculture. Explore the detailed comparison table to delve into further differences, including student demographics, graduation rates, and popular majors, to determine which university better aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Purdue University-Main Campus |
![]() Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University |
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Overview |
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Location | West Lafayette, Indiana | Blacksburg, Virginia |
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% | 92.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 68.8% | 56.5% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$60
Graduate:
$60
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Undergraduate:
$60
Graduate:
$75
|
SAT range | 1190 - 1430 | 1210 - 1410 |
ACT range | 26 - 33 | 26 - 32 |
Students submitting SAT score | 62.0% | 83.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 31.0% | 35.0% |
Total number of applicants | 59,436 | 42,054 |
Total number of admissions given out | 40,898 | 23,746 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 10,278 | 6,758 |
Yield rate | 25.1% | 28.5% |
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:
$30,104
Out of state:
$49,787
|
Average net price | $14,619 | $20,109 |
Tuition |
In state:
$9,718
Out of state:
$28,520
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In state:
$11,750
Out of state:
$30,829
|
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$4,860
Meal plan:
$5,398
|
Room/dormitory:
$5,890
Meal plan:
$4,736
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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 |
58.0%
Average amount $8,018 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
29.0%
Average amount $5,101 |
40.0%
Average amount $5,316 |
Students taking out private loans |
7.0%
Average amount $18,535 |
9.0%
Average amount $20,728 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
37,806
Men 57.8% Women 42.2% |
29,760
Men 57.3% Women 42.7% |
Graduate students |
12,538
Men 57.5% Women 42.5% |
7,519
Men 56.5% Women 43.5% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Low
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Out-of-state students | 51.2% | 39.5% |
International students | 17.8% | 9.9% |
Campus local/setting | City: Small | City: Small |
Dormitory capacity | 15,597 | 9,471 |
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 | Virginia Maryland New Jersey North Carolina Pennsylvania |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 14:1 | 14:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 82.7% | 86.6% |
Dropout rate | 16.0% | 12.3% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
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)
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other (Master's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Veterinary Medicine (Doctoral Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Public Administration (Master's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
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