Purdue University
Purdue University is a public land-grant institution in West Lafayette, Indiana, renowned for engineering, computer science, agriculture, and aviation — it has graduated 30 astronauts, including Neil Armstrong, earning the nickname "Cradle of Astronauts." With roughly 39,000 undergraduates, Purdue is among the largest universities in the country yet remains relatively accessible, admitting about half of its nearly 73,000 applicants. Enrolled first-years post an average high school GPA of 3.78 with a middle-50% SAT of 1210–1450, and engineering accounts for more than a third of bachelor's degrees conferred. A long-running tuition freeze keeps in-state cost under $10,000, making Purdue one of the best values in public higher education.
See how Purdue compares
Pick up to two rivals — or search any school.
Purdue admissions statistics
Acceptance Rate
Overall acceptance rate, plus the in-state and out-of-state admit rates the school reports separately.
Admit rate by residency
% admitted~1.8× higher admit rate for in-state applicants.
Early Action
Purdue offers non-binding Early Action — an earlier decision with no commitment to enroll.
Standardized Tests
Purdue requires standardized test scores for all applicants.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Class Rank
Where Purdue's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.
Based on the 35.88% of enrolled students who reported a class rank. Purdue does not publish an average GPA.
Admissions Factors
How Purdue weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of Attendance
Estimated full-time annual cost from Purdue's Common Data Set. Only tuition changes with residency.
Out-of-state students pay $18,802 more — entirely in tuition. Room, board, and other costs are identical regardless of residency.
Financial Aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus Life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by Gender
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
Writing your Purdue application essay?
Esslo gives you line-by-line feedback on your Common App and supplemental essays — so your application stands out at Purdue and beyond.
Frequently asked questions about Purdue admissions
Is it hard to get into Purdue?＋
Purdue is moderately selective, admitting about 50% of applicants — roughly 36,602 admits from 72,800 applications in the most recent reported cycle, with around 9,285 enrolling. Admission is substantially tougher for in-demand programs such as engineering and computer science, which draw far more applicants than they can take.
What are my chances of getting into Purdue from out of state?＋
It is meaningfully harder to get in as a non-resident. Purdue admits Indiana residents at a 71% rate versus 39% for out-of-state applicants — nearly twice as high. That gap reflects both a public university's mission to serve state taxpayers and the heavier out-of-state demand for competitive programs like engineering and computer science. If you are applying from outside Indiana, plan for roughly two-in-five odds overall and aim for the stronger end of Purdue's academic profile to improve your position.
What GPA do you need to get into Purdue?＋
Admitted first-years at Purdue report an average high school GPA of about 3.78 on a 4.0 scale. There's no hard cutoff, but the rigor of your course load is weighed as a very important factor alongside GPA, so competitive applicants — especially for engineering and computer science — typically present mostly A's in a demanding schedule.
Is a 1400 SAT good enough for Purdue?＋
A 1400 is solidly within Purdue's competitive range: the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored between 1210 and 1450 on the SAT (27–34 ACT), placing 1400 in the upper portion of that band, just under the 75th percentile of 1450. Aim toward the top of that range for the College of Engineering and computer science, where expectations run higher.
Is Purdue test optional?＋
No — Purdue requires SAT or ACT scores from first-year applicants and is not test-optional. Among enrolled students the middle 50% scored 1210–1450 on the SAT and 27–34 on the ACT, and standardized test scores are weighed as a very important admission factor.
How much does Purdue cost in-state vs. out-of-state?＋
Annual tuition and required fees are about $9,992 for Indiana residents and $28,794 for out-of-state students, held down by a multiyear tuition freeze that keeps in-state cost under $10,000. About 26% of first-years receive need-based grant aid, with an average need-based package near $13,941, and Purdue meets roughly 79% of demonstrated need on average.
What majors is Purdue known for?＋
Engineering is by far Purdue's largest field, accounting for about 34% of bachelor's degrees, followed by the liberal arts at 21% and the sciences, business, and computer science. Purdue is also a national leader in agriculture, and its engineering and computing programs are the most competitive to be admitted into.
Does the application essay matter at Purdue?＋
Yes — Purdue rates the application essay as an important factor in its review, alongside recommendations, extracurricular activities, and personal character. With half of applicants admitted and far stiffer odds for engineering and computer science, a specific, well-revised essay is one of the clearest places a strong applicant can stand out.
Source: Purdue University Common Data Set 2023-2024. Figures transcribed 2026-06-07. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Purdue. Banner photo by Amerique, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0).