Purdue University-Main Campus
Public four-year university in West Lafayette, IN that costs an average of $14,851 a year after financial aid, admits 50% of applicants and graduates 84% of full-time students.
Net price / year
$14,851
Acceptance rate
50%
Graduation rate
84%
Earnings after 10 yrs
$80,082
PublicSmall city44,503 undergraduates
Cost of Purdue University-Main Campus
| Total cost of attendance (per year) | $25,610 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $9,992 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state | $28,794 |
| Housing and food (on campus) | $13,720 |
| Books and supplies | $1,090 |
| Average net price after aid | $14,851 |
Net price by family income
| Family income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0–30,000 | $6,147 |
| $30,001–48,000 | $5,618 |
| $48,001–75,000 | $9,056 |
| $75,001–110,000 | $15,253 |
| $110,001+ | $23,490 |
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships (in-state students). Get your own estimate with Purdue University-Main Campus's net price calculator ↗.
Admissions
| Acceptance rate | 50% |
|---|---|
| Average SAT | 1,364 |
| SAT reading (25th–75th percentile) | 600–720 |
| SAT math (25th–75th percentile) | 600–760 |
| ACT composite (25th–75th percentile) | 27–34 |
| Test scores | Required |
Graduation, earnings and debt
| Graduation rate | 84% |
|---|---|
| First-year retention | 93% |
| Median earnings 6 years after enrolling | $68,067 |
| Median earnings 10 years after enrolling | $80,082 |
| Rank in Indiana (earnings) | 5th of 44 similar colleges |
| Median debt of graduates | $18,750 |
| Typical monthly loan payment | $213 (10-year plan) |
| Students with Pell grants | 16% |
| Students with federal loans | 23% |
Majors and programs at Purdue University-Main Campus
Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.
Bachelor's degree programs (113)
Certificate programs (25)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | — | $89,843 | $17,817 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 1,051 | $72,737 | $17,813 |
| Education | 201 | $70,044 | $15,375 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | 8 | — | — |
| Agriculture | 18 | — | — |
| Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services | — | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 294 | — | $19,000 |
| Computer Science | 2 | — | — |
| Digital Humanities and Textual Studies | — | — | — |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 7 | — | — |
| Gerontology | 41 | — | — |
| Graphic Communications | — | — | — |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 17 | — | — |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | 33 | — | — |
| Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies | — | — | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 122 | — | $17,164 |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies | 365 | — | $19,024 |
| Music | 14 | — | — |
| Nanotechnology | 9 | — | — |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 6 | — | — |
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration | 7 | — | — |
| Political Science and Government | 47 | — | $17,375 |
| Science, Technology and Society | — | — | — |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 5 | — | — |
| Systems Science and Theory | 23 | — | — |
Associate's degree programs (3)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians | 121 | $48,199 | $16,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 1 | — | — |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | 9 | — | — |
Post-baccalaureate certificate programs (32)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Communication and Media Studies | — | $85,775 | — |
| Agricultural Public Services | — | — | — |
| Air Transportation | — | — | — |
| Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians | — | — | — |
| Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education | — | — | — |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | — | — | — |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | — | — | — |
| Biotechnology | — | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | — | — | — |
| Business/Corporate Communications | — | — | — |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | — | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | — | — | — |
| Computer Systems Analysis | — | — | — |
| Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis | — | — | — |
| Curriculum and Instruction | — | — | — |
| Data Analytics | — | — | — |
| Economics | — | — | — |
| Education | — | — | — |
| Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research | — | — | — |
| Engineering, Other | — | — | — |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | — | — | — |
| Geography and Cartography | — | — | — |
| Human Resources Management and Services | — | — | — |
| Industrial Engineering | — | — | — |
| Information Science/Studies | — | — | — |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | — | — | — |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | — | — | — |
| Social Sciences | — | — | — |
| Special Education and Teaching | — | — | — |
| Systems Science and Theory | — | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | — | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | — | — | — |
Master's degree programs (83)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Business and Management | 79 | $173,293 | — |
| Engineering | 223 | $132,800 | $27,766 |
| Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians | 92 | $130,140 | — |
| Agricultural Engineering | 121 | $118,852 | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 497 | $115,535 | $25,000 |
| Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other | 87 | $112,937 | $41,000 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | 367 | $110,187 | $18,354 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 27 | $108,415 | — |
| Economics | 122 | $105,102 | $38,792 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 437 | $102,972 | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 374 | $95,782 | $50,549 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 605 | $92,641 | $32,560 |
