Purdue University-Main Campus: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
West Lafayette, Indiana · Public · Selective · CDS 2025-2026
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Purdue University-Main Campus is a public university in West Lafayette, Indiana that admits about 43% of applicants, making it a selective school. The average family pays about $14,600 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 84% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 4.5 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Purdue University-Main Campus is a public institution located in West Lafayette, Indiana with a selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, Purdue University-Main Campus admits between a quarter and half of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 43%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1360 and an ACT composite around 30. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $14,600 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What parents should know about Purdue University-Main Campus right now
Purdue University is a public land-grant research university in West Lafayette, Indiana, founded in 1869 after businessman John Purdue donated land and money to establish a college of science, technology, and agriculture, with first classes held in September 1874. Purdue is the flagship of the Purdue system, which now includes Purdue University in Indianapolis as an expansion of the West Lafayette campus. With roughly 50,000 students at West Lafayette, Purdue is best known to parents as a STEM powerhouse, particularly in engineering, where the College of Engineering ranks among the top public engineering schools in the country, and in computer science, aviation, and agriculture. The Mitch Daniels School of Business, renamed in 2023 in honor of the former university president, has rapidly expanded its analytics and supply-chain offerings. A defining feature of Purdue for cost-conscious families is its tuition freeze, which has held undergraduate tuition at the same rate for more than a decade, an unusual commitment among flagship public universities. Purdue has continued to publish admission decisions early through its non-binding Early Action cycle and uses a major-specific review, so the intended program materially affects selectivity. Recent news worth tracking includes the rapid growth of Purdue Indianapolis since 2024 and continued expansion of semiconductor and hypersonics research partnerships funded through federal CHIPS Act and Department of Defense investment.
What GPA does my child need for Purdue University-Main Campus?
71% of enrolled students at Purdue University-Main Campus had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.81, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
What does Purdue University-Main Campus weight in admissions?
Purdue University-Main Campus reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
- • Rigor of secondary school record
- • Academic GPA
- • Application essay
- • Standardized test scores
- • Recommendations
- • Extracurricular activities
- • Character/personal qualities
- • First generation status
SAT and ACT scores Purdue University-Main Campus typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 600–760, with an EBRW midpoint near 640. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 27–34. A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.
| 25th percentile | 1220 |
| 50th percentile | 1360 |
| 75th percentile | 1470 |
| % submitting SAT | 83.84% |
| 25th percentile | 28 |
| 50th percentile | 32 |
| 75th percentile | 34 |
| % submitting ACT | 22.65% |
- • Tests required: Standardized test scores are part of the standard application package.
- • Policy detail: Required
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 52.04% |
| Top 25% of class | 79.71% |
| Top 50% of class | 95.33% |
| % submitting class rank | 31.29% |
How much does Purdue University-Main Campus actually cost?
Published tuition is $9,992 for in-state students and $28,794 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $12,820 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $14,600 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 13% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $9,718 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $28,520 |
| Room and board | $16,734 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $14,600 |
| Application fee | $60 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Purdue University-Main Campus
| Offers Early Action | Yes |
| EA deadline | November 1 |
Will my child graduate from Purdue University-Main Campus?
These predict outcomes at Purdue University-Main Campus better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Purdue University-Main Campus
The most popular undergraduate programs at Purdue University-Main Campus, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians. Across all programs, Purdue University-Main Campus confers roughly 2,577 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Computer Science program report a median income of about $149,545 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | 439 | $149,545 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 430 | $97,551 |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | 307 | $81,374 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | 298 | $97,947 |
| Computer Engineering | 297 | $118,081 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 285 | $49,575 |
| Industrial Engineering | 262 | $100,438 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 259 | $94,597 |
Is Purdue University-Main Campus safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Purdue University-Main Campus disclosed 202 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 4.5 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 3 violent offenses and 33 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at Purdue University-Main Campus?
About 40% of undergraduates at Purdue University-Main Campus live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. In Greek life, 10% of men join a fraternity and 16% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
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Next steps for Purdue University-Main Campus
Common questions parents ask about Purdue University-Main Campus
What GPA do I need for Purdue University-Main Campus?
71% of enrolled students at Purdue University-Main Campus had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.81, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does Purdue University-Main Campus typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 600–760, with an EBRW midpoint near 640. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 27–34.
How much does Purdue University-Main Campus actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Purdue University-Main Campus after grants and scholarships is $14,600 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $9,992 and $28,794 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is Purdue University-Main Campus realistic for my child?
Purdue University-Main Campus admits 43% of applicants, so 600–760 SAT Math is target range and below 600 is a reach. Then check the $14,600 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Purdue University-Main Campus?
Purdue University-Main Campus accepts about 43% of applicants out of roughly 87,220 who apply each year. That makes it a selective school.
Is Purdue University-Main Campus test-optional?
No. Purdue University-Main Campus requires SAT or ACT scores as part of a standard application.
What is the graduation rate at Purdue University-Main Campus?
About 84% of students at Purdue University-Main Campus graduate within six years, and 66% finish in four years. 92% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does Purdue University-Main Campus look for in applicants?
Purdue University-Main Campus rates course rigor, GPA and the application essay as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Purdue University-Main Campus a public or private school, and where is it located?
Purdue University-Main Campus is a public institution located in West Lafayette, Indiana.
What are the most popular majors at Purdue University-Main Campus?
The largest undergraduate majors at Purdue University-Main Campus by annual graduates are Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians. The school awards about 2,577 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Purdue University-Main Campus safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Purdue University-Main Campus reported 202 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 4.5 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at Purdue University-Main Campus?
At Purdue University-Main Campus, 40% of undergraduates live on campus, 10% of men are in fraternities, 16% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Purdue University-Main Campus, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers