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West Lafayette , IN
Purdue University is a public research university located in West Lafayette, Indiana. Established in 1869, it is one of the largest and most prestigious universities in the United States. Known for its cutting-edge research programs, technological advancements, and strong academic offerings, Purdue is renowned for its engineering, agriculture, business, and science programs.
One of Purdue's strengths lies in its engineering programs, consistently ranked among the top in the nation. Students benefit from access to state-of-the-art facilities and research centers, collaborating with renowned faculty experts in various engineering disciplines. The university is also home to Purdue Research Foundation, supporting innovative research and fostering entrepreneurship, resulting in numerous patents and successful startup companies.
Moreover, Purdue offers a diverse range of academic programs across its 10 colleges, ensuring students have ample opportunities to pursue their passions. With a student population from all 50 states and over 130 countries, the university provides a dynamic and inclusive environment for learning and growth. Beyond academics, Purdue boasts a vibrant campus life, with hundreds of student organizations, athletic events, and cultural activities, creating a well-rounded collegiate experience.
Located in West Lafayette, IN and set in a suburban environment, Purdue University is a public university. This institution follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 49%. The freshman retention rate at Purdue University is 92.9% and the six-year graduation rate is 84%.
To find out more about what Purdue University has to offer to its students, read on for the latest data reported by this school.
Quick Facts
44,170
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
15:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
84%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
Discovering as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission increases your chances of getting admitted. Learn some essential data about admission at Purdue University.
According to the most recent information reported, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 39,096 in 2025. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
Out of the number of those who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 79.48% and ACT scores 25.44%. 41.02% of the new students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 36.25% between 1,200 and 1,399, 19.83% between 1,000 and 1,199, 2.81% of the students between 800 and 999, and 0.09% between 600 and 799. The percent of new students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 63.99, 27.63 between 24-29, 7.86 in the range between 18-23, and 0.52 between 12-17.
The ACT composite average score for all the enrolled students in 2025 was 29 while the average GPA was 3.76. Accordingly, you'll probably need an above-average GPA in order to be granted acceptance, as well as an above-average ACT score.
The SAT Critical Reading average score was 639 for the accepted students, while the average SAT Math score was 664.
Retention Rate
The percentage of new students at a college or university who stay on for their second year is known as the freshman retention rate. When creating your list of possible schools to attend, you should consider the freshman retention rate, among other things.
The freshman retention rate for Purdue University was 92.9% in 2025, which is an outstanding retention rate only the most prestigious institutions have.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. At this academic institution, the proportion of students graduating in six years is 84%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Figuring out which school is the right fit for you is not a task you should take lightly. Obtaining a better insight into a school's student body helps you learn more about its culture and life.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at Purdue University in 2025 was 58,009.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 49.19% for that year. There was a total of 44,170 undergraduate students, including 4,397 international students. 1,014 students enrolled as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 28,837 male and 19,986 female full-time students in 2025. 3,909 full-time graduate men and 2,960 full-time graduate women attended this school.
Student Population Diversity
In order to promote a sense of inclusion and belonging among its students, higher education is dedicated to increasing student diversity. A heterogeneous student body brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 6,737, and the number of Black American students was 1,216. 3,300 undergraduates at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 2,108 identified with more than one race. The school also had 19 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 41 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 2,453 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before sending an application to any college or university, the financial component should be taken into consideration. The latest information on the expenses that most students at this school incur are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some facts that can be useful if you were curious about Purdue University estimated tuition costs.
Tuition fees for area resident were $9,718, as reported by public county or municipal institutions. For out-of-state students, tuition fees amounted to $28,520. If you are an international student at Purdue University, you should know that the 2025 tuition came to $31,830. Fees per academic year required of full-time students reached $784 in 2025.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $28,520 | $784 | $29,304 |
| In-State | $9,718 | $784 | $10,502 |
Books and Supplies
The approximate price of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into account as another significant expense. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $1,090.
Boarding
Before you apply to a college or university, you should, among other things, think about the price of a dorm room and cafeteria meals. How much do room and board fees average around at colleges and universities?
In 2025, room and board cost at Purdue University amounted to $13,720 a year. If you only wanted a room on the campus, it cost $7,820 for the 2025 academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was also $7,820.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 9,718 |
| Room and Board | $ 13,720 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,090 |
| Total Expense | $ 24,528 |
Financial Aid
Financial support for students comes in different forms: grants, loans, scholarships, or work-study programs. If you are interested in finding out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Purdue University, here are some recent data you should consider.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 2,864 freshmen. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $13,946.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
There were 8,987 students who got need-based financial aid of any kind. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need came to be 11,222. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution came to $30,142,409, and state $24,919,498. The students of Purdue University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $59,280,723, and external in the amount of $6,053,295.
$5,359
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
1,253 students, including freshmen, received institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid at this school in 2025. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 440 full-time freshmen. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $33,857,280. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $10,833,351 USD.
Open Applications
Find open programs by choosing your preferred academic interest from the list below, and select your desired term start. Get started with your application process and find more information using the Apply button.
Majors
Faculty
15:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty or student-to-professor ratio represents the number of students compared to the number of professors at a school.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Purdue University was 15:1: that means 15 students per one teacher. According to the most recent information, there are 3,162 faculty members at this school. This number included 1,910 male and 1,252 female faculty members.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Check out some details about social life at Purdue University.
Its campus spans 2,468 acres.
Student Organizations
Being a member of a student organization will make you connect better with your fellow students and enjoy your college years more.
The number of student organizations and groups with open membership at this school is 915. That includes sororities and fraternities. 15 percent of male and 19 of female students participate in different organizations at Purdue University. The student organization that gathers the largest number of students is HTM Society, followed by Purdue Grand Prix and Purdue Student Union Board. Other popular organizations at Purdue University are Purdue Paint Crew and Purdue Dance Marathon.
If you are interested in music, you can join the Purdue University band or chorus. For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. Interested in media and communication? Purdue University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
Purdue University has a number of services important for a pleasant and secure life on campus.
24/7 emergency phone and alarm devices are available. Dormitory entrances at the school are electronically operated. There is a security patrol that operates around the clock. The after-hours transportation/escort service is available.
This school has a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Legal Services, Veteran's Affairs and Women's Center are available to the students of Purdue University.
All in all, campus life at Purdue University is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Purdue University.
Career Counselling
At Purdue University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be a great asset for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
Job Placement
Understanding the potential salary after graduating can be of help in determining if a specific educational institution matches your professional aspirations.
The average annual salary for graduates employed six months after graduation from this institution is 62,452 USD.
$62,452
Average Starting Salary After 6 Months of Graduation
FAQ
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Purdue University is located in West Lafayette, IN.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Purdue University is 49%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for Purdue University is 92.9%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
