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Naman Arora Study Abroad Course Specialist
Study Abroad Course Specialist
Indiana University Bloomington, or IU, is a public research university located in Bloomington, Indiana, within the Bloomington metropolitan area. The admissions are moderately selective with an acceptance rate for IU of around 82%. It has a large number of approximately 34,000 undergraduate students. Some of the most popular courses at Indiana University are Business, Public Administration, Computer Science, Biological Sciences, and Social Sciences. Its six-year graduation rate is approximately 81%, and its alumni have median earnings of roughly INR 57,00,000 or USD 67,000 ten years after graduation.
Purdue University – West Lafayette is a public research university located in West Lafayette, Indiana, within the Lafayette metropolitan area. Its admissions are more competitive with an acceptance rate by Purdue of around 53%. It is also a big institution with roughly 37,000 undergraduates. Among the most sought-after programs offered at Purdue are Engineering, Computer Science, Business, Agricultural Sciences, and Health Professions. The six-year graduation rate is around 83%, while median earnings reported by alumni are approximately INR 62,00,000 or USD 73,000 ten years after graduation.
| Indiana University | Purdue University | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 5.4 Out of 10 | 5.8 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 198 Times Higher Education 2026 # 306 QS World University 2026 # 121 Center for World University Rankings 2025 | # 85 Times Higher Education 2026 # 88 QS World University 2026 # 66 Center for World University Rankings 2025 |
| Subject Strength | # 301 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2025 # 301 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 # 46 for Law by US News 2025 | # 6 for Engineering by US News 2025 # 51 for Data Science and Analytics by QS World University 2025 # 301 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 |
| Programs | UG Programs -34 PG Programs -85 Doctorate Programs -9 | UG Programs -197 PG Programs -57 Doctorate Programs -7 |
| Acceptance Rate | 78.0 % | 50.3 % |
| Exam Score | Duolingo-100 GMAT-670 GRE-309 IELTS-6 PTE-48 SAT-1140 TOEFL-79 | IELTS-7.5 SAT-1150 TOEFL-80 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 37600 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 54635 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 13984 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 31104 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 28203 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 33118 Per Year |
| placement (average package) | Annual salary offered to graduates is 67,000 USD; the annual ROI of the university is 8.1%. MBA: $115,000; Msc: $82,000; BSc.: $75,000, BA: $70,000. | Top recruiters are Cummins Inc, Boeing Company, Eli Lily and Company, Northrop Grumman Corporation, etc.
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| Campuses and B-Schools | Kelley School of Business | Krannert School of Management |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 7.5/10 Read 9 reviews | 7.9/10 Read 18 reviews |
Top Courses Comparison
| ranking | # 27 for Public Health by US News 2025 | # 101 for Communication Studies by QS World University 2025 # 127 for Communication Studies by Times Higher Education 2023 |
| exam scores | Duolingo - 110/160GRE - 300/340TOEFL - 100/120 | IELTS - 6.5/9TOEFL - 90/120 |
| cost to study | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -24898 | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) - |
| documents required | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose |
| application dates | Jan 15, 2024 (Priority Application Deadline For Fall Intake) Apr 15, 2024 (Final Application Deadline For Fall Intake) | Feb 15, 2025 (Application Deadline For Fall 2025 Intake) Sep 1, 2025 (Application Deadline For Spring 2026 Intake) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | Indiana University | Purdue University |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1820 | 1869 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 13:1 |
| Male:Female | 51% Male, 49% Female | 58% Male, 42% Female |
| Location Facts | Bloomington campus listed as one of the most beautiful campuses of US by Travel+Leisure; Jordan River flows through the center of campus. Bloomington campus is one of the oldest and two of the main core campuses. It rests on the bed of Indiana Limestone with outcroppings of St. Louis Limestone. | West Lafayette campus located in Indiana is the flagship campus of Purdue University System |
| Library | Has dozens of libraries spread across campus; 9.9 miliion volumes in 450 languages, 1.9 million e-books, 60000 elctronic journal subscriptions, 100 thousand films. | 9 libraries: 6 subject-oriented, Hicks Undergraduate Library, VIrginia Kelly Karnes Archives, Special Collection Research Center, Includes 3,317,331 printed volumes and electronic books; 227,814 electronic and print journals; 400,000 microforms and government documents. |
