University

Purdue University-Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana, United States

Verified · last verified 2026-09-02

University details

Purdue University is a public university located in West Lafayette, Indiana. It operates as a systemwide institution with multiple campus locations, and first-year degree-seeking applicants may apply to one of its two locations, West Lafayette or Indianapolis. First-year students apply through the Common Application under one of two plans: Early Action or Regular Decision. In addition to the Common App essay, applicants answer two required Purdue-specific short questions. Purdue expects applicants to submit SAT, ACT, or CLT scores. The university offers merit-based scholarships and, for applicants meeting the November 1 Early Action deadline, consideration for the John Martinson Honors College, and it provides need-based financial aid to eligible students who file the FAFSA.

Institution type: Public
Campus setting: Urban
Application platforms: Common App
Testing policy: Test required (2025–2026)
In-state tuition: $9,992
Out-of-state tuition: $28,794
Cost of attendance: Not available (2024–2025)
Undergraduate enrollment: 44,503

Website Admissions Financial aid

Common Data Set

Institution-reported facts by reporting cycle. Missing and withheld values are shown explicitly.

2025–2026 · most recent available

Enrollment

Undergraduate enrollment (B1): 43,633 students
Full-time undergraduate enrollment (B1): 40,796 students
Part-time undergraduate enrollment (B1): 2,837 students

First-year admission

First-year applications (C1): Not reported by institution
First-year students admitted (C1)

Majors

Accounting and Related Services
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering
Engineering
Agricultural Business and Management
Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences
Agricultural Engineering
Engineering
Agricultural Mechanization
Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences
Agricultural Production Operations
Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences
Agricultural Public Services
Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences
Agriculture, General
Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences

Deadlines

Early action · 2026–2027
2026-11-01 — First-year deadline listed in the Common App 2026–2027 Requirements Grid, updated 2026-08-14.
https://content.commonapp.org/Files/ReqGrid.pdf
Regular decision · 2026–2027
2027-01-15 — First-year deadline listed in the Common App 2026–2027 Requirements Grid, updated 2026-08-14.
https://content.commonapp.org/Files/ReqGrid.pdf

View deadlines from earlier years

2025–2026

Early action · 2025–2026
2025-11-01 — Early Action deadline; also the deadline for merit scholarship consideration and the John Martinson Honors College. Decisions released by January 15. Also the priority deadline for competitive majors (Engineering, Computer Science, Flight, Nursing, and Veterinary Nursing).

Supplemental essays

How many responses?

Common App 2026–2027 Requirements Grid (updated 2026-08-28) marks a writing supplement as required; exact institution-specific prompts are delivered in the live Common App question set.

View supplemental prompts from earlier years

2025–2026

Required · first-year applicants
How will opportunities at Purdue support your interests, both in and out of the classroom?
Limit: 250 words — Required Purdue-specific question; 250 words or fewer.
https://admissions.purdue.edu/become-student/guide/
Required · first-year applicants
Briefly discuss your reasons for choosing your major and your interest in studying at this campus location (Indianapolis or West Lafayette).

Application requirements

2026–2027

Application fee · Required
Value: $60
First-year U.S. application fee listed in the Common App 2026–2027 Requirements Grid, updated 2026-08-28.
https://content.commonapp.org/Files/ReqGrid.pdf
Fee waiver · Optional
Value: Accepted
Common App fee-waiver availability listed in the 2026–2027 Requirements Grid, updated 2026-08-28.
https://content.commonapp.org/Files/ReqGrid.pdf
Personal essay · Required
The Common App personal essay is marked required in the Common App 2026–2027 Requirements Grid, updated 2026-08-28.
https://content.commonapp.org/Files/ReqGrid.pdf
Supplemental essays · Required

Sources

Direct sources supporting this university’s facts, with retrieval dates.

