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Purdue University-Main Campus

Purdue University-Main Campus reports 44,503 undergraduates in West Lafayette, IN. Its federal reporting group is labeled Purdue University. The federal record identifies it as a land-grant institution.

Check the campus and reporting scope

Purdue University-Main Campus · West Lafayette, Indiana · Federal institution ID (UNITID): 243780.

Debt and earnings figures are shared across campuses in the federal reporting group (Purdue University).

Shared outcomes cannot rank campuses. Reporting-group definitions.

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What could it cost?

Start with net price after grants, then read the published costs. Each chart names its academic year and the students it covers.

Net price by family income

key chart

Average annual cost after grants for each family-income band. These group averages are not personal price quotes.

IPEDS Income brackets, 2022–23

family-income band

$4,927

family income
under $30k

$5,925

$30–48k

$8,948

$48–75k

$18,919

$75–110k

$21,130

over $110k

Average net price

$14,6002023–24Skip to data table

Average annual attendance cost after grants for the reported student group. Your own aid offer and costs may differ.

Average net price at Purdue University-Main Campus rose from $12,983 (2008) to $14,600 (2023).

Average net price — data
Year	Net price
2008	$12,983
2009	$14,250
2010	$14,712
2011	$15,082
2012	$15,543
2013	$14,797
2014	$13,516
2015	$13,545
2016	$13,746
2017	$12,527
2018	$13,986
2019	$13,377
2020	$9,127
2021	$14,000
2022	$13,945
2023	$14,600

IPEDS 16 federal reports, 2008–2023

Total cost of attendance

$24,5912024–25Skip to data table

Estimated annual attendance budget before grants, including tuition, fees, housing, food and books. Not every expense is billed by the school.

Total cost at Purdue University-Main Campus rose from $18,303 (2009) to $24,591 (2024).

Total cost of attendance — data
Year	Cost
2009	$18,303
2010	$20,322
2011	$21,549
2012	$22,481
2013	$23,109
2014	$22,879
2015	$22,581
2016	$22,698
2017	$22,718
2018	$22,430
2019	$22,590
2020	$22,645
2021	$22,590
2022	$22,508
2023	$22,567
2024	$24,591

IPEDS Academic-year cost 2009–2024

Tuition (in-state vs out-of-state)

Skip to data table

Published tuition and fees before grants. Housing, food, books and other attendance costs are separate.

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition — data
Year	In-state	Out-of-state
2000	$3,872	$12,904
2001	$4,164	$13,872
2002	$5,580	$16,260
2003	$5,860	$17,640
2004	$6,092	$18,700
2005	$6,458	$19,824
2006	$7,096	$21,266
2007	$7,416	$22,224
2008	$7,750	$23,224
2013	$9,992	$28,794
2014	$10,002	$28,804
2015	$10,002	$28,804
2016	$10,002	$28,804
2017	$9,992	$28,794
2018	$9,992	$28,794
2019	$9,992	$28,794
2020	$9,992	$28,794
2021	$9,992	$28,794
2022	$9,992	$28,794
2023	$9,992	$28,794

IPEDS Published price 2000–01 to 2023–24 (not adjusted for inflation)

Cost, size & completion summary

Cost, size & completion

Purdue University-Main Campus reports published tuition by residency: $9,992 in-state versus $28,794 out-of-state — a $18,802 gap that makes state lines part of the decision. Scorecard snapshot: 2026-06-10; historical charts show their own years.

Purdue University-Main Campus reports 44,503 undergraduates. This total does not establish class sizes for a particular subject.

83.1% of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants completed at Purdue University-Main Campus within six years (2026-06-10 release). This measure excludes other student groups.

Do students finish — and what comes after?

Graduation, debt and earnings cover different groups. Read each chart's entering class or fiscal period; they are not one group's journey.

Six-year graduation rate

key chart

83.1%entered Fall 2018Skip to data table

The share of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants who completed at this institution within six years. Other students are not included.

The six-year graduation rate at Purdue University-Main Campus rose from 64.6% (entered 1991) to 83.1% (entered 2018).

