Available Programs
What graduate programs are available?
Purdue offers over 70 graduate programs for you to
choose from, including degree, interdisciplinary, and
certificate programs. Each program offers research
or study areas, which provide a total of over 600 options.
A list of programs may be found on the Degree and Academic Programs
Web page.
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Financial Assistance
and Funding
Is financial support available?
Yes. Approximately 70% of Purdue’s graduate students
receive funding by or through the University. Most
financial support is in the form of teaching or research
assistantships and fellowships.
What is an assistantship?
Assistantships typically involve approximately 20 hours
of work per week for a professor. Frequently this entails
the conduct of research or teaching. In return, you
receive a tuition waiver and a monthly stipend (i.e.,
salary). If you work all year on a 12 month appointment,
you also receive paid time off. Medical insurance is
also offered, if you hold an assistantship of at least
.5 full time equivalent (i.e., 20 hours per week).
Assistantships are generally awarded by your program
of interest or a specific professor. However, you may
also be able to secure an assistantship outside of your
academic department.
What is a fellowship?
Fellowships are similar to undergraduate scholarships.
They are typically awarded by a competition and generally
do not require work in return for the award. Fellowships
provide tuition scholarships and stipends, along with
a supplement for purchasing medical insurance.
Fellowships may be obtained from your academic department
or program, the Graduate School, or an outside entity,
such as a government agency or philanthropic foundation.
Fellowships are typically awarded to the most competitive
applicants. A program will typically consider you for
available fellowships when you apply for admission;
however, some fellowships may require the completion
of a separate application. Selection criteria and processes
will vary. For more information, visit the Graduate School’s Funding Web
page and your program of interest’s
Web page.
Is tuition covered by an assistantship
or fellowship?
Assistantship benefits generally include tuition waivers,
although there is a relatively small graduate staff
fee. Fellowships generally include tuition scholarships.
Tuition waivers and scholarships are in addition to
the monthly stipend and other benefits.
How do I apply for an assistantship
or fellowship?
Teaching and research assistantships are generally
offered by your program of interest. Some programs
may require a separate application, while others consider
you when you complete the application for admission.
To be considered for assistantships offered by the academic
program to which you are applying for admission, visit
that program’s Web
page or contact
the program to determine the appropriate application
process.
Departments other than the one in which you are enrolled
may also offer assistantships. These opportunities
are posted as they arise in the Funding Database.
Typically when you apply for admission, a program will
consider you for available fellowships; however, some
fellowships may require the completion of an application
in addition to the application for admission. To be
considered for fellowships offered by the Graduate School,
you must be admitted to Purdue. The Funding Web page provides information regarding specific
Graduate School fellowships, including the application
process and requirements.
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Testing Requirements
and Admission
What is the minimum Grade Point
Average (GPA) required for admission?
Each academic department sets its own admission requirements;
therefore, some departments have a minimum GPA requirement
and others do not. The Graduate School requires all
admitted students to possess a minimum of a 3.0/4.0
GPA (A=4.0) in order to be admitted without conditions.
The most typical admission condition is completion of
the undergraduate baccalaureate degree or its equivalent.
To determine if your program of interest has a GPA requirement
above the Graduate School’s minimum requirement, visit
the Academic
Program Instructions Web page.
Is the GRE (Graduate Record Examination),
GRE Subject Matter Test, or GMAT (Graduate Management
Admission Test) required?
Some departments require testing and some do not.
A complete list of admission requirements for your program
of interest is on the Academic
Program Instructions Web page.
What is the minimum GRE or GMAT
score that is required for admission?
The Graduate School does not have a minimum requirement
for the GRE or GMAT. A holistic approach to the selection
process is generally employed by considering all components
of the application package, including application information,
letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, academic
record (i.e., transcripts), test scores, resume/curriculum
vitae (CV), and other information a graduate program
requires.
Do you accept applications for spring
or summer admission?
Some programs accept applications for spring or summer
admission. Please refer to the Academic
Program Instructions Web page to determine if your
program of interest accepts applications for the spring
or summer term.
What is the application deadline?
Each graduate program determines its application deadline,
so deadlines vary. Please refer to the Academic
Program Instructions Web page to determine the deadline
for your program of interest.
In general, it is suggested that you apply early in
your senior year of college, which is usually nine to
12 months prior to when you want to begin graduate studies.
Applying early has its advantages: more funding opportunities
are typically available and more spaces may be available
for admission, particularly in competitive programs.
Are three-year degrees acceptable?