Secondary source · supports requirements:2026–2027:supplemental_essays
https://content.commonapp.org/Files/ReqGrid.pdf
Retrieved 2026-09-02 — Official Common App 2026–2027 Requirements Grid, updated 2026-08-28; writing-supplement indicator reviewed for the institution.
Secondary source · supports requirements:2026–2027
https://content.commonapp.org/Files/ReqGrid.pdf
Retrieved 2026-09-02 — Common App member-reported first-year fee, waiver, and personal-essay fields; grid updated 2026-08-28.
Common App 2026–2027 Requirements Grid · supports deadlines:2026–2027
https://content.commonapp.org/Files/ReqGrid.pdf
Retrieved 2026-08-20 — Common App member-reported first-year deadlines; grid updated 2026-08-14.
Official source · supports financial_aid_url

First-year students enrolled (C1)

16,372 students

High-school GPA distribution · GPA 4.0 (C11)

Not reported by institution

High-school GPA distribution · GPA 3.75-3.99 (C11)

Not reported by institution

High-school GPA distribution · GPA 3.50-3.74 (C11)

Not reported by institution

High-school GPA distribution · GPA 3.25-3.49 (C11)

Not reported by institution

High-school GPA distribution · GPA 3.00-3.24 (C11)

Not reported by institution

High-school GPA distribution · GPA 2.50-2.99 (C11)

Not reported by institution

High-school GPA distribution · GPA 2.00-2.49 (C11)

Not reported by institution

High-school GPA distribution · GPA 1.00-1.99 (C11)

Not reported by institution

High-school GPA distribution · GPA below 1.0 (C11)

Not reported by institution

Average high-school GPA (C12)

Not reported by institution

Testing

Enrolled students submitting scores · SAT (C9): 80%
Enrolled students submitting scores · ACT (C9): 20%
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing · 25th percentile (C9): 610 score
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing · 75th percentile (C9): 730 score
SAT Math · 25th percentile (C9): 600 score
SAT Math · 75th percentile (C9): 760 score
ACT Composite · 25th percentile (C9): 28 score
ACT Composite · 75th percentile (C9): 34 score

Academics and class size

Student-to-faculty ratio (I2): 14:1

Source: Purdue University Common Data Set 2025-2026 · Retrieved 2026-09-01

Open the official institutional source

Document ID: url:https://www.purdue.edu/idata/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/CDS_2025-2026.pdf · Import: cds-2026-09-v44

Transportation and Materials Moving

Animal Sciences

Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences

Anthropology

Social Sciences

Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services

Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences

Applied Mathematics

Mathematics and Statistics

Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians

Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields

Area Studies

Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies

Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology

Physical Sciences

Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Biological and Physical Sciences

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

Biology, General

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Biomedical/Medical Engineering

Engineering

Botany/Plant Biology

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Business Administration, Management and Operations

