Purdue vs University of Maryland-College Park (UMD)
Purdue University-Main Campus and University of Maryland-College Park, both esteemed public research universities, offer distinct academic experiences. Purdue, known for its strength in STEM fields, boasts a lower acceptance rate (29%) compared to Maryland's (44%). While Maryland's student body is more diverse, Purdue has a higher graduation rate (82% vs. 80%). Explore our comprehensive comparison table to delve into further details, including popular majors, student demographics, and financial aid options, to help you make an informed decision that aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Purdue University-Main Campus |
![]() University of Maryland-College Park |
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Overview |
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Location | West Lafayette, Indiana | College Park, Maryland |
Campus setting | City: Small | Suburb: 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% | 95.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 68.8% | 52.0% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$60
Graduate:
$60
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Undergraduate:
$75
Graduate:
$75
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SAT range | 1190 - 1430 | 1330 - 1510 |
ACT range | 26 - 33 | 30 - 34 |
Students submitting SAT score | 62.0% | 34.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 31.0% | 9.0% |
Total number of applicants | 59,436 | 50,183 |
Total number of admissions given out | 40,898 | 26,109 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 10,278 | 6,072 |
Yield rate | 25.1% | 23.3% |
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:
$30,997
Out of state:
$58,678
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Average net price | $14,619 | $17,146 |
Tuition |
In state:
$9,718
Out of state:
$28,520
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In state:
$9,000
Out of state:
$36,681
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$4,860
Meal plan:
$5,398
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Room/dormitory:
$8,072
Meal plan:
$5,578
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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 |
56.0%
Average amount $10,645 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
29.0%
Average amount $5,101 |
20.0%
Average amount $5,065 |
Students taking out private loans |
7.0%
Average amount $18,535 |
4.0%
Average amount $22,924 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
37,806
Men 57.8% Women 42.2% |
30,922
Men 50.8% Women 49.2% |
Graduate students |
12,538
Men 57.5% Women 42.5% |
10,350
Men 50.7% Women 49.3% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | 51.2% | 29.5% |
International students | 17.8% | 10.3% |
Campus local/setting | City: Small | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 15,597 | 11,846 |
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 | Maryland New Jersey New York Pennsylvania Virginia |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 14:1 | 18:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 82.7% | 87.7% |
Dropout rate | 16.0% | 4.0% |
Transferred out | N/A | 7.7% |
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)
Engineering, General (Master's Degrees)
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Physics (Doctoral Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Information Science/Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
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