West Lafayette, IN
Purdue University is a public institution located in West Lafayette, Indiana, a small city setting. With an undergraduate enrollment of 44,503 students and a student-to-faculty ratio of 14:1, Purdue serves a substantial student body across its campus.
Purdue University admits approximately half of applicants, with an acceptance rate of 49.9%. This moderate selectivity means an applicant has a reasonable chance of admission if their credentials align with admitted student profiles.
| Applied | Admitted | Rate | Enrolled | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men | 45,198 | 20,402 | 45.1% | 5,387 |
| Women | 27,885 | 16,361 | 58.7% | 3,994 |
Purdue University admits 49.9% of applicants — a typical similar college admits 83%.
Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.
Purdue University's cost of attendance is $26,172, while the average net price is $14,600, meaning students typically pay considerably less than the sticker price.
Graduates who borrowed carry a median monthly repayment of about $207.
After aid, Purdue University costs $14,600 a year — about 0% more than a typical similar college.
Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.
Purdue University reports an 83.1% graduation rate. Six years after entry, median earnings are $60,838, increasing to $72,424 at the 10-year mark.
| Major | Graduates |
|---|---|
| Computer Science | 532 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 510 |
| Experimental Psychology | 375 |
| Computer Engineering, General | 370 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and... | 323 |
| Industrial Engineering | 257 |
| Finance, General | 244 |
| Mathematical Statistics and Probability | 216 |
| Electrical and Electronics Engineering | 211 |
| Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | 181 |
Median earnings eight years after entering Purdue University are $66,951, and 80% of former students earn more than $25,000 six years after entry.
Six years after entry, former Purdue University students earn $60,838 — 32% more than at a typical similar college.
Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.
Purdue University is a public institution located in West Lafayette, a small city in Indiana, with an undergraduate enrollment of 44,503 students and a student-to-faculty ratio of 14:1. The student body includes 18.5% first-generation students, 13.0% Pell grant recipients, and 41.0% women.
Average head coach salary by program gender.
540 of 37,671 undergraduates, counting each athlete once regardless of how many sports they play.
756 of 39,864 undergraduates study entirely at a distance, against 3,713 of 13,041 graduate students.
Purdue University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and operates its own medical school.
Purdue University spends $82,305 per student on research — about 9× a typical similar college.
Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.
Purdue University is in West Lafayette, IN, in what IPEDS classifies as a small city setting. The campus sits about 1.2 miles from the center of West Lafayette. There is 1 other college within 25 miles, and Terre Haute, IN is 71 miles away.
Tippecanoe County scores 10.7 out of 20 on the EPA National Walkability Index — above average walkable. The index is a county-wide average of block groups, so it describes the surrounding area rather than the campus itself.
Undergraduates make up about 53.1% of West Lafayette's residents.
Every college that receives federal financial aid must publish its crime statistics each year under the Clery Act. These are the figures Purdue University reported for 2024.
Read these numbers carefully. A Clery figure counts reports, not incidents. A university with active reporting channels, a large campus police force and a teaching hospital will record more offenses than one where the same events go unreported — so a higher count is not evidence of a more dangerous campus, and a low count is not evidence of a safe one. In 2024, 833 campuses with more than 1,000 students reported no offenses at all. Use these figures to ask a college questions, not to rank one against another.
Separately, Purdue University reported 200 arrests and 628 disciplinary referrals for weapons, drug and liquor law violations on campus. Referrals for alcohol violations are usually the largest category at residential colleges and reflect how a school handles student conduct internally.
Common questions about Purdue University admissions, costs, and outcomes.
Purdue University has an acceptance rate of 49.9%. This means roughly half of applicants are admitted to the institution.
The cost of attendance at Purdue is $26,172 annually. Tuition and fees are $28,794, though the average net price students pay is $14,600 after accounting for aid.
Purdue enrolls 13% Pell grant recipients and 18.5% first-generation students. The average net price is $14,600, and 22.4% of students borrow federal loans with a median debt of $19,500 at graduation.
Purdue University has a graduation rate of 83.1%, indicating that most students complete their degrees at the institution.
Median earnings for Purdue graduates are $60,838 six years after entry and $72,424 ten years after entry, reflecting career growth over time.
Purdue has a student-to-faculty ratio of 14:1, meaning students have reasonable access to faculty members for instruction and guidance.
Purdue University is located in West Lafayette, Indiana, a small city setting that provides a college town atmosphere while remaining accessible to larger urban areas.
Purdue has an undergraduate enrollment of 44,503 students, making it a large public research institution with diverse academic opportunities.
Women comprise 41% of Purdue's undergraduate enrollment, reflecting the gender composition of the student body across the institution.
Purdue has a three-year federal loan repayment rate of 78.1%, indicating that most graduates successfully manage their loan obligations within the initial repayment period.