| Air Transportation | 130 | $85,722 | $20,500 |
| Civil Engineering | 214 | $81,733 | — |
| Communication and Media Studies | 264 | $76,161 | $30,644 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | 35 | $75,295 | — |
| Curriculum and Instruction | 319 | $65,686 | $27,648 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | 79 | $63,900 | $29,228 |
| Public Health | 192 | $61,104 | $40,196 |
| Education | 185 | $57,493 | $26,214 |
| Agricultural Production Operations | — | — | — |
| Agricultural Public Services | 5 | — | — |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 5 | — | — |
| Animal Sciences | 24 | — | — |
| Anthropology | 8 | — | — |
| Apparel and Textiles | 1 | — | — |
| Area Studies | 2 | — | — |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 1 | — | — |
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other | — | — | — |
| Biology | 21 | — | — |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 101 | — | — |
| Botany/Plant Biology | 16 | — | — |
| Business/Corporate Communications | 15 | — | — |
| Chemical Engineering | 76 | — | — |
| Chemistry | 23 | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 83 | — | — |
| Computer Engineering | — | — | — |
| Computer Science | 242 | — | — |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | 71 | — | — |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | — | — | — |
| Data Science | — | — | — |
| Design and Applied Arts | 8 | — | — |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | — | — | — |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 8 | — | — |
| Engineering Technologies/Technicians | 26 | — | — |
| Engineering-Related Fields | 10 | — | — |
| Engineering, Other | 184 | — | — |
| English Language and Literature | 12 | — | — |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | 43 | — | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 7 | — | — |
| Food Science and Technology | 20 | — | — |
| Forestry | 27 | — | — |
| Geography and Cartography | — | — | — |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 15 | — | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 13 | — | — |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other | 4 | — | — |
| History | 5 | — | — |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | 7 | — | — |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 84 | — | $40,793 |
| Industrial Engineering | 206 | — | — |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | 14 | — | — |
| Materials Engineering | 24 | — | — |
| Mathematics | 13 | — | — |
| Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering | — | — | — |
| Military Technologies and Applied Sciences, Other | 5 | — | — |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies | — | — | — |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 1 | — | — |
| Nuclear Engineering | 25 | — | — |
| Nutrition Sciences | 3 | — | — |
| Pharmacology and Toxicology | 1 | — | — |
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration | 10 | — | — |
| Philosophy | 10 | — | — |
| Physics | 27 | — | — |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | 6 | — | — |
| Plant Sciences | 10 | — | — |
| Political Science and Government | 11 | — | — |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 21 | — | — |
| Sociology | 5 | — | — |
| Soil Sciences | 13 | — | — |
| Statistics | 70 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 6 | — | — |
| Veterinary Biomedical and Clinical Sciences | 19 | — | — |
| Zoology/Animal Biology | 12 | — | — |
Doctoral degree programs (63)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | 61 | $120,263 | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 2 | $113,142 | $32,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 176 | $107,798 | — |
| Education | 41 | $102,582 | — |
| Chemistry | 120 | $96,793 | — |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | 5 | $81,580 | — |
| English Language and Literature | 25 | $63,796 | — |
| Agricultural Business and Management | 18 | — | — |
| Agricultural Engineering | 29 | — | — |
| Agricultural Public Services | 2 | — | — |
| Air Transportation | — | — | — |
| Animal Sciences | 21 | — | — |
| Anthropology | 3 | — | — |
| Apparel and Textiles | 4 | — | — |
| Area Studies | 9 | — | — |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 16 | — | — |
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other | — | — | — |
| Biology | 47 | — | — |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 45 | — | — |
| Botany/Plant Biology | 15 | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 21 | — | — |
| Chemical Engineering | 53 | — | — |
| Civil Engineering | 58 | — | — |
| Communication and Media Studies | 14 | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | — | — | — |
| Computer Science | 78 | — | — |
| Curriculum and Instruction | 29 | — | — |
| Economics | 15 | — | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 139 | — | — |
| Engineering-Related Fields | 68 | — | — |
| Engineering, Other | 24 | — | — |
| Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other | — | — | — |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | 8 | — | — |
| Food Science and Technology | 9 | — | — |
| Forestry | 17 | — | — |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 25 | — | — |
| Gerontology | 2 | — | — |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other | 5 | — | — |
| History | 16 | — | — |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | 8 | — | — |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | 11 | — | — |
| Industrial Engineering | 26 | — | — |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | 20 | — | — |
| Materials Engineering | 70 | — | — |
| Mathematics | 44 | — | — |
| Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering | — | — | — |
| Nuclear Engineering | 15 | — | — |
| Nutrition Sciences | 16 | — | — |
| Pharmacology and Toxicology | — | — | — |
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration | 50 | — | — |
| Philosophy | 9 | — | — |
