Purdue vs Berkeley
Purdue University-Main Campus and University of California-Berkeley, two esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Purdue, a public research university in West Lafayette, Indiana, boasts a lower acceptance rate (29%) compared to Berkeley's (17%). Both universities excel in STEM fields, with Purdue excelling in engineering and Berkeley in computer science. Purdue's student body is more diverse, with a higher percentage of international students, while Berkeley's student body is larger and more ethnically diverse. Berkeley has a slightly higher graduation rate (88%) compared to Purdue's (84%). Explore the detailed comparison table 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 California-Berkeley |
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Overview |
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Location | West Lafayette, Indiana | Berkeley, California |
Campus setting | City: Small | City: Midsize |
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% | 96.0% |
![]() |
Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 68.8% | 14.4% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$60
Graduate:
$60
|
Undergraduate:
$70
Graduate:
$120
|
SAT range | 1190 - 1430 | N/A |
ACT range | 26 - 33 | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | 62.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 31.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 59,436 | 112,843 |
Total number of admissions given out | 40,898 | 16,295 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 10,278 | 6,931 |
Yield rate | 25.1% | 42.5% |
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:
$37,920
Out of state:
$67,674
|
Average net price | $14,619 | $17,652 |
Tuition |
In state:
$9,718
Out of state:
$28,520
|
In state:
$11,442
Out of state:
$41,196
|
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$4,860
Meal plan:
$5,398
|
$20,236 |
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 |
52.0%
Average amount $21,406 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
29.0%
Average amount $5,101 |
15.0%
Average amount $4,586 |
Students taking out private loans |
7.0%
Average amount $18,535 |
6.0%
Average amount $7,122 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
37,806
Men 57.8% Women 42.2% |
31,814
Men 45.4% Women 54.6% |
Graduate students |
12,538
Men 57.5% Women 42.5% |
13,222
Men 51.7% Women 48.3% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Moderate
|
Out-of-state students | 51.2% | 16.9% |
International students | 17.8% | 18.0% |
Campus local/setting | City: Small | City: Midsize |
Dormitory capacity | 15,597 | 9,630 |
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 | California New Jersey Texas Virginia New York |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 14:1 | 20:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 82.7% | 92.8% |
Dropout rate | 16.0% | 6.3% |
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)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Information Science/Studies (Master's Degrees)
Chemistry (Doctoral Degrees)
Optometry (First Professional Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Applied Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
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