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Chemical Engineering

Engineering

Chemistry

Physical Sciences

Civil Engineering

Engineering

Classical and Ancient Studies

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions

Health Professions and Related Programs

Communication and Media Studies

Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs

Communication Disorders Sciences and Services

Health Professions and Related Programs

Computer and Information Sciences, General

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services

Computer Engineering

Engineering

Computer Science

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services

Computer Software and Media Applications

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services

Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services

Construction Engineering

Engineering

Design and Applied Arts

Visual and Performing Arts

Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services

Health Professions and Related Programs

Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft

Visual and Performing Arts

East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Economics

Social Sciences

Education, General

Education

Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering

Engineering

Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians

Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields

Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General

Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields

Engineering-Related Fields

Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields

Engineering, Other

Engineering

Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other

Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields

English Language and Literature, General

English Language and Literature/Letters

Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering

Engineering

Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies

Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies

Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services

Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences

Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General

Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences

Film/Video and Photographic Arts

Visual and Performing Arts

Finance and Financial Management Services

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

Fine and Studio Arts

Visual and Performing Arts

Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management

Natural Resources and Conservation

Food Science and Technology

Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences

Forestry

Natural Resources and Conservation

General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

Genetics

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences

Physical Sciences

Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other

Health Professions and Related Programs

Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General

Health Professions and Related Programs

Hospitality Administration/Management

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services

Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences

Industrial Engineering

Engineering

Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians

Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields

Landscape Architecture

Architecture and Related Services

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services

Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

Marketing

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

Materials Engineering

Engineering

Mathematics

Mathematics and Statistics

Mathematics and Computer Science

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

Mechanical Engineering

Engineering

Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians

Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields

Microbiological Sciences and Immunology

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

Music

Visual and Performing Arts

Natural Resources Conservation and Research

Natural Resources and Conservation

Neurobiology and Neurosciences

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Nuclear Engineering

Engineering

Nutrition Sciences

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration

Health Professions and Related Programs

Philosophy

Philosophy and Religious Studies

Physics

Physical Sciences

Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Plant Sciences

Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences

Political Science and Government

Social Sciences

Psychology, General

Psychology

Public Health

Health Professions and Related Programs

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

Health Professions and Related Programs

Religion/Religious Studies

Philosophy and Religious Studies

Research and Experimental Psychology

Psychology

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies

English Language and Literature/Letters

Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Sociology

Social Sciences

Soil Sciences

Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences

Special Education and Teaching

Education

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness

Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness Studies

Statistics

Mathematics and Statistics

Systems Science and Theory

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods

Education

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas

Education

Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians

Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences

Zoology/Animal Biology

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Scholarship · 2025–2026

2025-11-01 — Deadline to be considered for university merit-based scholarships.

https://admissions.purdue.edu/deadlines/first-year-college-student/

Regular decision · 2025–2026

2026-01-15 — Regular Decision deadline for fall term; decisions released by March 31.

https://admissions.purdue.edu/deadlines/first-year-college-student/

Financial aid · 2025–2026

2026-04-15 — FAFSA priority filing date for maximum need-based aid consideration; a hard deadline for Indiana residents to be considered for state-based aid.

https://www.purdue.edu/dfa/apply/fafsa/

Limit: 250 words — Required Purdue-specific question; 250 words or fewer.

Common App 2026–2027 Requirements Grid (updated 2026-08-28) marks a writing supplement as required; exact institution-specific prompts are delivered in the live Common App question set.

2025–2026

Application fee · Required
Value: 60
$60 nonrefundable application fee.
https://admissions.purdue.edu/deadlines/first-year-college-student/
Fee waiver · Optional
A qualified fee waiver may be submitted in lieu of the application fee.
https://admissions.purdue.edu/become-student/guide/
Recommendation letters · Not required
Recommendation letters are not listed among the required first-year application materials.
https://admissions.purdue.edu/become-student/guide/
Personal essay · Required
Common App essay, 250-650 words, chosen from the Common App prompts.
https://admissions.purdue.edu/become-student/guide/
Supplemental essays · Required
Value: 2
Two required Purdue-specific questions, 250 words or fewer each.
https://admissions.purdue.edu/become-student/guide/
Secondary school report · Required
Proof of high school graduation (high school diploma or equivalent such as a GED) is required.
https://www.admissions.purdue.edu/apply/criteriafreshmen.php
English proficiency · Required
Required for international students whose first language is not English.
https://www.admissions.purdue.edu/apply/criteriafreshmen.php
FAFSA · Required
FAFSA required for federal, state, and need-based aid; priority filing date April 15.
https://www.purdue.edu/dfa/apply/fafsa/

Retrieved 2026-07-21

Official source · supports application_platforms

https://admissions.purdue.edu/become-student/apply/

Retrieved 2026-07-21

Official source · supports testing_policy

https://admissions.purdue.edu/become-student/guide/

Retrieved 2026-07-21

Official source · supports deadlines

https://admissions.purdue.edu/deadlines/first-year-college-student/

Retrieved 2026-07-21

Official source · supports deadlines

https://www.purdue.edu/dfa/apply/fafsa/

Retrieved 2026-07-21

Official source · supports requirements

https://admissions.purdue.edu/deadlines/first-year-college-student/

Retrieved 2026-07-21

Official source · supports requirements

https://admissions.purdue.edu/become-student/guide/

Retrieved 2026-07-21

Official source · supports requirements

https://www.admissions.purdue.edu/apply/criteriafreshmen.php

Retrieved 2026-07-21

Official source · supports requirements

https://www.purdue.edu/dfa/apply/fafsa/

Retrieved 2026-07-21

Official source · supports essay_prompts

https://admissions.purdue.edu/become-student/guide/

Retrieved 2026-07-21

Official source · supports description

https://admissions.purdue.edu/become-student/

Retrieved 2026-07-21

Official source · supports admissions_url

https://admissions.purdue.edu/become-student/apply/

Retrieved 2026-07-21

Official source

https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?243780

Retrieved 2026-06-10