Side-by-side
Pennsylvania State University vs Purdue University-Main Campus
The numbers that actually decide it — net price after aid, how hard each is to get into, and how many students finish — compared straight across. Net price beats sticker price every time.
Both admit around 50% of applicants, with 45k undergrads and a c campus — a close selectivity match.
| Pennsylvania State University | Purdue University-Main Campus | |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 55% | 50% |
| Net price (in-state) what the average family actually pays after aid | $19,286 | $9,992 |
| Net price (out-of-state) | $38,824 | $28,794 |
| Sticker tuition (in-state) | $20,644 | $9,992 |
| Sticker tuition (out-of-state) | $41,790 | $28,794 |
| Graduation rate | 86% | 83% |
| Total enrollment | 88,502 | 44,503 |
Net price = sticker price minus the average grant aid for that school (IPEDS / Dept. of Education data). Real numbers vary by family income and student stats — verify each school's own Net Price Calculator before committing. Canonical: /compare/penn-state-vs-purdue-university-main-campus.