Purdue University 2025 Admission Statistics

Purdue University Admission Guide — Class of 2030 (Applying 2025‑26)

“Boilermakers don’t just study problems—we wrench, code, mix, and fly the solutions.” — Purdue admission counselor, April 2025

Why read this?

You’re a high‑school junior planning to hit submit in the 2025‑26 cycle.
Purdue’s brand‑new 2024‑25 Common Data Set just published the latest admit, score, and cost figures. Skip the spreadsheets and scroll this narrative cheat‑sheet—no tables, no fluff—to benchmark your odds, time every deadline, and craft an application that shouts Boiler Up.

The Admission Landscape — Numbers in Plain English

• 78 745 first‑year applications last cycle; 39 272 offers → overall admit rate ≈ 50 %.
• Early Action (non‑binding, due Nov 1) admitted about 54 %; Regular Decision hovered near 46 %.
• 11 467 freshmen enrolled, producing a 29 % yield that lets Purdue build the class without overcrowding.
• Wait‑list reality. 3 344 offers, 1 860 acceptances—yet only 9 students eventually admitted. Treat WL as a long shot.
• Persistence. First‑year retention sits at 93 %; six‑year graduation at 83 %—strong for a Big Ten public powerhouse.

Academic Profile of the 2024‑25 Admitted Class

• Testing optional—helpful if strong.
  • SAT middle 50 %: 1 210 – 1 470 composite.
  • ACT middle 50 %: 27 – 34 composite.
  • Submit scores only if you clear 1 300 +/29 + territory.
• GPA expectations. Average unweighted GPA 3.76; 47 % of admits ranked in the top tenth, 77 % in the top quarter.
• Course rigor matters most. AP Calc BC (or beyond), calc‑based physics, lab chem, and a writing‑intensive humanities elective show readiness for Purdue’s STEM‑leaning core.
• Holistic extras. Essays, recommendations, extracurricular impact, leadership, first‑gen status, and interest in major all sit in the “very important” bucket.

What Purdue Values (and How to Show It)

• Hands‑on creation. Show projects that do something: Arduino‑monitored hydroponics, AI yield‑forecast scripts, Formula SAE composites.
• Scale of impact. Quantify users, lines of code, dollars raised, or patents filed—admission loves metrics.
• STEM + humanity blend. Essays that connect aeronautical engineering to food insecurity, or data analytics to music production, mirror Purdue’s land‑grant mission.
• Team grit. Boiler culture prizes collaboration—highlight hackathons, design studios, cooperative internships.
• Demonstrated interest. Virtual sessions and MyPurdue portal analytics feed your file—engage authentically.

The Money Question

• Sticker price 2025‑26 (per year).
  • Indiana resident: tuition $9 718 + fees $274 + housing/meal $13 720 → ≈ $23 700.
  • Out‑of‑state: tuition $28 520 (Engineering/CNIT $31 830) + same fees/housing → ≈ $42 500 – $45 800.
• Aid reality. Purdue meets ≈ 72 % of demonstrated need; average first‑year need‑based grant package ~$14 000, loans ~$3 500.
• Merit awards are real. Trustees & Presidential Scholarships range $5 K – $16 K+ for top academics; no extra app—just apply by Nov  1  EA.
• FAFSA + CSS Profile priority March  1  2026; Indiana residents chasing state aid file by April  15.
• Net Price Calculator—run it early, especially if you’re OOS and Engineering‑bound.

Anticipated Timeline for Class of 2030

Spring  2025

• Lock senior schedule: AP Calc BC, AP Physics C, AP Chem or Bio, and advanced English/social science.
• Decide on August SAT/ACT only if trending ≥ 1 300 / 29.

Summer  2025

• Draft the Common App essay plus Purdue’s two 250‑word supplements (major fit + Purdue question).
• Finish a flagship project; gather metrics (lines of code, deployment users, competition rank).

Early Fall  2025

• Visit West Lafayette or join a virtual “Purdue Preview.”
• November  1  2025 — Early Action application & scholarship priority deadline.

Winter  2026

• January  15  2026 — Regular Decision deadline; last test scores due Feb  1.
• Scholarship notifications roll mid‑February.

Spring  2026

• EA decisions Jan  15  2026; RD by Mar  31  2026.
• Compare aid packages; appeal if finances changed.
• May  1  2026 — Enrollment deposit and housing contract due.

Life on the Wabash

• 14 : 1 student‑faculty ratio; most upper‑division classes under 30 students.
• Residential vibe. 93 % of freshmen live on campus—legacy halls like Cary Quad or the brand‑new Meredith South.
• Traditions that pop. Grand Prix go‑kart race, Fountain Runs, Breakfast Club game‑day costumes, and the World’s Largest Drum banging in Ross‑Ade.
• West Lafayette advantage. Co‑ops at Subaru, internships at Cummins and Lilly, plus Indy’s tech corridor an hour away.
• Boiler spirit. Big Ten athletics, 1 000 + clubs, and a persistent engineering‑solve‑it energy.

How to Decide If Purdue Fits

1. Do you crave large‑scale research with a practical twist?
2. Will a campus of 50 000 feel energizing rather than anonymous?
3. Can you leverage Indiana’s industry network for co‑ops and internships?
4. Does the value equation—relatively low tuition, big opportunities—match your budget?

If at least three answers are “yes,” put Purdue on your Early Action list.

Quick‑Hit Checklist

• [ ] Target GPA 3.8 + with max rigor.
• [ ] Submit SAT ≥ 1 300 or ACT ≥ 29 only if above mid‑range.
• [ ] Finish a measurable impact project by September.
• [ ] Reference a Purdue hallmark (Grand Prix, Zucrow Labs, Data Mine) in your supplement.
• [ ] Apply Early Action Nov 1 2025 for merit priority.
• [ ] File FAFSA + CSS by Mar 1 2026.
• [ ] Budget realistically: $24 K in‑state, $43 K + out‑of‑state before aid.

Final Word

Purdue marries land‑grant accessibility with global‑scale research and a “solve it, then build it” ethos. Admission is numbers‑aware but holistic: strong academics, a tangible impact narrative, and essays that tie you to Boiler engineering, agriculture, business—or wherever your curiosity leads. Hit those marks, respect the timeline, and you could soon be racing go‑karts at Grand Prix before an afternoon in a hypersonics tunnel.

Need an AI sidekick? GoodGoblin benchmarks your stats and essays against real Purdue admit data, flags gaps, and builds weekly action steps. Start a free trial today and convert ambition into an admit letter.