Purdue University

What Purdue University Is

Purdue University is a public land-grant research university founded in 1869 in West Lafayette, Indiana. It is ranked 88th globally in the QS World University Rankings 2026 and is consistently ranked among the top 10 US public universities for engineering. Purdue’s College of Engineering is ranked #4 nationally by U.S. News & World Report for graduate engineering programs.

Purdue enrols approximately 50,000 students on its West Lafayette campus, including over 11,000 international students. India is the second-largest source country for international students at Purdue, after China. SEVIS data from 2023–24 recorded 257 new Indian students enrolling at Purdue, and the total Indian student community (including continuing students) is substantially larger. Purdue’s engineering and computer science programs have a particularly strong Indian presence, with active Indian student organisations and cultural groups on campus.

The university is organised into 13 colleges, including the College of Engineering, the College of Science (which houses Computer Science), the Daniels School of Business, and the Polytechnic Institute. Purdue is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and its engineering programs are ABET-accredited.

A distinctive financial feature: Purdue froze tuition for all students (including international) from 2012–13 through 2023–24 under the “Purdue Pledge.” While modest increases have resumed, Purdue remains one of the most affordable major research universities in the US for international students, particularly for engineering.

Who It’s For

Purdue is relevant for Indian students in several categories:

Undergraduate applicants targeting engineering (particularly Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace, Chemical, and Computer Engineering), Computer Science, or Data Science. Purdue’s engineering admission is competitive but more accessible than CMU or MIT — admission rates for the College of Engineering are approximately 25–35% for international applicants. SAT scores of 1350+ (or ACT 30+) and strong mathematics/science performance in Class 12 are expected. TOEFL 80+ or IELTS 6.5+ is required.

Graduate applicants in engineering, computer science, or the Daniels School MBA. Purdue’s graduate engineering programs attract significant Indian enrollment, and many faculty members in the College of Engineering are of Indian origin. GRE scores are required for most graduate engineering programs.

Students seeking value: Purdue’s combination of strong engineering rankings, moderate tuition (relative to peer institutions), and access to co-op and internship opportunities makes it a strong value proposition for international STEM students.

Programs Popular with Indian Students

• Computer Science (College of Science): Purdue’s CS department is housed in the College of Science, not the College of Engineering. It is ranked among the top 20 CS departments nationally. The program offers specialisations in machine learning, systems, security, and software engineering. Co-op and internship opportunities are supported through the university’s co-op program.

• Computer Engineering (College of Engineering): A hardware-software bridge program in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Indian students sometimes choose between this and CS depending on their interest in systems vs. software.

• Mechanical Engineering: Purdue’s largest engineering department and one of the highest-ranked in the US. Strong research programs in manufacturing, thermal sciences, and design.

• Aerospace Engineering: Purdue has historic connections to aviation and space — its alumni include Neil Armstrong and multiple other astronauts. The School of Aeronautics and Astronautics is ranked #4 nationally.

• Electrical Engineering: Strong programs in semiconductor design, signal processing, and power systems. Purdue’s Birck Nanotechnology Center provides research facilities.

• Data Science: A relatively new interdisciplinary BS program spanning computer science, statistics, and domain applications.

• Daniels School of Business: The MBA and undergraduate management programs are AACSB-accredited. The Daniels School (formerly Krannert) is known for its quantitative approach to business education.

Campus and Location

Purdue’s West Lafayette campus spans approximately 2,600 acres, making it one of the largest university campuses in the US. The campus is a self-contained college town, with academic buildings, residence halls, dining facilities, a hospital, and recreational facilities all within walking or biking distance.

Key engineering facilities include the Neil Armstrong Hall of Engineering (opened 2007), the Flex Lab (advanced manufacturing research), and the Birck Nanotechnology Center. The Wilmeth Active Learning Center serves as a technology-integrated library and study space.

West Lafayette is a small city (population ~50,000 including students) located 65 miles northwest of Indianapolis and 130 miles southeast of Chicago. It is a quintessential American college town — most activity revolves around the university. The cost of living is significantly lower than US coastal cities, which partially offsets tuition costs.

Cost of living: On-campus housing ranges from USD 5,000–8,000/year depending on the residence hall. Off-campus shared housing near campus is USD 500–800/month. West Lafayette has Indian grocery stores and restaurants, and the Indian community is well-represented.

The nearest major airport is Indianapolis International Airport (IND), approximately 75 minutes by car. Chicago O’Hare (ORD) is approximately 2.5 hours.

Costs and Financial Aid

International undergraduate tuition and fees at Purdue for 2025–26 (source: Purdue Bursar):

• Engineering and Computer Science: ~USD 34,154/yr (tuition and fees, excluding housing/food)
• Daniels School of Business: ~USD 33,540/yr
• Science (general): ~USD 32,104/yr
• Liberal Arts: ~USD 32,104/yr

Total estimated cost including housing and food (on-campus): approximately USD 47,000–52,000/yr depending on program and housing choice.

These figures reflect Purdue’s position as one of the more affordable major US research universities for international students. For comparison, peer institutions like the University of Michigan or Georgia Tech charge international tuition of USD 55,000–60,000/yr.

Scholarships for international students: Purdue offers limited merit-based scholarships for international undergraduate students. The Purdue International Student Scholarship provides awards of USD 2,000–16,000/yr for select admitted students. The Trustees Scholarship and Presidential Scholarship are among the most competitive. Graduate students in engineering often receive research or teaching assistantships that cover tuition and provide stipends.

See Purdue fees for a detailed breakdown.

Things to Verify Before Applying

• CS vs. Engineering admission: Computer Science is in the College of Science, not Engineering. Applicants must select the correct college on their application. Internal transfer between colleges is possible but competitive, particularly into CS and Engineering.

• SAT/ACT: Purdue requires SAT or ACT scores for undergraduate admission. Self-reported scores are accepted initially; official scores must be sent upon admission.

• English proficiency: TOEFL iBT 80+ (minimum 20 per section) or IELTS 6.5+ (minimum 6.0 per band). Duolingo 110+ also accepted. Purdue’s English requirements are lower than many peer institutions.

• Co-op program: Purdue’s co-op program allows students to alternate semesters of study with semesters of paid work experience. Co-op students graduate in 5 years instead of 4. Verify co-op work permit requirements for international students on F-1 visas (CPT authorisation).

• STEM OPT: Purdue engineering and CS programs qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, providing up to 36 months of post-graduation work authorisation in the US.

• Housing: First-year students are required to live on campus. Apply for housing through the Purdue Housing portal, which opens in spring.

• Purdue Global vs. Purdue West Lafayette: Purdue Global is a separate online institution. This profile covers Purdue University’s West Lafayette campus only.

Where to Go Next on This Site

• Carnegie Mellon University — another top CS/engineering destination
• BSc Computer Science — CS degree pathways
• BSc Data Science — data science programs
• MBA — MBA programs including Daniels
• GRE — required for Purdue graduate programs

Sources Used

• Purdue University — About
• Purdue Bursar — Fee Rates 2025–26
• Purdue International Admissions
• Purdue College of Engineering
• QS World University Rankings — Purdue