A six-year rate can only describe a class that entered six or more years ago — by definition the last point on the line is that old.

Six-year graduation rate — data
Year	Graduated within 6 yrs
1991 cohort	64.6%
1992 cohort	65.3%
1993 cohort	65%
1994 cohort	65.4%
1995 cohort	64.2%
1996 cohort	65.5%
1997 cohort	67.2%
1998 cohort	65.4%
1999 cohort	67.6%
2000 cohort	71.3%
2001 cohort	70.1%
2002 cohort	71.8%
2003 cohort	69.5%
2004 cohort	68.3%
2005 cohort	68%
2006 cohort	69.5%
2007 cohort	69.9%
2008 cohort	73%
2009 cohort	74.6%
2010 cohort	76.3%
2011 cohort	78.4%
2012 cohort	80.6%
2013 cohort	82%
2014 cohort	82.8%
2015 cohort	82.7%
2016 cohort	83%
2017 cohort	83.1%
2018 cohort	83.1%

IPEDS Entering cohorts 1991–2018

Median debt at exit (completers vs non-completers)

Historical student groups

key chart

Skip to data table

Median federal student loan debt when students left school, shown separately for those who completed and those who did not.

CompletedLeft without degree

Each point combines two years. Neighboring points share one year, so changes should be read with that overlap in mind.

These two-year windows closed before today's students borrowed — they describe past cohorts, not the current price of a degree.

Debt and earnings figures are shared across campuses in the federal reporting group (Purdue University).

Median debt at exit — data
Year	Completed	Left without degree
Left school in fiscal years 1997 and 1998 (FY1997/98)	$13,193	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 1998 and 1999 (FY1998/99)	$13,345	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 1999 and 2000 (FY1999/00)	$12,751	$3,062
Left school in fiscal years 2000 and 2001 (FY2000/01)	$11,750	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 2001 and 2002 (FY2001/02)	$11,751	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 2002 and 2003 (FY2002/03)	$12,859	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 2003 and 2004 (FY2003/04)	$13,625	$3,938
Left school in fiscal years 2004 and 2005 (FY2004/05)	$13,768	$3,710
Left school in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 (FY2005/06)	$13,893	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 (FY2006/07)	$13,906	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 (FY2007/08)	$14,055	$4,375
Left school in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 (FY2008/09)	$14,500	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 (FY2009/10)	$15,625	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 (FY2010/11)	$18,125	$6,960
Left school in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 (FY2011/12)	$20,402	$7,500
Left school in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 (FY2012/13)	$22,125	$7,500
Left school in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 (FY2013/14)	$23,181	$7,500
Left school in fiscal years 2014 and 2015 (FY2014/15)	$22,500	$7,500
Left school in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 (FY2015/16)	$21,500	$7,500
Left school in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (FY2016/17)	$20,428	$7,000
Left school in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 (FY2017/18)	$19,500	$7,500
Left school in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 (FY2018/19)	$19,500	$7,743
Left school in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 (FY2019/20)	$19,500	$8,231
Left school in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (FY2020/21)	$19,500	$8,250

NSLDS GRAD_DEBT_MDN / WDRAW_DEBT_MDN, merged FY periods · via College Scorecard

Earnings after entry

Historical student groups

Median annual earnings after entering college, for federally aided students who were working and not enrolled when measured.

Entered: academic years 2013–14 or 2014–15

$60,838

6 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2011–12 or 2012–13

$66,951

8 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2009–10 or 2010–11

$72,424

10 years after entry

Each figure covers a different group of students who entered college in the stated years. Earnings were measured in the same two years; these are not one group followed over time.

Measured in 2020–21, adjusted for inflation to 2022 dollars. Each figure pools two entering academic years. Debt and earnings figures are shared across campuses in the federal reporting group (Purdue University).

Treasury Pooled entering cohorts · Scorecard 2020–21 historical file

What does the admissions record show?

Rates and score ranges describe a past admissions cycle. Submitted scores are not cutoffs or a prediction of admission.

Admissions snapshot & test policies

Purdue University-Main Campus admitted 39,272 of 78,745 applicants in Fall 2024. The 49.9% rate describes that application pool.

