West Lafayette, IN · 44.5k students
Trajecta score
+3.7 since '20Ranked #86 of 2,375
5-year trend
66.7 · #104
2020
69.1 · #103
2021
69.5 · #92
2022
70.2 · #94
2023
70.4 · #93
2024
Academic Profile
60/ 100
Career Outcomes
77/ 100
Student Success
76/ 100
Affordability
73/ 100
Academic Investment
91/ 100
Access & Equity
35/ 100
Academic Profile
60
Career Outcomes
77
Student Success
76
Affordability
73
Academic Investment
91
Access & Equity
35
AI Fit Analysis
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Cost / Net Price
$25k / $15k
SAT Avg
1,364
Retention
93%
Grad Rate
83%
Admissions
Test Scores
Scores represent the midpoint of enrolled students, not a cutoff.
Finances
Tuition
In-State Tuition
$9,992
per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$28,794
per year
Out-of-state premium: +$18,802/yr
Aid & Debt
Pell Grant Share
13%
undergraduates receiving Pell
Federal Loan Share
22%
students borrowing
Median Debt
among completers
$19,500
Admissions Factors
Self-reported by the school in its Common Data Set (section C7) — the school's own statement of which application factors matter in its admissions decisions.
3.76
average high school GPA of enrolled freshmen · 95% reporting
Source: Common Data Set 2024-2025, what Purdue University-Main Campus reports weighing in admissions.
| Factor | Very Important | Important | Considered | Not Considered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rigor of secondary school record | Rigor of secondary school record: Very Important | |||
| Class rank | Class rank: Considered | |||
| Academic GPA | Academic GPA: Very Important | |||
| Standardized test scores | Standardized test scores: Important | |||
| Application essay | Application essay: Very Important | |||
| Recommendation(s) | Recommendation(s): Important | |||
| Interview | Interview: Not Considered | |||
| Extracurricular activities | Extracurricular activities: Important | |||
| Talent/ability | Talent/ability: Considered | |||
| Character/personal qualities | Character/personal qualities: Important | |||
| First generation | First generation: Important | |||
| Alumni/ae relation | Alumni/ae relation: Not Considered | |||
| Geographical residence | Geographical residence: Considered | |||
| State residency | State residency: Considered | |||
| Religious affiliation/commitment | Religious affiliation/commitment: Not Considered | |||
| Volunteer work | Volunteer work: Considered | |||
| Work experience | Work experience: Considered | |||
| Level of applicant's interest | Level of applicant's interest: Considered |
Supplemental Essays · 2026-27
school's admissions site ↗Why Purdue — Opportunities
Required250 wordsHow will opportunities at Purdue support your interests, both in and out of the classroom?
Why Purdue — Major and Campus Location
Required250 wordsBriefly discuss your reasons for choosing your major and your interest in studying at this campus location (Indianapolis or West Lafayette).
Drafting these? Write them with AI feedback in Trajecta →
Methodology
The Trajecta Score (0–100) blends six dimensions of public college data into one comparable number, then nudges it by how much data each school reports. Selectivity tiers are separate — they’re based purely on a school’s admission rate.
Read the full methodologyMedian earnings 10 years out, earnings vs. a high-school grad, and loan repayment.
Admission selectivity and the incoming class’s SAT / ACT scores.
Average net price after aid and the typical debt of graduates.
Graduation rate and first-year retention.
Instructional spending and faculty salaries per student.
Share of Pell-grant students and reliance on federal loans.
Data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and IPEDS. Figures are the most recent reported and may lag a year or two. This tool is read-only and not personalized — inside the Trajecta app, scores are tailored to your profile as a fit score.
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Neighbors in Indiana, plus the closest schools nationally by Trajecta Score.
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