| Campus Life | Over 750 student organizations, 70 fraternities and sororities, 70 clubs, and intramural sports. Over 100 films are screened on-campus and 1500+ performances for ballet, arts, music, and more. The campus has its own art gallery. 55+ intramural sports teams indulge in various varsity sports. | Over 1000 sports clubs and organizations such as A Cause for Paws, Make and Go Maker Space Initiative, 3D Printing Club, Accounting Association, Center for Democratic Citizenship |
| Hostel | #Housing & Food - $13984 | #Room and board - $12820 #Triple Room - $4680 #Large Double shared Bathroom - $6484 #Single room - $9134 |
| Famous Alumni | Howard Ashman (Oscar-winning playwright and lyricist); Meg Cabot (author); Alex Dickerson (baseball player); Jason Jordan (professional wrestler); James Watson (Molecular biologist, geneticist, zoologist); Jimmy Wales (founder of Wikipedia), etc. | 23 astronauts including Neil Armstrong (first man to walk on moon), Edward Mills Purcell (Nobel laureate, physicist), Yitang Zhang (mathematician), Jeffrey Lacker (Federal Reserve Bank president), James Thompson (CEO of Rand Corporation) |
| City Life | Bloomington is home to a large number of employers providing over 100,000 jobs locally. The largest employer is Mall of America. It has more jobs per capita than St. Paul or Minneapolis. The city has great metro connectivity, one-third of the city is reserved for parks, has extensive park system, has the center of arts, and more to offer. Skiing is an adventure sport available in Bloomington. The unemployment rate (May 2020) reached 10%. | Lafayette – West Lafayette is situated between Chicago, Illinois and Indianapolis; Has over 40 parks and extensive trail systems, many nationally and international known high-tech corporations and institutions; population is approximately 190,000 |
| Weather |
Indiana University vs Purdue University – West Lafayette
Subject Strength & World Rankings (2025/2026)
Indiana University Bloomington (IU) is globally known for its Business (Kelley School), Informatics, Public Affairs, Music, and Social Sciences. In the QS World University Rankings 2026, IU features at around 320, whereas in the THE World University Rankings 2025, it is in the 201–250 band. Purdue University – West Lafayette is internationally renowned for Engineering, Computer Science, Aviation, and STEM studies. Purdue is ranked around 89th in QS 2026 and 86th in THE 2025, much higher than IU because of its globally impacting STEM-intensive research.
General Information
IU Bloomington, established in 1820, has around 48,000 students in a traditional college town with a prominent liberal arts and business environment. Purdue, founded in 1869 in West Lafayette, Indiana, with an enrollment of around 52,000 and its greatest claim to fame being engineering and technology, is IU's equivalent to the arts, business, and social sciences of the state, whereas Purdue is the STEM powerhouse of the state, famously referred to as the "Cradle of Astronauts" due to its alumni such as Neil Armstrong.
Acceptance Rate & Admission
IU Bloomington has an acceptance rate of approximately 82%, with usual admits holding a 3.8 GPA and SAT scores between 1160–1380. Purdue, however, is more restrictive, with an acceptance rate of around 53%, and accepted applicants typically have a 3.9+ GPA and SAT scores ranging from 1250–1470, particularly for Engineering, Computer Science, and Nursing, which are among the most competitive.
Research Impact & Facilities
IU is an R1-ranked research university, featuring top schools like the Luddy School of Informatics and the O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Its research areas are most advanced in social sciences, business, health, and environmental policy. Purdue is also an R1 research giant, although on a much broader global STEM reach. It spends more than $600 million a year on research and is a leader in aerospace, nuclear, biomedical, and computer sciences research. Its Discovery Park District and robust corporate collaborations make it among the most innovative U.S. campuses.
Cost & Financial Aid
At IU Bloomington, the cost of tuition is approximately $12,700 per year for in-state students and $39,000 for out-of-state/international students. At Purdue, the cost is a little lower: $10,000 or so per year for in-state students and $28,000 for out-of-state/international students, making Purdue a more affordable option, particularly for international students. Both have solid scholarships, but IU prioritizes need-based and business/arts merit scholarships, while Purdue has STEM-oriented and merit-based aid.
Graduate Studies & Alumni Outcomes
IU graduates shine in business, law, government, arts, and technology, with mid-career salaries averaging close to $90,000 (INR 74 lakh). Purdue graduates lead the pack in engineering, aerospace, IT, healthcare, and entrepreneurship, with mid-career salaries averaging close to $95,000–$100,000 (INR 78–82 lakh). IU shines most with the likes of Mark Cuban and Herman B Wells, while Purdue boasts astronauts such as Neil Armstrong and trailblazers in worldwide engineering and science.
