How many people apply to Purdue each year?

Purdue receives a massive number of applications yearly, setting records consistently, with 86,953 undergraduate applications for the Fall 2025 freshman class and even more graduate applications, demonstrating immense demand for its programs, especially Engineering. This high volume makes admissions competitive, with selective rates, particularly for out-of-state students.

How many people apply to Purdue a year?

Here's the headline: Purdue has become steadily more selective since 2021, with another step-down in 2025. Fall 2023: 50% admit rate from 72,800 applicants. Fall 2024: 49.8% admit rate from 78,522 applicants. Fall 2025: ~43% admit rate on ~87k applicants.

Is Purdue or Notre Dame harder to get into?

Notre Dame is significantly harder to get into than Purdue University based on acceptance rates, with Notre Dame being very selective (around 11-12%) while Purdue (around 49-50%) is moderately selective, making Notre Dame the tougher admission in Indiana by far. 

How many applications did Purdue get this year?

Purdue received 86,953 applications for its incoming fall 2025 undergraduate class — the 14th consecutive year of record applications.

Is Purdue a hidden ivy?

Purdue is one of 10 public universities nationally to be named a “New Ivy” by Forbes. Based on a national survey of business leaders, the “New Ivy” recognition highlights the institutions employers are turning to instead of traditional Ivy League universities.

How to get into Purdue!

What are the 11 little Ivies?

The Little Ivies are also sub-grouped by the following consortia: The New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) members: Amherst, Bates, Bowdoin, Colby, Connecticut College, Hamilton, Middlebury, Trinity, Tufts, Wesleyan and Williams.

Is Purdue a coke school?

Yes, Purdue University is a "Coke school" due to its long-standing contract with Coca-Cola, giving Coca-Cola exclusive rights to sell cold beverages on campus, a deal reportedly worth millions annually and established since at least the late 1980s/early 1990s. The university has contractual obligations to offer Coke products, meaning Pepsi and other competing brands are largely absent from campus vending machines and stores.
 

What is the #1 hardest school to get into in the world?

While rankings shift slightly, Harvard University is consistently cited as the #1 hardest school to get into globally, known for its extremely low acceptance rates (around 3%) due to immense prestige, top-tier applicants worldwide, and rigorous criteria for grades, scores, leadership, and essays. Other top contenders for difficulty include Stanford University, MIT, Yale University, and Princeton University. 

How much does 4 years at Purdue cost?

For a 4-year degree at Purdue's main campus (West Lafayette), anticipate roughly $100,000 for Indiana residents and $175,000 for out-of-state students for tuition/fees alone, plus estimated $15,000+ for room/board and other expenses, but check the Purdue University for precise, current figures, as costs vary by program and year.
 

How likely is it to get accepted after being waitlisted?

Waitlist confirmation probability varies by system (trains, universities), calculated by algorithms using historical data, current demand, and cancellations, often shown as a percentage (e.g., <50% red, >65% green) or specific statuses like GNWL (higher chance) vs. RLWL (lower chance). Higher waitlist numbers, off-peak travel, and specific quotas (like GNWL) generally improve odds, while fewer available seats or high demand decrease them.
 

What's the hardest college to get into in Indiana?

The hardest college to get into in Indiana is consistently the University of Notre Dame, due to its very low acceptance rates (often in the 9-17% range) and highly competitive applicant pool, followed by highly selective programs at Purdue University, particularly in engineering, though Purdue's overall acceptance rate is much higher, making Notre Dame the most selective overall. 

What is Purdue's biggest rivalry?

The Old Oaken Bucket is the rivalry trophy for the football game between Purdue and Indiana. Purdue leads the all-time series since the trophy was introduced in 1925.

What are the top 3 hardest colleges to get into?

What is the #1 hardest school to get into? Harvard University, with a ~3% acceptance rate, remains the hardest college in 2025. Stanford and MIT follow closely, with Yale and Princeton rounding out the top five.

What is the average family income at Purdue?

While exact figures vary, the median family income for Purdue students tends to be around the $118,000 mark, placing them in the higher income brackets, though many receive significant aid, with families earning over $110k still seeing substantial costs after aid. The university attracts a mix of students, but data from The New York Times shows a significant portion comes from well-off backgrounds, with the median income in a 2017 analysis at $118,000.
 

Why is Purdue so popular?

Purdue University is famous for its elite STEM programs, especially engineering, earning it the nickname "Cradle of Astronauts" for producing numerous space explorers like Neil Armstrong, alongside a strong reputation for research, affordability (frozen tuition for years), and producing highly sought-after graduates in tech and other fields. Its rigorous academics, innovation, and strong industry ties in engineering, agriculture, and health sciences contribute to its consistent high rankings as a top public research university.
 

What is the easiest major to get into Purdue?

The "easiest" major at Purdue to get into often points to colleges like Agriculture, known for higher admit rates and lower stats, or majors in the College of Liberal Arts, which are generally less competitive than STEM fields like Engineering or CS; consider exploring Exploratory Studies (Gen Ed) first to CODO (Change of Degree Objective) into a major later. 

What is the average salary after graduating from Purdue?

The four-year graduation rate is 65%. Six years after graduation, the median salary for graduates is $60,838. Purdue University—Main Campus is a public institution that was founded in 1869. In the 2026 edition of Best Colleges, Purdue University—Main Campus is ranked No.

Is Purdue generous with scholarships?

Yes, Purdue University gives out many scholarships, but they are competitive, with options for merit, need, and specific programs, with many awarded automatically to admitted students who apply by deadlines, while others require separate applications through tools like Purdue University's ScholarshipUniverse. While a large portion of students receive aid, major merit awards are selective, so it's crucial to apply early and use available resources. 

Where do top 1% send kids to college?

The "top 1%" of students, often defined by family income, tend to go to highly selective, elite universities like Dartmouth, Yale, Penn, Brown, Princeton, and Stanford, MIT, and Harvard, with some Ivy League schools having a higher concentration of these students than the bottom 60% of income earners. Rankings vary, but MIT, Princeton, Harvard, Stanford, and UC Berkeley consistently appear at the top for overall academic standing, attracting top talent across all income levels. 

What is the #1 party school?

For 2026, the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), is widely ranked as the #1 party school by sources like Niche, based on student surveys about campus party scenes, access to nightlife, and Greek life, followed by schools like Florida State and Tulane. Other strong contenders often mentioned include the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USC, and the University of Alabama, with rankings varying slightly by publication and criteria.
 

Does applying early increase my chances?

Students who apply early—whether through binding or non-binding admissions programs—tend to matriculate at higher rates, so admitting a sizable percentage of students early can increase a school's yield.

Is Purdue a dry or wet campus?

Purdue University is generally a dry campus, meaning alcohol is prohibited in most areas, including student housing, regardless of age, but allows consumption by those 21+ in specific settings like the Union Club Hotel or certain university-sponsored events (following strict rules), with policies varying slightly by campus (e.g., PFW is stricter). It's best described as "mostly dry," with exceptions for legal age adults in designated locations, enforced under a Substance-Free Campus policy. 

Is Purdue or Penn State better?

Penn State has a higher acceptance rate and a larger enrollment compared to Purdue. Tuition is higher at Penn State for out-of-state students, while Purdue offers a lower net price overall. Purdue graduates report slightly higher median earnings post-graduation, but both schools have strong employment rates.

Who owns Purdue?

4 Billion Settlement With Purdue Pharma for Its Role in the Opioid Crisis. Attorney General Ken Paxton today announced that all 55 attorneys general, representing all eligible states and U.S. territories, agreed to a $7.4 billion settlement with Purdue Pharma and its owners, the Sackler family.