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Hammond , IN
Purdue University Northwest (PNW) is a public university located in Hammond, Indiana, with additional campuses in Westville and Michigan City. Established in 2016 through a merger between Purdue University Calumet and Purdue University North Central, PNW offers a diverse range of programs across multiple disciplines. The university prides itself on providing a high-quality, affordable education to its students, combined with a strong commitment to engagement, innovation, and social responsibility.
PNW offers over 70 undergraduate and graduate degree programs through its Colleges of Business, Engineering and Sciences, Humanities, Education and Social Sciences, and Nursing. The university is known for its strong focus on experiential learning, providing students with unique opportunities to gain real-world experience and develop the skills necessary for their future careers. From internships and co-op experiences to research projects and community service, PNW ensures that students are well-prepared for the challenges and opportunities they will face after graduation.
As part of the greater Purdue University system, PNW benefits from the reputation and resources of a world-class institution. The faculty at PNW are highly qualified and dedicated to the success of their students, often serving as mentors and advisors. The university also offers a wide range of student services and support, including academic counseling, career guidance, and various extracurricular activities. With its commitment to academic excellence, practical application of knowledge, and fostering a vibrant campus community, Purdue University Northwest is a leading educational institution in the region and beyond.
Located in Hammond, IN, Purdue University Northwest is a public university. This educational institution operates on a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 72%. The freshman retention rate at Purdue University Northwest is 66% and the six-year graduation rate is 43%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is August 1. For transfer students, the application deadline is July 1.
Explore this school's profile to find out all the important things about Purdue University Northwest.
Quick Facts
5,698
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
19:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
43%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
You need to learn as much as you can about the entrance requirements of the school in order to maximize your chances of being accepted. Here are the most essential facts you have to know about admission at Purdue University Northwest.
In 2025, the school accepted 6,245 new students. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.3. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into Purdue University Northwest.
Deadlines
The closing date for applications to this school is August 1. If you are applying for a transfer, the application deadline is July 1.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is defined as the percentage of first-year students who return for their sophomore year at a college or university. That information can tell you if the majority of new students liked their first year enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for Purdue University Northwest was 66% in 2025.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. At this school, the rate of students graduating within six years is 43%.
Student Body
It is always challenging to figure out which school is best for you. You can have a better understanding of the school's culture and way of life by finding out more about the student body.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at Purdue University Northwest in 2025 was 6,548.
That year, the institution had an out-of-state student body percentage of 15. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 5,698, 239 of which were international students. The school admitted a total of 356 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 2,491 male and 2,546 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
When it comes to improving a sense of inclusion and belonging among students, there is no denying the importance of 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.
This school had 186 Asian students and 654 Afro-American students in 2025. 1,531 undergraduate students at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 207 as multirace. The school also had 3 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 7 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 108 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before sending an application to any college or university, the financial component should be taken into account. Here are some details you should know about the cost of attendance for Purdue University Northwest.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition price for this university.
For the students who live in the area, the tuition cost was $8,675, as reported by public county or municipal institutions. Tuition fees were $12,587 for students coming from out of state. For the students coming from abroad, tuition at this school was $19,601. Fees per academic year required of full-time students reached $852 in 2025.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $12,587 | $852 | $13,439 |
| In-State | $8,675 | $852 | $9,527 |
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to consider the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $598.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. What do colleges and universities typically charge for room and board?
At Purdue University Northwest, the 2025 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $8,907.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 8,675 |
| Room and Board | $ 8,907 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 598 |
| Total Expense | $ 18,180 |
Financial Aid
Obtaining some financial support in forms of grants, loans, scholarships or work-study programs can be very important for completing your studies. If you want to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Purdue University Northwest, here are some recent data you should consider.
The most recent records show that 672 freshmen received some sort of financial help. The average financial aid package awarded to students reached $36,631.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
There were 1,954 students who got need-based financial aid of any kind. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need ended up being 2,653. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution was $12,443,503, and state $8,076,297.
$6,769
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
1,425 students, including freshmen, were awarded institutional non-need-based financial aid at this school in 2025. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 497 full-time freshmen. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $5,955,700. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $2,046,555 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Majors
Faculty
19:1
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 Northwest was 19:1: that means 19 students per one teacher. This school has recently reported to have 407 faculty members. Out of that number, there were 204 men and 203 women.
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 information about social life at Purdue University Northwest.
Its campus is 737 acres in size.
Student Organizations
Joining multiple student organizations can provide you a more interesting and dynamic experience.
According to the most recent information, there are 103 open-membership organizations at Purdue University Northwest. That includes sororities and fraternities. 33 percent of male and 59 of female students participate actively in different organizations at Purdue University Northwest. The student organization with the highest level of popularity is Fine Arts Club, followed by Indian Student Association at Purdue Northwest and Spanish Club. Other popular student organizations at this school are Psychology Club and Construction Club.
Students who like music can join the Purdue University Northwest band. There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. Interested in media and communication? Purdue University Northwest publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At Purdue University Northwest, there are many amenities required for a comfortable and safe life on campus.
24/7 emergency phone and alarm devices are available. There are electronically operated dormitory entrances. 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 Veteran's Affairs are available to the students of Purdue University Northwest.
All in all, campus life at Purdue University Northwest 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 Northwest.
Career Counselling
At Purdue University Northwest, 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. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
Job Placement
Having an understanding of the anticipated earnings after completing your education can be important in evaluating if a certain institution is compatible with your professional goals.
The starting salary for graduates employed within six months of graduating at this school averages 64,468 USD.
$64,468
Average Starting Salary After 6 Months of Graduation
FAQ
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Purdue University Northwest is located in Hammond, IN.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Purdue University Northwest is 72%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Purdue University Northwest is 66%.
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.