Purdue University-Main Campus

West Lafayette, IN · Public · offers Graduate degrees

Small city

50%Acceptance rate
$14,600Average net price / year
83%Graduation rate
$72,424Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$19,500Median debt at graduation
44,503Undergraduates

Cost

In-state tuition & fees
$9,992
Out-of-state tuition
$28,794
Total cost of attendance
$24,591
Room & board
$12,820
Books & supplies
$1,070
Average net price
$14,600

Net price by family income

$0–30k
$5,098
$30–48k
$6,241
$48–75k
$9,438
$75–110k
$18,177
$110k+
$22,742

Official net price calculator

Admissions

Acceptance rate
49.9%
Average SAT
1364
SAT reading (25–75%)
600–720
SAT math (25–75%)
600–760
ACT composite (25–75%)
27–34

Outcomes

Graduation rate
83%
First-year retention
93%
Median earnings (6 yrs)
$60,838
Median earnings (10 yrs)
$72,424
Median debt (graduates)
$19,500
3-year loan default rate
0.0%
Students with Pell grants
13%
Students with federal loans
22%

Programs: what graduates earn

110 of 349 programs have published earnings or debt data. Earnings are median salaries of graduates one year after completing the program (or the latest available year).

Undergraduate certificate

Bachelor's degree

ProgramGraduatesEarningsMedian debt
Computer Science560$94,786$19,136
Computer Engineering319$89,965$22,875
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering174$84,300$17,750
Industrial Engineering269$81,379$18,357
Chemical Engineering147$81,105$21,500
Mechanical Engineering478$80,374$19,500
Materials Engineering56$78,265$22,111
Construction Engineering20$76,966$20,625
Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians133$75,913$16,750
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians59$74,981$23,239
Engineering, Other34$74,668$19,787
Civil Engineering180$74,369$19,500
Biomedical/Medical Engineering116$72,749$19,500
Statistics205$72,579$19,250
Engineering-Related Fields61$72,252$16,153
Agricultural Engineering57$72,168$20,000
Computer and Information Sciences, General148$72,132$19,500
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering314$71,989$21,500
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering62$71,861$16,316
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing162$71,759$19,500
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods170$70,903$18,578
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians124$68,582$19,813
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians265$67,093$19,500
Nuclear Engineering25$63,226$20,250
Accounting and Related Services106$63,021$19,500
General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations94$62,580$19,451
Finance and Financial Management Services224$59,938$21,500
Economics122$59,187$23,099
Agricultural Mechanization17$58,806$19,727
Business Administration, Management and Operations146$57,106$19,500
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration60$57,096$17,500
Agricultural Production Operations29$56,835$13,250
Marketing139$56,668$18,274
Agricultural Business and Management122$52,804$15,753
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services46$52,631$20,254
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other—$50,059$19,057
Mathematics79$49,387$18,820
Special Education and Teaching17$48,773$26,000
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other11$47,570$21,970
Chemistry65$47,213$19,500
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods84$45,459$17,500
Public Health49$45,274$21,000
Air Transportation140$45,190$19,500
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas56$44,923$19,500
Design and Applied Arts60$44,602$19,500
Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians22$43,747$16,856
Forestry18$43,029—
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology58$41,625$17,713
Communication and Media Studies122$41,409$17,375
Hospitality Administration/Management103$41,099$18,916
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services25$40,999$19,500
Biology, General290$40,145$19,500
Political Science and Government113$39,708$19,500
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences37$39,692$15,000
Genetics32$39,052$15,000
Natural Resources Conservation and Research36$38,989$19,500
Computer Software and Media Applications181$38,234$20,101
Neurobiology and Neurosciences57$37,612$17,619
Sociology136$36,826$19,500
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services57$35,436$14,000
English Language and Literature, General46$35,378$18,839
Animal Sciences132$35,318$19,500
Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management53$31,317$19,370
Research and Experimental Psychology318$31,172$18,500
Physics47$30,203$21,224
Anthropology25$28,587$17,472
Fine and Studio Arts22$27,114—
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness2$26,687$20,500
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies61$25,084$18,875
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services102$24,949$19,500
Food Science and Technology36$75,060—
Landscape Architecture18$67,113—
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General4$58,999—
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities7$47,935—
Botany/Plant Biology11$57,530—
Psychology, General—$52,518—
Film/Video and Photographic Arts26$52,105$17,369
History42$37,061$20,490

Master's degree

Doctoral degree

ProgramGraduatesEarningsMedian debt
Mechanical Engineering85$119,547—
Chemistry52$85,580—
Education, General28$82,750—
English Language and Literature, General13$64,233—
Biology, General26$109,910—

First professional degree

ProgramGraduatesEarningsMedian debt
Veterinary Medicine80$102,776$113,597
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration144$86,478$99,174

Graduate certificate

ProgramGraduatesEarningsMedian debt
Communication and Media Studies53$67,808$22,260

Students

Undergraduates
44,503
Graduate students
15,591
Part-time
6%
Women / men
41% / 59%
White
54%
Hispanic
8%
Black
3%
Asian
15%
International
10%

Faculty & school

Student–faculty ratio
14:1
Avg faculty salary
$130,257 / year
Full-time faculty
96%
Accreditor
Higher Learning Commission
Website
www.purdue.edu
Also known as
Purdue-West Lafayette|Purdue|PU|Purdue-WL

Most popular fields

  • Agriculture – 5% of degrees
  • Computer & Information Sciences – 12% of degrees
  • Education – 2% of degrees
  • Engineering – 25% of degrees
  • Engineering Technologies – 7% of degrees
  • Biological Sciences – 6% of degrees

Frequently asked questions

What is the acceptance rate at Purdue University-Main Campus?

49.9% of applicants were admitted, and admitted students averaged 1364 on the SAT.

How much does Purdue University-Main Campus cost?

The average net price after grants is $14,600 per year; in-state tuition and fees are $9,992 and the full cost of attendance is $24,591.

How much do Purdue University-Main Campus graduates earn?

Students who enrolled earn a median of $72,424 ten years later. See the program table above for salaries by major.

What is the graduation rate?

83% of first-time, full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.

Other colleges in West Lafayette

CollegeNet priceAcceptanceGraduationEarnings
Purdue University Global
West Lafayette, IN · Public · 30,828 students
$7,770—50%$36,596

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release.