Purdue University-Main Campus vs Indiana University-Bloomington: which has better ROI?
Purdue University-Main Campus has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $58,400 in 2.4 years versus 4.2 years at Indiana University-Bloomington, on median earnings of $72,424 vs $63,742 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Purdue University-Main Campus | Indiana University-Bloomington |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,600 | $16,264 |
| Total net cost | $58,400 | $65,056 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $72,424 | $63,742 |
| Median debt | $19,500 | $19,509 |
| Payback | 2.4 yrs | 4.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $422,880 | $242,584 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Purdue University-Main Campus or Indiana University-Bloomington?
Purdue University-Main Campus, at $14,600 a year after aid versus $16,264 — a gap of $1,664 a year, or $6,656 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Purdue University-Main Campus or Indiana University-Bloomington graduates earn more?
Purdue University-Main Campus graduates report a median $72,424 ten years after entry, $8,682 more than the $63,742 at Indiana University-Bloomington. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Purdue University-Main Campus or Indiana University-Bloomington?
Purdue University-Main Campus: its completers carry a median $19,500 in federal loans versus $19,509 at Indiana University-Bloomington, a difference of $9. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
83% of students finish at Purdue University-Main Campus, against 80% at Indiana University-Bloomington. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.