In-state vs. out-of-state tuition at Purdue
Purdue charges $9,992 a year in published tuition and fees for Indiana residents, about $4,996 a semester, and $28,794 a year for students from other states, about $14,397 a semester, a difference of $18,802. About 58% of first-year students came from out of state. You may pay less if receiving grants or scholarships. Compare out-of-state tuition at 100 public universities →
What makes Purdue different
- Engineering at scale. Mechanical, computer, aerospace and industrial engineering are among its largest majors, and many astronauts, including Neil Armstrong, studied there.
- Frozen tuition. Purdue has held tuition flat since 2012, so its out-of-state price is among the lowest in the Big Ten.
- More out-of-state students than in-state. Over half of first-year students come from outside Indiana.
What Purdue students study
The most common bachelor's degrees (class of 2024): computer science (532), mechanical engineering (510), psychology (375), computer engineering (370), aerospace engineering (323) and industrial engineering (257). Source: IPEDS Completions, first majors only.
You may thrive at Purdue if…
- You love building things, math and science, and want a big engineering community.
- Value and cost matter to your family.
- You'd enjoy a college town where campus is the center of life.
Worth asking about
- How does the first-year engineering program work before you choose a specific discipline?
- How are students placed into high-demand majors such as computer science?
How Purdue compares with the other Big Ten schools
Purdue is the conference's engineering powerhouse, with one of its lowest prices. See how the 18 Big Ten schools differ.
FAQ
What is Purdue's acceptance rate? 43.4% for fall 2025: 37,881 of 87,220 first-year applicants were admitted, according to its Common Data Set 2025–26. Source For fall 2024 it was 49.9%.
What is Purdue's out-of-state acceptance rate? 43.6% for fall 2025, compared with 71.1% for Indiana residents. Purdue admitted 25,650 of 58,853 out-of-state applicants and 8,559 of 12,040 Indiana residents, according to Purdue's Common Data Set for 2025–26 (West Lafayette). Source International applicants are counted separately. Out-of-state tuition and fees are $28,794 a year before aid; you may pay less if receiving grants or scholarships. Compare out-of-state acceptance rates at public universities →
What is Purdue known for? Engineering, especially aerospace, and its long tuition freeze.
How much does Purdue cost? Published tuition and fees are $9,992 a year in-state and $28,794 out-of-state, before any aid.
How much is Purdue tuition per semester? About $4,996 a semester for Indiana residents and $14,397 for out-of-state students, based on published yearly tuition and fees of $9,992 and $28,794 before aid.
Is Purdue an R1 university? Yes. In the 2025 Carnegie Classifications, Purdue University is an R1 university, the group with the highest research spending and doctoral degrees. What R1 means →
How many students go to Purdue? About 44,500 undergraduates (fall 2024).
Wondering if engineering fits you?
Lens's Major Ideas suggest which areas may suit your interests and strengths. Start with Lens →