Quad

Purdue University-Main Campus

West Lafayette, INQuad's selectivityVery selective
Known forBig campusEnrollment up 48% since fall 2014
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Updates

What changed

New and revised figures from the latest data releases, each with its year.

Published Oct 10, 2026

  • Revised fall 2025 figure: 87,220 applied (was 86,953)Purdue University-Main Campus (Fall 2025)
  • Fall 2025: 37,881 admits (fall 2024: 39,272)Purdue University-Main Campus (Fall 2025)
  • Entered fall 2024: 92% returned for a second year (entered fall 2023: 93%)Purdue University-Main Campus Common Data Set 2025–26

Sources:Purdue University-Main Campus (Fall 2025), Fall 2025;Purdue University-Main Campus Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Admissions · Fall 2025

1 in 2 applicants admitted

Purdue admits about 1 in 2 applicants (43%). That puts it in the "Very selective" tier, more selective than 87% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

43%

43%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityVery selective

Applied

87,220

Admitted

37,881

Yield

25%

of admits enroll

Avg. GPA

3.81

SAT middle 50%

1200–1480

10001600
ACT middle 50%

27–34

1836
Applications +97% since fall 2014 · admit rate 59% → 50%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A very large campus of 44,503 undergrads, where 13% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

44.5K

undergrads · larger than 100% of colleges

Diversity index

0.66

Pell Grant

13%

below the median

First generation

19%

below the median

Small cityNCAA D-I FBS · Big Ten ConferenceROTCStudy abroad
More diverse · index 0.53 → 0.66 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Mechanical Engineering (7% of graduates). 14 students for every faculty member, more than at 58% of colleges. 96% of faculty are full-time. Spends $20,511 a year on instruction per student.

14 to 1

students per faculty member · more than at 58% of colleges

Most popular major

Mechanical Engineering

7% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Computer Science

$146.7K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

96%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$20.5K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $30,537 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $6.3K more than the national median. The 40% who received grants paid $13,722 on average; the other 60% paid the full sticker price of $24,882 in-state / $43,684 out-of-state.

13%

$30.5K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $6.3K above the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price, in-state
$24,882 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Little need-based aid above $110K
aid thins out for families above that income
Aid generosity

Limited

grants cover 13% of full price

Federal loans

22%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost falling · −11% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $72,424 ten years after enrolling, more than at 86% of colleges; 78% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.7 years of that salary.

78%

78%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$72.4K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$19.5K

≈ $207/month for 10 years

Retention

92%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 73% → 83% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price fell 16% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 11%, as grants covered less of it. Applications rose 97% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 59% to 50%.

  • Cost

    Falling

    −11% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +97%

  • Selectivity

    More selective

    admit rate 59% → 50% (to fall 2024)

  • Diversity

    More diverse

    index 0.53 → 0.66

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

55% admit · SAT 1365 · 30.9K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
Compare side-by-side

University of Wisconsin-Madison

45% admit · SAT 1450 · 36.9K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
Compare side-by-side

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

31% admit · 22K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso public
Compare side-by-side

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

15% admit · SAT 1460 · 20.8K undergrads

Similar sizeAlso public
Compare side-by-side
Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    Purdue University-Main Campus Common Data Set 2025–26

    Purdue University-Main Campus · Fall 2025; Fall 2027 applicants; Entered fall 2024; 2024–25; 2025–26; Fall 2026 entrants; Fall 2026 cycle; 2026–27 · retrieved 2026-10-05

  4. 4
    Purdue University-Main Campus Common Data Set

    Purdue University-Main Campus · 2024-25 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    Purdue University

    Purdue University-Main Campus · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-11

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  19. 19
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  20. 20
    Purdue University-Main Campus (2026)

    Purdue University-Main Campus · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 243780 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything