Open University vs Purdue Global:Which is more popular?
In October 2026, Open University had more branded searches than Purdue Global among university online degrees worldwide. Open University had about 450,000 branded searches, while Purdue Global had 74,000. Open University made up 20.8% of all university online degree searches we track, and Purdue Global accounted for 3.4%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about university online degrees, neither Open University nor Purdue Global appeared in any of the five answers.
Who do people search for more?
Open University, about 6 searches for every 1 for Purdue Global
Who does AI mention more?
Both were mentioned in 0 of 5 answers.
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Top university online degrees in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, neither Open University nor Purdue Global showed up in any of the five answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
Western Governors University5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
SNHU3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Arizona State University Online3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
University of Florida Online3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
University of the People1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
University of Phoenix0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Open University0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Capella University0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Walden University0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Purdue Global0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about university online degrees
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which university online degree should I join?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best university online degrees?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best university online degree for working adults?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“accredited online degree”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“online bachelor's degree”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.
Is Open University or Purdue Global more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Open University and Purdue Global by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 14 university online degree brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Open University, Purdue Global. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | University of Phoenix | Open University | Western Governors University | SNHU | Capella University | University of the People | Walden University | Arden University | Purdue Global | Strayer University | Arizona State University Online | University of Florida Online | Coursera | edX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2025 | 22.3% | 22.3% | 14.9% | 8.2% | 5.5% | 6.7% | 6.7% | 5.5% | 3% | 3% | 1.3% | 0.4% | 0.22% | 0.03% |
| Dec 2025 | 20.2% | 16.5% | 20.2% | 9.1% | 6% | 6% | 7.4% | 5% | 4.1% | 3.3% | 1.5% | 0.44% | 0.21% | 0.03% |
| Jan 2026 | 22.4% | 18.3% | 18.3% | 10% | 5.5% | 5.5% | 6.7% | 4.5% | 3.7% | 3% | 1.3% | 0.49% | 0.12% | 0.02% |
| Feb 2026 | 21.9% | 17.9% | 17.9% | 9.8% | 6.6% | 5.4% | 6.6% | 5.4% | 3.6% | 2.9% | 1.3% | 0.59% | 0.13% | 0.03% |
| Mar 2026 | 24.5% | 16.4% | 16.4% | 9% | 6% | 4.9% | 7.4% | 6% | 4% | 2.7% | 1.5% | 0.99% | 0.12% | 0.02% |
| Apr 2026 | 25.3% | 16.9% | 16.9% | 9.2% | 5.1% | 6.2% | 6.2% | 5.1% | 4.2% | 2.8% | 1.5% | 0.56% | 0.1% | 0.02% |
| May 2026 | 24.2% | 16.2% | 16.2% | 8.8% | 5.9% | 7.3% | 7.3% | 4.8% | 4% | 2.7% | 1.8% | 0.65% | 0.11% | 0.02% |
| Jun 2026 | 26% | 14.2% | 17.4% | 9.5% | 5.2% | 7.8% | 6.4% | 5.2% | 3.5% | 2.9% | 1.6% | 0.38% | 0.08% | 0.02% |
| Jul 2026 | 24.5% | 20% | 16.4% | 8.9% | 4.9% | 6% | 6% | 4.9% | 3.3% | 3.3% | 1.5% | 0.29% | 0.07% | 0.02% |
| Aug 2026 | 24.9% | 16.7% | 16.7% | 9.1% | 6.1% | 6.1% | 7.5% | 4.1% | 4.1% | 2.7% | 1.5% | 0.37% | 0.08% | 0.02% |
| Sep 2026 | 24.4% | 20% | 16.3% | 8.9% | 4.9% | 6% | 6% | 6% | 3.3% | 2.7% | 1.2% | 0.29% | 0.08% | 0.02% |
| Oct 2026 | 25.4% | 20.8% | 13.9% | 7.6% | 6.2% | 6.2% | 6.2% | 5.1% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 1.3% | 0.25% | 0.12% | 0.01% |
How has branded search for Open University and Purdue Global changed worldwide over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Open University was ahead of Purdue Global in every measured month of the 12 months ending October 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Open University’s share of searches among university online degrees worldwide moved from 22.3% to 20.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 450K.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Purdue Global’s share of searches among university online degrees worldwide moved from 3% to 3.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 60.5K to 74K.
How did search popularity change for university online degrees worldwide in October 2026?
2 changes

In October 2026, Open University gained share of searches among university online degrees worldwide, from 20% to 20.8%.

Estimated monthly branded searches for Purdue Global worldwide rose 22.3% over 12 measured months, from 60.5K to 74K in October 2026.
How are Open University’s and Purdue Global’s branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Open University’s and Purdue Global’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Open University
1 branded search term
- openuniversity
Purdue Global
1 branded search term
- purdue global
Other head-to-heads among university online degrees

University of Phoenix vs Open University: compare popularity
University of Phoenix vs Western Governors University: compare popularity
University of Phoenix vs SNHU: compare popularity
University of Phoenix vs Capella University: compare popularity
Open University vs Western Governors University: compare popularity
Open University vs SNHU: compare popularity

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