49.9%

acceptance rate · Fall 2024 admissions cycle

rate trend $9,992 in-state tuition · 2023–24 44,503 undergraduates · Fall 2024

Tests required · Fall 2024

400SAT range (section 25th/75th sums): 1200–14801600

Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →

Admissions

Purdue University-Main Campus reported required test scores for the Fall 2024 admissions cycle. Purdue University-Main Campus's ranges describe enrolled submitters, not all applicants or admitted students.

Check current requirements with admissions.

Score	25th	50th	75th
SAT Reading & Writing	600	660	720
SAT Math	600	690	760
ACT Composite	27	31	34

25th / 75th: a quarter of enrolled submitters scored below the first number, a quarter above the second. These are not cutoffs.

Only students who submitted scores are counted — at test-optional schools, many enrolled students aren't in this table.

Percentiles are among enrolled students who submitted scores (Fall 2024 admissions cycle).

In the Fall 2024 cycle, Purdue University-Main Campus received 78,745 applications and admitted 39,272 (49.9%), with 11,467 enrolling.

Acceptance rate

49.9%Fall 2024Skip to data table

The share of applicants offered a spot — lower means more selective; read it alongside the score ranges below.

Purdue University-Main Campus's admission rate fell from 76.9% to 49.9%. The rate alone cannot explain the change. This describes Fall 2001 to Fall 2024.

Acceptance rate — data
Year	Acceptance rate
Fall 2001	76.9%
Fall 2002	75.6%
Fall 2003	78.7%
Fall 2004	80.2%
Fall 2005	85%
Fall 2006	84.6%
Fall 2007	78.8%
Fall 2008	71.5%
Fall 2009	73.2%
Fall 2010	65.1%
Fall 2011	68.4%
Fall 2012	61.5%
Fall 2013	60.4%
Fall 2014	59.3%
Fall 2015	59%
Fall 2016	56%
Fall 2017	57.5%
Fall 2018	58%
Fall 2019	59.8%
Fall 2020	67.2%
Fall 2021	68.8%
Fall 2022	52.7%
Fall 2023	50.3%
Fall 2024	49.9%

IPEDS Fall cycles 2001–2024

SAT range (section sums, 25th–75th)

1200–1480Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

Sums of the reading/writing and math percentiles among enrolled submitters — not percentiles of total SAT scores or admission cutoffs.

SAT range (section sums) — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	1020	1250
Fall 2002	1030	1270
Fall 2003	1030	1260
Fall 2004	1030	1260
Fall 2005	1030	1260
Fall 2006	1020	1250
Fall 2007	1020	1270
Fall 2008	1030	1270
Fall 2009	1040	1280
Fall 2010	1040	1290
Fall 2011	1040	1300
Fall 2012	1060	1300
Fall 2013	1080	1320
Fall 2014	1080	1330
Fall 2015	1080	1330
Fall 2016	1070	1320
Fall 2017	1150	1380
Fall 2018	1180	1410
Fall 2019	1190	1440
Fall 2020	1170	1420
Fall 2021	1190	1430
Fall 2022	1200	1470
Fall 2023	1190	1460
Fall 2024	1200	1480

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

ACT middle 50%

27–34Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

The middle half of enrolled ACT submitters, using published composite-score percentiles — not admission cutoffs.

ACT middle 50% — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	22	28
Fall 2002	23	28
Fall 2003	23	28
Fall 2004	22	28
Fall 2005	23	28
Fall 2006	22	28
Fall 2007	23	28
Fall 2008	23	29
Fall 2009	23	29
Fall 2010	23	29
Fall 2011	24	30
Fall 2012	24	30
Fall 2013	24	30
Fall 2014	24	30
Fall 2015	25	31
Fall 2016	25	31
Fall 2017	25	31
Fall 2018	25	32
Fall 2019	25	32
Fall 2020	25	33
Fall 2021	26	33
Fall 2022	27	34
Fall 2023	27	34
Fall 2024	27	34

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

What is the campus like?

Enrollment counts a campus population; retention follows first-years returning. Their dates and populations are shown separately.