| Physics | 56 | — | — |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | 4 | — | — |
| Plant Sciences | 8 | — | — |
| Political Science and Government | 11 | — | — |
| Public Health | 7 | — | — |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 15 | — | — |
| Sociology | 3 | — | — |
| Soil Sciences | 10 | — | — |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 2 | — | — |
| Statistics | 37 | — | — |
| Veterinary Biomedical and Clinical Sciences | — | — | — |
| Zoology/Animal Biology | 8 | — | — |
Professional degree programs (7)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veterinary Medicine | 154 | $114,064 | $124,945 |
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration | 280 | $85,267 | $110,188 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | 16 | — | — |
| Engineering | — | — | — |
| Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other | 24 | — | — |
| Pharmacology and Toxicology | — | — | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 47 | — | — |
Graduate certificate programs (62)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Engineering | — | — | — |
| Agricultural Public Services | 5 | — | — |
| Air Transportation | 50 | — | — |
| Animal Sciences | — | — | — |
| Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians | 20 | — | — |
| Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education | 20 | — | — |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 6 | — | — |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 24 | — | — |
| Biotechnology | 1 | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 56 | — | — |
| Business/Corporate Communications | 45 | — | — |
| Chemical Engineering | — | — | — |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 1 | — | — |
| Communication and Media Studies | 88 | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 10 | — | — |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | — | — | — |
| Computer Systems Analysis | 5 | — | — |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | 1 | — | — |
| Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis | 3 | — | — |
| Curriculum and Instruction | 14 | — | — |
| Data Analytics | 9 | — | — |
| Data Science | — | — | — |
| Digital Humanities and Textual Studies | 4 | — | — |
| Economics | 53 | — | — |
| Education | 35 | — | — |
| Education, Other | — | — | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | — | — | — |
| Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research | 33 | — | — |
| Educational/Instructional Media Design | — | — | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | — | — | — |
| Engineering | — | — | — |
| Engineering-Related Fields | — | — | — |
| Engineering, Other | 15 | — | — |
| English Language and Literature | — | — | — |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | 12 | — | — |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | — | — | — |
| Geography and Cartography | 9 | — | — |
| Gerontology | — | — | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 4 | — | — |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 2 | — | — |
| Industrial Engineering | 2 | — | — |
| Information Science/Studies | 44 | — | — |
| Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies | 2 | — | — |
| International/Globalization Studies | — | — | — |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 22 | — | — |
| Marketing | — | — | — |
| Materials Engineering | — | — | — |
| Mechanical Engineering | 3 | — | — |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | — | — | — |
| Political Science and Government | 1 | — | — |
| Public Health | 1 | — | — |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | — | — | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 7 | — | — |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 12 | — | — |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | — | — | — |
| Security Science and Technology | — | — | — |
| Social Sciences | 15 | — | — |
| Special Education and Teaching | 6 | — | — |
| Statistics | 10 | — | — |
| Systems Science and Theory | 87 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 9 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 10 | — | — |
Similar colleges in Indiana
| College | City | Net price / yr | Acceptance | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana University-Bloomington | Bloomington | $16,003 | 78% | $70,105 |
| Ball State University | Muncie | $13,877 | 86% | $56,674 |
| Indiana University-Indianapolis | Indianapolis | $9,479 | 76% | $58,990 |
| Indiana State University | Terre Haute | $10,103 | 81% | $52,316 |
| Purdue University Northwest | Hammond | $6,223 | 72% | $58,620 |
| Purdue University Fort Wayne | Fort Wayne | $12,471 | 84% | $51,617 |
| Indiana University-South Bend | South Bend | $8,607 | 84% | $50,051 |
| Indiana University-Southeast | New Albany | $10,026 | 84% | $52,768 |
About Purdue University-Main Campus
| Type | Public four-year university |
|---|---|
| Location | West Lafayette, IN |
| Setting | Small city |
| Undergraduates | 44,503 |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 14 to 1 |
| Accreditor | Higher Learning Commission |
| Website | purdue.edu ↗ |
Frequently asked questions
What is Purdue University-Main Campus's acceptance rate?
Purdue University-Main Campus admits 50% of applicants, making it selective. Admitted students average 1,364 on the SAT.
How much does Purdue University-Main Campus cost per year?
The full cost of attendance is $25,610 a year (tuition and fees: $9,992 in-state, $28,794 out-of-state). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $14,851 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $6,147.
How much do Purdue University-Main Campus graduates earn?
Former students earn a median of $80,082 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 5th of 44 similar colleges in Indiana. The best-paid bachelor's program is computer science ($98,322 a year after graduation).
What is Purdue University-Main Campus's graduation rate?
84% of full-time students graduate within six years, and 93% of first-year students return for a second year.