Purdue University

Purdue is selective, admitting about 43% of applicants — roughly 37,881 admits from 87,220 applications in the most recent reported cycle, with around 9,656 enrolling. Admission is substantially tougher for in-demand programs such as engineering and computer science, which draw far more applicants than they can take.

It is meaningfully harder to get in as a non-resident. Purdue admits Indiana residents at a 71% rate versus 44% for domestic out-of-state applicants. 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 a 44% admit rate overall and aim for the stronger end of Purdue's academic profile to improve your position.

Admitted first-years at Purdue report an average high school GPA of about 3.81 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.

A 1400 sits within Purdue's competitive range: the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored between 1220 and 1470 on the SAT (28–34 ACT), placing 1400 in the upper-middle of that band, below the 75th percentile of 1470. Aim toward the top of that range for the College of Engineering and computer science, where expectations run higher.

No — Purdue requires SAT or ACT scores from first-year applicants and is not test-optional. Among enrolled students the middle 50% scored 1220–1470 on the SAT and 28–34 on the ACT, and standardized test scores are weighed as an important admission factor.

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 24% of first-years receive need-based grant aid, with an average need-based package near $14,569, and Purdue meets roughly 65% of demonstrated need on average.

Engineering is by far Purdue's largest field, accounting for about 36% of bachelor's degrees, followed by the liberal arts at 18% 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.

Yes — Purdue rates the application essay as a very important factor in its review, on par with GPA and the rigor of your coursework. With about 43% 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.

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