Undergraduate enrollment

44,503Fall 2024Skip to data table

Reported undergraduate enrollment. This count does not measure class size or teaching access.

Undergraduate enrollment at Purdue University-Main Campus rose from 31,565 (Fall 2002) to 44,503 (Fall 2024).

Undergraduate enrollment — data
Year	Undergraduates
Fall 2002	31,565
Fall 2003	31,596
Fall 2004	31,594
Fall 2005	31,664
Fall 2006	32,089
Fall 2007	31,966
Fall 2008	32,671
Fall 2009	32,167
Fall 2010	31,936
Fall 2011	31,774
Fall 2012	31,055
Fall 2013	30,167
Fall 2014	29,977
Fall 2015	30,233
Fall 2016	30,849
Fall 2017	31,887
Fall 2018	33,495
Fall 2019	34,376
Fall 2020	35,517
Fall 2021	37,658
Fall 2022	38,438
Fall 2023	39,637
Fall 2024	44,503

IPEDS Fall headcounts 2002–2024

First-year retention (full-time)

93%Fall 2023 cohortSkip to data table

The share of the reported first-time student group who returned the following year. This rate does not explain why others left.

First-year retention at Purdue University-Main Campus has held near 93% from Fall 2002 to Fall 2023.

First-year retention — data
Year	Retention
Fall 2002 cohort	86%
Fall 2003 cohort	86%
Fall 2004 cohort	85%
Fall 2005 cohort	84%
Fall 2006 cohort	85%
Fall 2007 cohort	86%
Fall 2008 cohort	87%
Fall 2009 cohort	88%
Fall 2010 cohort	90%
Fall 2011 cohort	90%
Fall 2012 cohort	91%
Fall 2013 cohort	92%
Fall 2014 cohort	92%
Fall 2015 cohort	91%
Fall 2016 cohort	91%
Fall 2017 cohort	92%
Fall 2018 cohort	91%
Fall 2019 cohort	93%
Fall 2020 cohort	91%
Fall 2021 cohort	90%
Fall 2022 cohort	92%
Fall 2023 cohort	93%

IPEDS Full-time cohorts 2002–2023

More about Purdue University-Main Campus

Faculty pay at Purdue University-Main Campus averages $173,676 a year, annualized from reported monthly pay. Carnegie classes Purdue University-Main Campus as a primarily residential campus of 44,503 undergraduates — and 92.7% of the reported first-time, full-time student group returned for a second year.

Purdue University-Main Campus's SAT section-percentile sums are 1200–1480 — their midpoint is above the IN four-year benchmark. These are not total-score percentiles. Put your own practice estimate on Purdue University-Main Campus's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.

Why some charts are marked “key chart”

key chart

Start with three useful questions: what costs were reported for families in your income band, how many first-time full-time students finished, and what federal debt borrowers held when leaving.

How Purdue University-Main Campus compares

State and national medians cover active bachelor-primary institutions, mixing public and private schools. Tuition uses in-state rates at public schools. These are broad reference points, not a ranking of similar schools or your likely bill.

Scorecard dates identify the release snapshot, not a shared measurement year. Earnings describe federally aided students who were working and not enrolled ten years after entry; cohorts and populations differ from the admissions and tuition figures.

Acceptance rate

Fall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS

Purdue University-Main Campus49.9%

Indiana median77.2%

National median76.8%

Tuition (in-state)

Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid

Purdue University-Main Campus$9,992

Indiana median$32,352

National median$19,591

Median earnings (10 yr)

Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot

Purdue University-Main Campus's snapshot: calendar years and dollar basis unverified.

Debt and earnings figures are shared across campuses in the federal reporting group (Purdue University).

Purdue University reporting group (shared)$72,424

Indiana median$52,071

National median$53,781

View comparison data & dates

Purdue University-Main Campus, Indiana and national reference values
Metric & basis	Purdue University-Main Campus	Indiana median	National median
Acceptance rateFall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS	49.9%	77.2%	76.8%
Tuition (in-state)Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid	$9,992	$32,352	$19,591
Median earnings (10 yr)Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot	$72,424Shared group value	$52,071	$53,781

Published earnings by bachelor's field of study

For Purdue University-Main Campus, these are federal subject groups (CIP), not departments. Median is the middle annual income.

