WEST LAFAYETTE — Purdue University, a leading land-grant institution committed to affordability and accessibility, is ranked second nationally and tops in Indiana and across the Big Ten in SmartAsset’s 2026 study of America’s Best Value Public Universities for its cost of attendance, median alumni earnings and graduation rate.
Purdue achieved its strong placement based on its annual cost of attendance at $24,591, median earnings of alumni at $72,424, and an 83% graduation rate, according to the SmartAsset rankings released July 9.
Purdue this time trailed only the University of Florida, which had a 91% graduation rate and alumni earnings of $71,588. New York City-based Baruch College was No. 3. In SmartAsset’s 2023 Best Value Universities report, Purdue ranked No. 6 among public institutions and No. 15 overall.
For its rankings, SmartAsset evaluated over 500 public colleges and universities in the United States to identify the best values. Schools with an average cost of attendance below the median for similar institutions were assigned composite scores based on graduation rates and median earnings 10 years after first enrollment. The 50 highest-scoring schools were named America’s best-value public universities.
Cost of attendance includes the annual price of tuition, books, fees, and living expenses. Its metrics were based on data published in March 2026.
