The main campus of Purdue University is located in West Lafayette, Indiana. It is a public, land-grant university founded on May 6, 1869. The main campus is built on 150 acres of land and offers more than 200 minor and major areas of study. It is especially noted for its programs in agriculture, engineering, and business administration. These programs are considered to be among the best not only in the country, but around the world. Purdue's Professional Writing major is one of the longest running programs in the country.
The main campus in West Lafayette sponsors a number of sports teams that are known as the Purdue Boilermakers. The team colors are old gold and black. The teams play baseball, basketball, cross-country, football, golf, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field, wrestling, volleyball, soccer and softball.
Purdue University also offers degrees in aviation and flight training. In fact, the first and the last man to walk on the moon, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Eugene Cernan, are graduates of Purdue University.

The school students most commonly major in a field related to mathematics, engineering, engineering technician, and construction trades.
Purdue does not accept everyone who applies. In 2007, SAT verbal scores of half of students were 490 to 610. Three-fourths of students accepted in 2007 had SAT math scores of 530 or more.
Purdue offers tenure to reward and retain some professors. Salaries for full-time faculty at the school are higher than most, allowing the school to afford quality teaching.
In 2007, Purdue had 40,534 enrolled students.
The school makes available a lot of student housing. Meal plans are available. Student athletes at the school belong to the Big Ten Conference for major sports.
More complete details are provided below.
Purdue University Main Campus
Hovde Hall of Administration
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2040
General Phone: (765) 494-4600
http://www.purdue.edu
| General Category | Degrees | Most Common Majors [see all] |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering | 1,711 | mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, civil engineering, industrial engineering, aerospace engineering, various engineering courses, chemical engineering, nuclear engineering, ... |
| Business And Management | 1,273 | business management, operations management, accounting, management information systems |
| Engineering Technician | 943 | mechanical engineering related tech, electronics tech, architectural engineering tech, mechanical drafting, aerospace engineering tech, robotics tech, surveying tech, industrial production tech |
| Liberal Arts | 719 | sociology, English, political science, history, economics, foreign language and literature, social services, humanities, ... |
| Education And Teaching | 596 | industrial arts teaching, elementary school teaching, education, physical education teaching, early childhood education, agricultural teaching, trade and industrial teaching |
| Medicine | 468 | pharmacy, health professions, veterinary medicine, veterinary sciences |
| Science | 417 | biology, chemistry, physics, geology, entomology, biochemistry, botany, biological and physical sciences |
| Computer Science And Engineering | 298 | computer and info science, computer support, computer engineering |
| Therapy And Counseling | 259 | psychology |
| Agricultural Science And Management | 251 | agricultural economics, agriculture, food science, agricultural mechanization, agricultural business |
| Hospitality | 215 | hotel management, hospitality administration |
| Family And Social Work | 206 | family studies, food and nutrition, family and consumer science |
| Media | 204 | communication studies |
| Construction Trades | 189 | apparel and textiles |
| Mathematics | 178 | mathematics, statistics |
| Transportation | 170 | aviation tech, aviation operations |
| Nursing And Emergency Medicine | 137 | registered nursing, various nursing |
| Medical Support And Technology | 136 | audiology and speech pathology, veterinary assistant, clinical lab tech |
| Animal Science And Care | 113 | animal science |
| Art Studies | 93 | art studies |
| Conservation And Resource Management | 85 | wildlife management, forestry, conservation |
| Landscaping And Horticulture | 72 | horticultural science, agronomy |
| Design | 52 | design and visual communication |
| Architecture And Planning | 32 | landscape architecture |
| Drama And Performing Arts | 30 | stagecraft, drama |
| Religion And Philosophy | 28 | philosophy |
Number of programs and degrees for Purdue in 2007:
| Degree Level | Total Awarded | Number of Programs |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree | 5,927 | 80 |
| Master's degree | 1,377 | 52 |
| Doctor's degree | 613 | 49 |
| Associate's degree | 588 | 13 |
| First-professional degree | 224 | 2 |
| Award of less than 1 academic year | 104 | 4 |
| Postbaccalaureate certificate | 21 | 3 |
| First-professional certificate | 20 | 1 |
| Post-master's certificate | 1 | 1 |
In 2007, Purdue had a total enrollment of 40,534 students (37,786 full-time equivalent).