Purdue University-Main Campus federal-aid recipients · graduated 2017–18 or 2018–19 · income measured 2022 or 2023 · inflation-adjusted to 2024 dollars. Definitions and limits.

View 69 fields & earnings

Bachelor's field of study (CIP category)	Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion
Computer Science	$146,685
Computer Engineering	$121,462
Materials Engineering	$107,557
Industrial Engineering	$107,031
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering	$105,396
Chemical Engineering	$104,514
Statistics	$104,047
Mechanical Engineering	$102,572
Construction Engineering	$101,108
Computer and Information Sciences, General	$99,896
Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians	$97,594
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering	$97,332
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods	$93,976
Biomedical/Medical Engineering	$93,434
Civil Engineering	$90,873
Accounting and Related Services	$90,119
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians	$88,474
Engineering-Related Fields	$87,914
Engineering, Other	$87,331
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians	$86,891
Agricultural Engineering	$86,306
Air Transportation	$86,161
Finance and Financial Management Services	$85,924
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians	$85,224
Marketing	$84,725
Economics	$83,195
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other	$82,581
General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations	$82,441
Business Administration, Management and Operations	$81,040
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing	$80,403
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering	$78,770
Food Science and Technology	$75,060
Agricultural Mechanization	$73,393
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness	$72,724
Agricultural Production Operations	$71,868
Political Science and Government	$71,601
Natural Resources Conservation and Research	$69,768
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services	$69,246
Chemistry	$67,680
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology	$67,639
Physics	$67,505
Landscape Architecture	$67,113
Public Health	$66,892
Agricultural Business and Management	$65,900
Communication and Media Studies	$65,517
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other	$63,954
Computer Software and Media Applications	$59,766
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services	$59,649
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services	$59,050
Design and Applied Arts	$58,917
Hospitality Administration/Management	$58,861
Mathematics	$58,453
Biology, General	$58,225
Botany/Plant Biology	$57,530
Forestry	$56,754
Anthropology	$55,624
Special Education and Teaching	$55,308
Sociology	$55,072
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas	$54,559
Animal Sciences	$54,089
History	$53,708
Research and Experimental Psychology	$52,170
Film/Video and Photographic Arts	$52,105
English Language and Literature, General	$52,053
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies	$49,918
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services	$49,649
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods	$48,502
Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians	$45,935
Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management	$40,053

These 69 fields listed for Purdue University-Main Campus measure earnings after completion. The $72,424 institution-level snapshot above measures earnings after entry; it is not the same cohort or a total for these fields. 43 additional Purdue University-Main Campus fields have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules. Debt and earnings figures are shared across campuses in the federal reporting group (Purdue University).

Frequently asked questions

What test-score data does Purdue University-Main Campus report?

Purdue University-Main Campus's enrolled submitters had SAT section-percentile sums of 1200–1480 in Fall 2024. These are not total-score percentiles or a GPA requirement.

What is Purdue University-Main Campus's acceptance rate?

49.9% in the Fall 2024 cycle — 39,272 admitted from 78,745 applicants.

How much does Purdue University-Main Campus cost?

In-state tuition is $9,992; out-of-state students pay $28,794. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.

What earnings data does Purdue University-Main Campus report?

Median earnings ten years after entry: $72,424. Major figures measure four years after completion. Source and date limits.

Similar colleges in Indiana

DePauw University — 57.2% admitted
Trine University-Regional/Non-Traditional Campuses — 39.9% admitted
Wabash College — 63.3% admitted
Valparaiso University — 89.4% admitted

Run your own numbers

Data: IPEDS ADM2024 (Fall 2024 admissions, provisional) · IPEDS HD2024/IC2024 directory · College Scorecard 2026-06-10 release (institution and field-of-study files; earnings from Treasury records). Retrieved 2026-09-01. Chart dates follow this institution's available observations; the release date is not an academic year or an earnings year. Some records end earlier than others. Field-of-study cohort dates are shown with the table. Read the date and population definitions.