The Graduate School welcomes applications from Bologna
bachelor’s degree recipients. Bologna bachelor’s degrees
are conferred in 45 European countries.
What is the selection ratio (i.e.,
the percentage of applicants that are admitted) for
a certain program, college, or school?
This figure varies from year to year and by program.
Typically, the selection ratio across all programs is
approximately 30%. More specific information may be
obtained by contacting your
program of interest.
How competitive am I for admission?
It is difficult to predict how likely you are to be
admitted to Purdue’s West Lafayette campus. Many factors
impact admission decisions, such as the qualifications
of other applicants, the number of new students that
can be accommodated, and the number of professors that
share your research and scholarly interests. Each application
is given careful consideration and a holistic approach
to the admissions process is generally employed by graduate
admissions committees. All components of the application
package, including the application, letters of recommendation,
statement of purpose, academic record (i.e., transcripts),
test scores, resume/curriculum vitae (CV), and other
items required by the graduate program are considered.
To discuss how many students may be admitted or what
the admissions committee typically looks for in an application,
please contact the program
to which you may apply.
How do I apply?
All applicants, except those applying to master’s programs
in the Krannert School of Management, must complete
the Graduate
School’s online application and pay the application
fee. Detailed instructions and requirements are available
on application as well as the Academic
Program Instructions page. If you wish to apply
to a Krannert School of Management master’s program,
please apply directly
to Krannert.
Can I apply and delay my enrollment,
if I decide to begin my studies later?
You can defer your start date for up to one year.
If you want to enroll more than one year later, you
must reapply and pay another application fee.
I have already applied for admission.
Now what do I do?
If a completed application has been submitted
(i.e., you have completed and submitted the Graduate
School’s application, paid the application fee, and
submitted letters of recommendation, official transcripts,
test scores, and any other items required by the program), no additional action is required.
Your application status is available through the Admissions Web page.
I reviewed all of the testing and
admissions questions, but still can’t find the answer
to my admissions-related question. Are there other
resources I can consult?
Be sure to review a more detailed list of questions
on the Admissions Web page.
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Tuition and Fees
I am an out-of-state student. How much is
out-of-state tuition?
Because the majority of Purdue’s graduate students
receive funding, such as a fellowship scholarship or
an assistantship waiver, most students do not have to
pay out-of-state tuition. Estimate your tuition using
the Bursar’s Office Tuition Calculator.
How do I qualify for in-state tuition?
Please consult the Office of the Registrar’s
Web site for information on qualifying for in-state
tuition.
How much is the international student
fee?
International students pay a $60 fee each semester
to help fund the unique services the University offers
to international students, such as immigration regulation
advising, cultural/educational programming, SEVIS reporting
(Student and Exchange Visitor Information System), and
compliance with the United States’ government.
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International Students
Am I considered an international
student?
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| Umme Al-Wazedi, a doctoral student in Purdue's English department, arranges silks in the Bangladesh Student Association display during the annual Holidays Around the World celebration in the Purdue Memorial Union. |
If you are not a permanent
resident or citizen of the United States, you are classified
as an international student.
Is financial support available to
international students?
Although specific fellowship, assistantship, and other
award eligibility may vary, funding is generally available
for both domestic and international students. Nearly
80% of Purdue’s international graduate students receive
some funding by or through the University. Be sure
to review each source of financial support’s eligibility
criteria before you apply.
Is the TOEFL (Test of English as
a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English
Language Testing System) required?
If your native language is not English, you must take
either the TOEFL or the IELTS to be admitted to Purdue.
The Graduate School requires the following TOEFL scores:
- a minimal score of 550 on the paper-based,
- 213 on the computer-based
- Internet-based scores of
- Writing 18
- Speaking 18
- Listening 14
- Reading 19
- Total 77
**Note that in addition
to required minimum scores for writing, speaking, listening,
and reading, the Graduate School also requires a minimum
overall score that is higher than the minimums for the
four area tests combined. Applicants must meet or exceed
each of the five scores (listed above) for admission
to the Graduate School.
If you take
the IELTS, a minimum band score of 6.5 is required.
Departments
may set higher requirements than those listed above.
Please refer to the Academic
Program Instructions Web page to determine if your
program of interest has established higher minimum scores
for these tests.
Are TOEFL scores that are more than
two years old accepted by Purdue?
TOEFL scores are valid for only two years.
I am an international student currently
studying in the United States. Do I still have to take
the TOEFL?