Students in the Freshman Class:
| Group | Percent |
|---|---|
| Men | 58% |
| Women | 42% |
| Full-Time | 99% |
| Part-Time | 1% |
Students By Class:
| Group | Percent |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate | 79% |
| Graduate | 19% |
| First Professional | 2% |
| Race | Percent |
|---|---|
| White | 76% |
| Black | 4% |
| Hispanic | 3% |
| Asian | 5% |
| American Indian | 0% |
| (Foreign Students) | 12% |
Students by Age:
| Age | Percent |
|---|---|
| Under 18 | 1% |
| 18-19 | 29% |
| 20-21 | 32% |
| 22-24 | 19% |
| 25-29 | 10% |
| 30-34 | 4% |
| 35-39 | 2% |
| 40-49 | 2% |
| 50-64 | 1% |
| 65+ | 0% |
Incoming (Freshman) Students by Place of Residence:
(From available data sampling)
| Residence | Percent |
|---|---|
| Indiana | 66% |
| Illinois | 10% |
| (International Students) | 6% |
| Ohio | 3% |
| State unknown | 2% |
| Michigan | 1% |
| Texas | 1% |
| California | 1% |
| Wisconsin | 1% |
| Missouri | 1% |
| Minnesota | 1% |
| New Jersey | 1% |
| Kentucky | 1% |
| Massachusetts | 1% |
| New York | 1% |
| Pennsylvania | 1% |
Retention Rates (2007):
| Group | Returning From Previous Year |
|---|---|
| Full-Time | 85 % |
| Part-Time | 48 % |
Purdue offers campus housing for 11,557 of its 37,786 (full-time) students.
(Please refer to our profile of West Lafayette, Indiana for details about the area surrounding the campus. Also see our list of other Indiana Colleges).
The school offers students a meal plan with 20 meals per week.
Acceptances:
| Group | Applicants | Accepted | Percent Accepted | Enrolled | Percent of Accepted Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 25,929 | 20,429 | 79% | 6,914 | 34% |
| Men | 14,615 | 11,378 | 78% | 3,993 | 35% |
| Women | 11,314 | 9,051 | 80% | 2,921 | 32% |
Standardized Test Scores:
| Test | 25th Percentile | 75th Percetile |
|---|---|---|
| SAT Verbal | 490 | 610 |
| SAT Math | 530 | 660 |
| SAT Writing | 480 | 590 |
| ACT Verbal | 22 | 28 |
| ACT Math | 23 | 29 |
| ACT Composite | 23 | 28 |
Application Requirements:
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| GPA | required |
| Class Rank | required |
| High School Record | required |
| College Prep Program | required |
| Recommendations | recommended |
| Formal Demonstration of Competence | not required |
| Standardized Tests (SAT and/or ACT) | required |
| Percent of Applicants Submitting SAT | 80% |
| Percent of Applicants Submitting ACT | 42% |
| TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) | required |
| Other Standardized Tests | not required |
Expenses and Financial Aid:
| Expense | Amount |
|---|---|
| In-state tuition and fees | $ 7,416 |
| Out-of-state tuition and fees | $ 22,224 |
| Room and board | $ 7,530 |
| Room charge | $ 3,248 |
| Board (meal plan) charge | $ 4,282 |
| Books and supplies | $ 1,050 |
| Other expenses | $ 1,970 |
Financial Aid:
Purdue participates in Federal Title IV financial aid programs. (The school's OPE ID is 182500)
Purdue has a tenure system for faculty.
Tenure Status of Faculty (2007):
| Full-Time Faculty Level | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Tenured | 1,006 | 268 |
| Non-tenured, but on tenure track | 292 | 179 |
| Non-tenured and not on tenure track | 387 | 233 |
Salaries for full-time faculty:
Full-Time Faculty (2007):
| Full-Time Faculty Level | Contract Length | Number Men | Avg Salary Men | Number Women | Avg Salary Women |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professor | calendar year | 188 | $125,618 | 29 | $111,528 |
| Associate professor | calendar year | 69 | $87,092 | 39 | $84,889 |
| Assistant professor | calendar year | 29 | $77,581 | 32 | $72,971 |
| Instructor | calendar year | 1 | * | 0 | * |
| Lecturer | calendar year | 5 | $36,652 | 1 | * |
| No academic rank | calendar year | 222 | $36,998 | 87 | $35,795 |
| All faculty total | calendar year | 514 | $78,417 | 188 | $64,008 |
*: salaries are not displayed where there are fewer than 3 professors in the category.
Full-Time Faculty (2007):
| Full-Time Faculty Level | Contract Length | Number Men | Avg Salary Men | Number Women | Avg Salary Women |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professor | academic year | 446 | $116,187 | 75 | $96,741 |
| Associate professor | academic year | 334 | $79,307 | 152 | $72,842 |
| Assistant professor | academic year | 303 | $70,476 | 193 | $66,555 |
| Instructor | academic year | 10 | $53,391 | 8 | $40,340 |
| Lecturer | academic year | 38 | $50,088 | 56 | $40,246 |
| No academic rank | academic year | 25 | $37,353 | 5 | $32,333 |
| All faculty total | academic year | 1,156 | $89,129 | 489 | $69,347 |
*: salaries are not displayed where there are fewer than 3 professors in the category.
