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Purdue University Northwest
Purdue University Northwest says yes to 72.4% of applicants. Focus less on getting in and more on what's below — starting with the $48,318 median earnings.
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Purdue University Northwest occupies suburban Hammond, IN — a public campus quieter than a downtown one, closer to one than a rural seat.
Its highest-earning path is Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering, where graduates median $96,206 four years out. 28.1% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. Most of its 5,671 undergraduates commute — campus empties by evening — yet 65.7% of first-years return, which says something about what daytime here is worth.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 920 and 1140 — below the IN middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Purdue University Northwest's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Purdue University Northwest received 6,394 applications and admitted 4,516 (70.6%), with 1,192 enrolling.
Scores help here but aren't the gate. If your SAT sits inside the 920–1140 submitter range, sending it likely helps; below it, Purdue University Northwest's own policy says you can leave it out.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 470 | 520 | 570 |
| SAT Math | 450 | 510 | 570 |
| ACT Composite | 16 | 21 | 25 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How Purdue University Northwest compares
| Purdue University Northwest | Indiana median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 72.4% | 77.9% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $8,675 | $32,352 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $48,318 | $52,071 | $53,781 |
At $48,318, ten-year earnings trail the state median ($52,071). Look at Purdue University Northwest's major-level rows below before reading too much into the campus-wide number.
Cost, size & completion
In-state students pay $8,675 in tuition; crossing a state border raises that to $16,094. For non-residents, Purdue University Northwest's $16,094 is the number to weigh against private options before assuming public means cheaper.
At 5,671 undergrads, Purdue University Northwest is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.
42.9% graduate within six years. Roughly 57% don't — ask a Purdue University Northwest tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at Purdue University Northwest
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $96,206 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $91,229 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $88,935 |
| Computer Science | $88,158 |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | $85,242 |
| Civil Engineering | $84,514 |
| Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $84,288 |
| Engineering-Related Fields | $82,075 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $75,365 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $69,186 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $67,466 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $65,912 |
| Marketing | $63,333 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $57,191 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $51,349 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $49,326 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $49,224 |
| Sociology | $48,830 |
| Biology, General | $48,094 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $46,277 |
| Psychology, General | $42,322 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $39,664 |
| Behavioral Sciences | $37,956 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $34,560 |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | $29,630 |
Median earnings for these 25 Purdue University Northwest programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $48,318 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 23 additional Purdue University Northwest programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Purdue University Northwest?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 920–1140 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 72.4% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Purdue University Northwest's acceptance rate?
70.6% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 4,516 admitted from 6,394 applicants.
How much does Purdue University Northwest cost?
In-state tuition is $8,675; out-of-state students pay $16,094. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do Purdue University Northwest graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $48,318 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Indiana
- Wabash College — 63.3% admitted
- Taylor University — 73.5% admitted
- Saint Mary's College — 76% admitted
- Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College — 72.4% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.