What do Purdue University-Main Campus graduates earn?

Purdue University-Main Campus graduates earn a median of $72,424 per year, 10 years after starting college. This is $27,424 above the national median of $45,000.

How much does Purdue University-Main Campus cost per year?

Purdue University-Main Campus charges $9,992 per year for in-state students and $28,794 per year for out-of-state students in tuition.

West Lafayette, IN · Private University

Is Purdue University Worth It?

ROI analysis based on real earnings and cost data

Strong ROIRanked #1898 of 3,472 schools by ROI

Key Numbers

10-Year Earnings

$72,424

median, 10 years after enrollment

In-State Tuition

$9,992

per year

Out-of-State Tuition

$28,794

per year

Total 4-Year Cost

$115,176

tuition only (4 years)

ROI Ratio

2.52x

earnings ÷ annual tuition

Payback Period

3.1 yrs

years to recoup total cost

Graduation Rate

83.1%

6-year graduation rate

Median Debt

$19,500

at graduation

Avg Net Price

$13,945

after aid & scholarships

Earnings vs. Annual Cost

10-year median earnings compared to annual tuition

Median Earnings (10yr)$72,424

Annual Tuition$28,794

National Median Earnings$45,000

Purdue University-Main Campus graduates earn $27,424 more than the national median of workers with any education level.

What You'd Actually Pay

Average net price after grants and scholarships, by family income

Under $30,000$4,927/yr

$30,000 – $48,000$5,925/yr

$48,000 – $75,000$8,948/yr

$75,000 – $110,000$18,919/yr

Over $110,000$21,130/yr

Source: IPEDS net price data. Actual costs vary based on individual financial circumstances.

Highest-Earning Majors

Top programs at Purdue University-Main Campus ranked by graduate earnings

Computer Science.$116,601

244 graduates

Computer Engineering.$103,645

95 graduates

Industrial Engineering.$92,621

144 graduates

Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods.$92,054

92 graduates

Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering.$91,645

131 graduates

Earnings shown are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 1-year medians.

ROI by Major at Purdue University-Main Campus

All available majors ranked by graduate earnings — your major matters as much as your school.

Your major matters more than your school

At Purdue University-Main Campus, the gap between the highest-earning major (Computer Science: $116,601) and the lowest (Fine and Studio Arts: $27,114) is $89,487/yr — bigger than the difference between many schools.

Major	Earnings	Avg Debt	ROI
Computer ScienceBest ROI	$116,601	$19,375	4.0x
Computer Engineering	$103,645	$23,000	3.6x
Industrial Engineering	$92,621	$19,427	3.2x
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods	$92,054	$18,284	3.2x
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering	$91,645	$21,500	3.2x
Statistics	$90,328	$19,500	3.1x
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering	$89,141	$19,000	3.1x
Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians	$85,916	$19,270	3.0x
Mechanical Engineering	$85,429	$19,937	3.0x
Chemical Engineering	$85,260	$21,500	3.0x
Computer and Information Sciences, General	$84,996	$19,985	3.0x
General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations	$79,965	$19,402	2.8x
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians	$79,638	$21,345	2.8x
Materials Engineering(1yr data)	$78,265	$21,335	2.7x
Biomedical/Medical Engineering	$78,264	$19,500	2.7x
Agricultural Engineering	$77,760	$20,000	2.7x
Construction Engineering(1yr data)	$76,966	$24,250	2.7x
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology	$76,574	$18,540	2.7x
Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians	$76,358	$23,250	2.6x
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians	$75,842	$20,500	2.6x
Civil Engineering	$75,048	$19,500	2.6x
Finance and Financial Management Services	$74,985	$22,335	2.6x
Accounting and Related Services	$74,894	$19,500	2.6x
Engineering, Other(1yr data)	$74,668	$20,000	2.6x
Engineering-Related Fields(1yr data)	$72,252	$16,625	2.5x
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering(1yr data)	$71,861	$16,316	2.5x
Business Administration, Management and Operations	$71,553	$19,500	2.5x
Air Transportation	$71,373	$21,250	2.5x
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other	$69,530	$23,538	2.4x
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing	$67,061	$20,455	2.3x
Economics	$65,456	$24,700	2.3x
Nuclear Engineering(1yr data)	$63,226	$20,500	2.2x
Agricultural Mechanization	$62,736	$20,270	2.2x
Agricultural Business and Management	$60,163	$17,500	2.1x
Political Science and Government	$59,857	$20,000	2.1x
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration(1yr data)	$57,096	$19,046	2.0x
Biology, General	$56,985	$20,380	2.0x
Agricultural Production Operations(1yr data)	$56,835	$15,211	2.0x
Marketing(1yr data)	$56,668	$19,264	2.0x
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services	$55,867	$19,500	1.9x
Public Health	$54,930	$21,500	1.9x
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services	$53,617	$19,500	1.9x
Health and Physical Education/Fitness	$53,337	$20,500	1.9x
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services	$52,007	$20,254	1.8x
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other(1yr data)	$50,059	$21,500	1.7x
Animal Sciences	$49,742	$20,500	1.7x
Mathematics(1yr data)	$49,387	$18,820	1.7x
Design and Applied Arts	$49,180	$20,250	1.7x
Hospitality Administration/Management	$48,973	$19,432	1.7x
Special Education and Teaching(1yr data)	$48,773	$26,276	1.7x
Chemistry	$48,715	$19,500	1.7x
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas	$46,189	$19,500	1.6x
Communication and Media Studies	$45,861	$18,500	1.6x
Computer Software and Media Applications	$45,686	$21,250	1.6x
Sociology	$44,808	$20,500	1.6x
Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians(1yr data)	$43,747	$17,098	1.5x
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods	$43,083	$18,646	1.5x
Research and Experimental Psychology	$43,070	$19,500	1.5x
Forestry(1yr data)	$43,029	—	1.5x
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services	$42,338	$15,304	1.5x
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences(1yr data)	$39,692	$16,000	1.4x
Genetics(1yr data)	$39,052	$15,000	1.4x
Natural Resources Conservation and Research(1yr data)	$38,989	$19,500	1.4x
Neurobiology and Neurosciences(1yr data)	$37,612	$21,177	1.3x
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies	$37,400	$20,038	1.3x
English Language and Literature, General	$34,082	$19,500	1.2x
Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management	$32,241	$20,500	1.1x
Physics(1yr data)	$30,203	$21,948	1.1x
Anthropology(1yr data)	$28,587	$18,972	1.0x
Fine and Studio ArtsLowest(1yr data)	$27,114	$21,128	0.9x

Earnings are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 5-year or 1-year. ROI = earnings ÷ annual tuition.

How It Compares

ROI at similar schools

School	ROI Ratio	Earnings	Verdict
Purdue University-Main Campus	2.52x	$72,424	Strong ROI
University of Wisconsin-Madison	1.82x	$73,792	Good ROI
Ohio State University-Main Campus	1.57x	$60,409	Good ROI
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University	2.23x	$81,698	Strong ROI
Rutgers University-New Brunswick	2.07x	$74,479	Strong ROI
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus	1.58x	$63,435	Good ROI

The Bottom Line

Purdue University-Main Campus stands out as a strong financial investment among U.S. colleges. Graduates earn $72,424 10 years after starting — $27,424 above the national median of $45,000. The investment pays for itself in roughly 3.1 years — faster than most colleges.

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Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Tuition data from IPEDS. ROI calculations are for informational purposes only and reflect median outcomes.