Athletic Conferences:
| Sport | Conference |
|---|---|
| Football | Big Ten Conference |
| Basketball | Big Ten Conference |
| Baseball | Big Ten Conference |
| Track | Big Ten Conference |
Students on Athletic Scholarships (2007):
| Sport | Men | Women | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 222 | 148 | 370 |
| Football | 91 | 0 | 91 |
| Track | 22 | 24 | 46 |
| Baseball | 32 | 0 | 32 |
| Basketball | 13 | 14 | 27 |
| All Other Sports | 64 | 110 | 174 |
AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE AND MANAGEMENT
Agricultural Business and Management, Other
Agricultural Economics
Agricultural Mechanization, General
Agriculture, General
Food Science
ANIMAL SCIENCE AND CARE
Animal Sciences, General
ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING
Landscape Architecture (BS, BSLA, BLA, MSLA, MLA, PhD)
ART STUDIES
Art/Art Studies, General
BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT
Accounting
Business Administration and Management, General
Management Information Systems and Services, Other
Operations Management and Supervision
COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
Computer Engineering, General
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other
Computer and Information Sciences, General
CONSERVATION AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Forestry, General
Natural Resources/Conservation, General
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management
CONSTRUCTION TRADES
Apparel and Textiles, General
DESIGN
Design and Visual Communications, General
DRAMA AND PERFORMING ARTS
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General
Dramatic/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft, Other
EDUCATION AND TEACHING
Agricultural Teacher Education
Early Childhood Education and Teaching
Education, General
Elementary Education and Teaching
Physical Education Teaching and Coaching
Technology Teacher Education/Industrial Arts Teacher Education
Trade and Industrial Teacher Education
ENGINEERING
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
Agricultural/Biological Engineering and Bioengineering
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Civil Engineering, General
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
Engineering Science
Engineering, Other
Industrial Engineering
Materials Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Nuclear Engineering
ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN
Aeronautical/Aerospace Engineering Technology/Technician
Architectural Engineering Technology/Technician
Electrical/Electronic/Communications Engr Technology/Technician
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians, Other
Mechanical Drafting and Mechanical Drafting CAD/CADD
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians, Other
Robotics Technology/Technician
Surveying Technology/Surveying
FAMILY AND SOCIAL WORK
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General
Foods, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies, General
Human Development and Family Studies, General
HOSPITALITY
Hospitality Administration/Management, Other
Hotel/Motel Administration/Management
LANDSCAPING AND HORTICULTURE
Agronomy and Crop Science
Horticultural Science
LIBERAL ARTS
Economics, General
English Language and Literature, General
Foreign Languages and Literatures, General
History, General
Humanities/Humanistic Studies
Linguistics
Political Science and Government, General
Social Sciences, General
Sociology
MATHEMATICS
Mathematics, General
Statistics, General
MEDIA
Communication Studies/Speech Communication and Rhetoric
MEDICAL SUPPORT AND TECHNOLOGY
Audiology/Audiologist and Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist
Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical Technology/Technologist
Veterinary/Animal Health Technology/Technician/Veterinary Assistant
MEDICINE
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
Pharmacy (PharmD [USA], PharmD or BS/BPharm [Canada])
Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
Veterinary Sciences/Veterinary Clinical Sci, Gen (Cert,MS,PhD)
NURSING AND EMERGENCY MEDICINE
Nursing, Other
Nursing/Registered Nurse (RN, ASN, BSN, MSN)
RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY
Philosophy
SCIENCE
Biochemistry
Biological and Physical Sciences
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
Botany/Plant Biology
Chemistry, General
Entomology
Geology/Earth Science, General
Physics, General
THERAPY AND COUNSELING
Psychology, General
TRANSPORTATION
Aeronautics/Aviation/Aerospace Science and Technology, General
Aviation/Airway Management and Operations
(Details are provided further down on this page.)
What Sets Purdue Apart:
| Category | Trophy | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of students (vs. all colleges) | Top 1% | ![]() ![]() |
| Number of degree programs (vs. all colleges) | Top 1% | ![]() ![]() |
| Faculty/student ratio (full-time) (vs. colleges of similar size) | Top 6% | ![]() |
| % of degrees in engineering (vs. all colleges) | Top 7% | ![]() |
| % of degrees in engineering technician (vs. colleges with similar degree levels) | Top 7% | ![]() |
| Degrees concentrated in limited number of degree programs (vs. all colleges) | Top 9% | ![]() |
| Salaries of full-time faculty (vs. all colleges) | Top 10% | ![]() |
| % of degrees in mathematics (vs. all colleges) | Top 12% | ![]() |
| Male % of student body (vs. all colleges) | Top 12% | ![]() |
| % of degrees in hospitality (vs. colleges of similar size) | Top 14% | ![]() |
| % of degrees in construction trades (vs. colleges with similar degree levels) | Top 15% | ![]() |
| % of degrees in agricultural science and management (vs. colleges of similar size) | Top 17% | ![]() |
| % of degrees in medicine (vs. colleges of similar size) | Top 18% | ![]() |
| Dorm rooms per full-time student (vs. all colleges) | Top 19% | ![]() |
Notable:
Accepts some high school credits
Grants credits for AP courses
Offers distance learning
Career counseling
Career services
Student employment services
Option to study abroad
Offers part-time study
On-campus library
Offers campus housing
Offers a board (meal) plan
Tenure system for quality teaching
Has ROTC (army, navy, air force)
Offers athletic scholarships
NCAA athletic conference member
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