The Graduate School waives the TOEFL for applicants who have received a baccalaureate, graduate, or professional degree from a U.S. institution within the past 24 months (at the time the recommendation for admission is received at the Graduate School.) Applicants who qualify for a waiver of the TOEFL should bring this to the attention of the program to which they are applying.
Are three-year degrees acceptable?
The Graduate School welcomes applications from Bologna
bachelor’s degree recipients. Bologna bachelor’s degrees
are conferred in 45 European countries.
How much is the international student
fee?
International students pay a $60 fee each semester
to help fund the unique services the University offers
to international students, such as immigration regulation
advising, cultural/educational programming, SEVIS reporting
(Student and Exchange Visitor Information System), and
compliance with the United States’ government.
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Life at Purdue
What housing is available for graduate
students?
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| The annual fall picnic sponsored by Purdue Graduate Student Government is a time to meet new graduate students and interact with graduate students from other departments. |
Two on-campus housing options for graduate students
are Hawkins Hall
or the Purdue
Village. Hawkins Hall offers single and double
rooms, while the Purdue Village offers apartment-style
living for students and families.
In addition to on-campus housing, a variety of off-campus
housing is available. For more information about off-campus
options, please visit the following Web sites:
How do I schedule a campus visit?
Contact your program
of interest to inquire about visitation opportunities.
If you are unable to attend a formal visitation event,
the program may schedule an individual visit for you.
Offer as much notice and flexibility as possible concerning
a campus visit, since faculty, staff, and graduate student
schedules are often extremely busy.
How many students are there in a
certain program, college, or school?
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| The Black Graduate Association annual banquet is a great time to relax and socialize with friends. |
This varies. Purdue’s largest graduate colleges are
Engineering, Liberal Arts, and Science. Specific enrollment
data may be found in the Purdue University West Lafayette
Enrollment Summary,
or by contacting
the program directly.
Where is Purdue located?
Purdue University’s first and largest campus is located
in West Lafayette, Indiana, just one hour’s drive northwest
of Indianapolis, Indiana and two hour’s drive southeast
of Chicago, Illinois. West Lafayette, separated from
its neighboring city of Lafayette by the picturesque
Wabash River, is also within easy driving distance of
Cincinnati, Detroit, Louisville, and St. Louis. West
Lafayette and Lafayette boast a competitive cost
of living that is below the national average, giving
graduate student salaries more purchasing power. For
more details on the local area and Indiana, review the
Visitor Information Web page.
What activities and entertainment
are available at Purdue?
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| Boilermaker fans fill Purdue Mall to listen to the traditional Homecoming concert on the steps of Hovde Hall and visit tents set up on the mall to house a variety of displays and activities. After the concert, those attending follow the "All-American" Marching Band to Ross-Ade Stadium. |
A variety of cultural, entertainment, sporting, and
other events are available at Purdue.
Just a few of the exciting options you can enjoy are:
You can find even more to do on campus
by visiting the following sites:
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The Local Community and State
What is the climate like?
West Lafayette and Lafayette enjoy four distinct seasons
each year: winter, spring, summer, and fall. Temperatures
vary by time of year with average summer high temperatures
from 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit (21 to 27 degrees Celsius)
and average winter high temperatures of 25 to 35 degrees
Fahrenheit (-4 to 2 degrees Celsius). Additional information
about Indiana’s climate is shown below:
| Season |
Maximum Temperature |
Minimum Temperature |
Average Precipitation |
Average Snow Fall |
| Winter |
38F (3C) |
22F (-6C) |
8 in (20 cm) |
22 in (56 cm) |
| Spring |
63F (17C) |
42F (6C) |
11 in (28 cm) |
4 in (10 cm) |
| Summer |
84F (29C) |
63F (17C) |
12 in (30 cm) |
0 in (0 cm) |
| Fall |
65F (18C) |
44F (7C) |
9 in (23 cm) |
2 in (5 cm) |
*Source:National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration
For more details about the climate, visit the current
weather in West Lafayette or the National
Weather Service in Indianapolis.
What activities and
entertainment are available? The West Lafayette
and Lafayette communities offer a variety of attractions.
You will find options to suit your interests from the
following resources:
Not only does Purdue and the local area
offer an array of activities, but so does the entire
State of Indiana. Because of Indiana’s relatively small
size and the central location of West Lafayette, you
can drive to most Indiana cities in less than three
hours. Explore these additional state-wide resources:
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Still have questions after reviewing all of the Frequently Asked Questions listed above?
Then, email a current graduate student for assistance!
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