Purdue University Admissions: Everything You Want to and Need to Know

Overview of Purdue University

Purdue University is a public research university located in West Lafayette, Indiana. Students can select from over 200 undergraduate majors, 80 graduate programs, and over 900 organizations and clubs.

Enrollment

  • Total Enrollment: 43,411 (32,672 undergraduates)
  • Gender Breakdown: 58 percent male/42 percent female
  • 94 percent full-time

Cost of Attendance Information

  • Tuition and Fees: $9,992 (in-state); $28,794 (out-of-state)
  • Books: $1,190
  • Room and Board: $10,030
  • Other Expenses: $1,670
  • Total Cost: $22,882 (in-state); $41,684 (out-of-state)

Financial Aid Information

  • Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 69 percent
  • Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of Aid
    • Grants: 50 percent
    • Loans: 34 percent
  • Average Amount of Aid
    • Grants: $9,844
    • Loans: $5,887

Academic Programs Offered

  • Most Popular Majors: Engineering; Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences; Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities; and Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields

Retention and Graduation

  • First-Year Student Retention (full-time students): 92 percent
  • 4-Year Graduation Rate: 55 percent
  • 6-Year Graduation Rate: 81 percent

NCAA Athletic Programs

  • Men’s Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, Wrestling
  • Women’s Sports: Basketball, Cheerleading-Dance Team, Golf, Soccer, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Volleyball
  • The Purdue Boilermakers play in the NCAA Division I Big Ten Conference.

Overview of Purdue University Admissions

Purdue University accepts over half of applicants and has a selective admissions process. Students whose SAT/ACT scores and GPA are within the institution’s requirements have a good chance of being admitted. Applicants should complete an online application and send test scores from either the SAT or ACT and high school transcripts. Students with unique talents and accomplishments can still receive strong consideration even if their GPAs are outside of the mean range. After applying, students will receive a message from an admissions counselor about the application process’s next steps.

Admissions Data             

During the 2018-19 admissions phase, Purdue University had an acceptance rate of 58%. For every 100 students who submitted applications, 58 gained admission, making Purdue’s admissions process competitive.

SAT Requirements and Scores

During the 2018-19 admissions phase, 76% of students provided SAT scores. This admissions data reveals that most of Purdue’s students score within the top 35% nationally on the SAT. 50% of students admitted to Purdue scored between 590 and 680 on the evidence-based reading and writing section, while 25% scored under 590, and 25% scored over 680. 50% of students scored between 590 and 730 on the math section, while 25% scored under 590, and 25% scored over 730. Applicants with a cumulative SAT score of 1410 or higher will have particularly competitive chances at Purdue.

ACT Requirements and Scores

During the 2018-19 admissions phase, 51% of students provided ACT scores. This admissions data reveals that most Purdue students score within the top 22% nationally on the ACT. The median 50% of students admitted to Purdue received a cumulative ACT score between 25 and 32, while 25% scored over 32, and 25% scored under 25.

GPA

In 2019, the median 50% of Purdue University’s class had high school GPAs between 3.5 and 3.9. 25% had a GPA over 3.9, and 25% had a GPA under 3.5. Successful applicants to Purdue have primarily high B grades.

Safety Net Schools: Easy to Gain Admission

If past admission data predicts that you would be a competitive candidate for Purdue University, it should be easy to gain admissions to the schools below. If Purdue University is currently out of your reach, then you are sure to be a competitive candidate for the schools below.

Syracuse University, United States Military Academy, Penn State University Park, University of Cincinnati, Hofstra University, Temple University, Seton Hall University

Same Tier: Just As Hard to Gain Admission

If you’re a competitive candidate for Purdue University, you should have an equal chance of gaining admissions at these schools.

Stony Brook University, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, University of Georgia, University of Connecticut, University of California, Irvine, Rochester Institute of Technology, American University

Reach Institutions: Gaining Admissions Will be More of a Challenge

These schools are more challenging to gain admission to than Purdue University. If you improve your GPA and SAT/ACT scores, you’ll be a competitive candidate.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Villanova University, Binghamton University, Lehigh University, University of Florida, University of California, Santa Barbara, University of Texas at Austin

Applying to Purdue University

Application Deadline: Rolling

Undergraduate Admissions Website:

https://www.admissions.purdue.edu/?_ga=2.41942562.1866602746.1588041381-1918132484.1588041381

Undergraduate Application Link(s):

https://www.admissions.purdue.edu/apply/apply.php?_ga=2.126673421.1866602746.1588041381-1918132484.1588041381

Graduate Admissions Website:

https://www.purdue.edu/gradschool/academics/majors/index.html

Graduate Application Link(s):

https://www.purdue.edu/gradschool/admissions/how-to-apply/index.html