Cost & ROI · 2026
Is Purdue University-Main Campus worth it?
Pay $14,600/yr after aid. Graduates earn a median of $72,424 ten years out — about 5.0× the annual cost. EduGradify value grade: A.
The ROI math, in 30 seconds
Benchmarks
Purdue University-Main Campus vs Indiana avg vs national avg
How this school stacks up against the typical Indiana college and the typical US college.
| Metric | Purdue University-Main Campus | Indiana avg | National avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg net price | ▲ $14,600 | $19,858 | $18,467 |
| Median earnings 10y | ▲ $72,424 | $55,495 | $50,834 |
| Median debt | ▲ $19,500 | $22,640 | $19,694 |
| Graduation rate | ▲ 83.1% | 54.4% | 49.9% |
| Acceptance rate | ▼ 49.9% | 76.5% | 72.3% |
Hidden cost
What you actually pay, by family income
Net price after grants and scholarships changes a lot depending on family income. Find your bracket.
Total cost
4-year cost projection
Estimated net price each year through graduation, assuming a typical 3% annual tuition increase.
Sticker price (without aid) would run roughly $98,364 over four years. Most students get $9,991/yr in grants and scholarships.
Debt math
Loan repayment scenarios
If you borrow the median $19,500 at a 6.5% federal rate, here's what each repayment plan looks like.
Debt-to-earnings: 27% of one year's median pay. Financial advisors recommend keeping student debt under 100% of expected first-year salary. You're well below that threshold.
Lifetime impact
Lifetime earnings boost vs no degree
Over a typical 40-year career, the median Purdue University-Main Campus grad earns about $1,096,960 more than a high school graduate (assuming HS median ≈ $45k/yr, BLS).
Caveat: this is a population median, not a guarantee. Actual outcomes vary widely by major, career path, and individual choices. We're showing the median to set realistic expectations.
The verdict
What the numbers say about Purdue University-Main Campus
The average student at Purdue University-Main Campus pays $14,600 a year after grants and scholarships, against a $24,591 published sticker price. That is below the IN average net price of $19,858.
Ten years after entry, graduates earn a median of $72,424 — above the IN median of $55,495. Weighed against what students actually pay, EduGradify models this as an exceptional investment.
Typical graduates borrow about $19,500, roughly $212 a month on a standard ten-year plan — a manageable load at about 27% of one year's median earnings.
Frequently asked
Cost & ROI questions
What is the net price at Purdue University-Main Campus?
The average net price — what students actually pay after grants and scholarships — is $14,600 per year. That's $9,991/yr in financial aid against the $24,591 sticker price. Over four years, that adds up to roughly $58,400.
How much do Purdue University-Main Campus graduates earn?
Ten years after enrolling, Purdue University-Main Campus graduates earn a median of $72,424 per year — above the national average of $50,834. That's about 5.0× the annual net cost.
How much debt do Purdue University-Main Campus graduates take on?
Median federal loan debt at graduation is $19,500 — about $212/month on a standard 10-year repayment plan (assuming a 6.5% federal rate). 22.5% of students take federal loans.
Is Purdue University-Main Campus worth the cost?
EduGradify assigns Purdue University-Main Campus a value grade of A — top 19% on real ROI nationally. The math: pay $14,600/yr, earn $72,424/yr ten years out, ROI score of 12.40. Exceptional Investment.
What financial aid is available at Purdue University-Main Campus?
13% of students receive federal Pell Grants (need-based federal aid). 22.5% take federal student loans. On average, students get $9,991 per year in grants and scholarships off the sticker price.
What's the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition at Purdue University-Main Campus?
In-state tuition is $9,992 per year. Out-of-state tuition is $28,794 per year — a difference of $18,802/yr or $75,208 over four years.
How does net price change with family income at Purdue University-Main Campus?
Net price is income-adjusted — lower-income families typically pay much less. Students from families earning under $30k pay about $5,098. Students from families earning over $110k pay about $22,742. See the chart below for all five income bands.
How we calculate ROI
Every number on this page comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. ROI score = (median earnings 10 years out × 10) / (avg net price × 4). The higher the ratio, the more graduates earn per dollar invested. We then percentile-rank every US college on that score to assign letter grades A+ through D. Read the full methodology →