The student-faculty ratio at Purdue University--West Lafayette is 13:1, and the school has 38.3 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Purdue University--West Lafayette include: Engineering; Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences; Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities; and Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 92 percent.
Faculty & classes
Faculty
Student-faculty ratio
13:1
Total faculty
2,354 full time
346 part time
Minority
25% full time
16% part time
Full-time faculty with Ph.D or terminal degree
98%
Classes taught by graduate assistants
20%
Full-time faculty gender distribution
Part-time faculty gender distribution
Class Size
Class sizes
20-4942.1%
Classes with fewer than 20 students38.3%
50 or more19.6%
Requirements
General education/core curriculum required
Yes
Coursework required for graduation
Arts/fine arts
Humanities
Computer literacy
Mathematics
English (including composition)
Foreign languages
Sciences (biological or physical)
Social science
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Graduation & retention
Freshmen Retention
Average first-year student retention rate
92%
International Student Retention
International student retention rate
92%
Graduation Rates
6-year graduation rate of students who received a Pell grant
74%
6-year graduation rate of students who received a subsidized Stafford loan
79%
6-year graduation rate of students who did not receive a Pell grant or subsidized Stafford loan
84%
6-year graduation rate of international students
83%
Degrees Awarded (July 1, 2017 - June 30, 2018)
Post-bachelor's certificates
313
Post-master's certificates
-
Doctoral degrees - research/scholarship
758
Doctoral degrees - professional practice
219
Doctoral degrees - other
-
2017-2018 Graduates Employed Full-time
Employed as entrepreneur
0.8%
Employed in temporary/contract work
1.3%
Postgraduate internship/fellowship
0.9%
Graduates reporting salaries
28%
Graduates reporting bonuses
6%
2017-2018 Graduates Employed Part-time
Employed as entrepreneur
0.1%
Employed in temporary/contract work
0.2%
Postgraduate internship/fellowship
0.4%
Graduates reporting salaries
1%
Graduates reporting bonuses
0%
2017-2018 Graduates Other
Enrolled in a volunteer service program
0.4%
Enlisted in the military
0.9%
Enrolled in continuing education
15.1%
Attended a graduate education program
0.2%
Attended a graduate engineering program
3.9%
Attended medical school
2.1%
Attended a graduate nursing program
0.2%
Graduate schools most often attended by recent graduates
Ball State University
Boston University
Columbia University
Cornell University
Indiana University--Bloomington
Seeking continuing education
1.7%
No information provided by graduate
26.4%
Prominent Alumni
School's most prominent alumni
Neil Armstrong Astronaut, First Man to Walk on the Moon, Beth A. Brooke-Marciniak Global Vice Chair - Public Policy, EY, Brian Lamb Founder, C-SPAN
Majors
General Information
Credits apply to multiple majors
-
Five Most Popular Majors
Five most popular majors for 2018 graduates
Engineering 26%
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services 16%
Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences 9%
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities 9%
Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields 6%
Alumni Starting Salaries by Major
Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences
Food Science$51,000
Agricultural Economics & Business$49,200
Agriculture$43,100
Animal Science$36,800
Architecture and Related Services
Landscape Architecture$55,300
Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology$50,800
Biology$48,900
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology.$46,500
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
Management Information Systems (MIS)$66,100
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods$65,800
Accounting$62,300
Construction Management$61,800
Business Administration, Management and Operations$59,300
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
Communication and Media Studies$45,500
Public Relations & Advertising$43,200
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
Computer Information Systems (CIS)$70,800
Engineering
Computer Engineering (CE)$79,500
Chemical Engineering$76,200
Materials Engineering$72,900
Electrical Engineering (EE)$72,300
Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering$72,000
English Language and Literature/Letters
English Language and Literature$46,600
Rhetoric and English Composition$44,600
Technical and Business Writing$42,700
Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
East Asian Languages$46,300
Romance Languages$44,500
Health Professions and Related Programs
Public Health$61,800
Nursing$58,200
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services$50,200
Mathematics and Statistics
Applied Mathematics$62,100
Mathematics$60,400
Mathematics & Statistics$52,400
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
Mathematics & Computer Science$90,300
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness Studies
Health and Physical Education/Fitness$42,000
Physical Sciences
Physics$70,000
Chemistry$52,400
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology$48,000
Social Sciences
Economics$59,900
Political Science and Government$51,700
Sociology$43,000
Anthropology$40,300
Visual and Performing Arts
Film, Video and Photographic Arts$46,600
Design and Applied Arts$45,400
Fine and Studio Arts$42,600
Majors Offered at This School
Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences
Agricultural Business and Management, General
Agricultural Communication/Journalism
Agricultural Economics
Agricultural Mechanization, General
Agricultural and Extension Education Services
Architecture and Related Services
Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies
African-American/Black Studies
American/United States Studies/Civilization
Asian Studies/Civilization
Italian Studies
Women's Studies
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Biochemistry
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
Biomedical Sciences, General
Botany/Plant Biology
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
Accounting
Actuarial Science
Business Administration and Management, General
Financial Planning and Services
Hotel/Motel Administration/Management
Organizational Leadership
Selling Skills and Sales Operations
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Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
Communication and Media Studies
Speech Communication and Rhetoric
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
Computer Graphics
Computer Science
Computer and Information Sciences, General
Information Technology
Education
Agricultural Teacher Education
Art Teacher Education
Early Childhood Education and Teaching
Education, General
Education/Teaching of Individuals in Elementary Special Education Programs
Engineering
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical/Space Engineering
Agricultural Engineering
Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Civil Engineering, General
Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields
Architectural Engineering Technology/Technician
Electrical, Electronic and Communications Engineering Technology/Technician
Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields
Engineering/Industrial Management
Manufacturing Engineering Technology/Technician
Mechanical Engineering/Mechanical Technology/Technician
English Language and Literature/Letters
Creative Writing
English Language and Literature, General
Professional, Technical, Business, and Scientific Writing
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences
Adult Development and Aging
Apparel and Textiles, General
Consumer Merchandising/Retailing Management
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General
Foods, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies, General
Human Development and Family Studies, General
Human Nutrition
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Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
Comparative Literature
Foreign Languages and Literatures, General
French Language and Literature
German Language and Literature
Hispanic and Latin American Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General
Japanese Language and Literature
Linguistics
Russian Language and Literature
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Health Professions and Related Programs
Audiology/Audiologist and Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist
Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical Technology/Technologist
Dietetics/Dietitian
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
Humanities/Humanistic Studies
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other
Mathematics and Statistics
Applied Mathematics, General
Computational and Applied Mathematics
Financial Mathematics
Mathematical Statistics and Probability
Mathematics, General
Statistics, General
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
Ancient Studies/Civilization
Biological and Physical Sciences
Gerontology
Mathematics and Computer Science
Medieval and Renaissance Studies
Natural Resources and Conservation
Environmental Science
Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management
Forest Sciences and Biology
Forestry, General
Natural Resources/Conservation, General
Wood Science and Wood Products/Pulp and Paper Technology
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness Studies
Health and Physical Education/Fitness, General
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Philosophy and Religious Studies
Jewish/Judaic Studies
Philosophy
Religion/Religious Studies
Physical Sciences
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, General
Chemistry, General
Geology/Earth Science, General
Physics, General
Planetary Astronomy and Science
Psychology
Experimental Psychology
Psychology, General
Social Sciences
Anthropology
Economics, General
Political Science and Government, General
Sociology
Transportation and Materials Moving
Aeronautics/Aviation/Aerospace Science and Technology, General
Visual and Performing Arts
Acting
Art History, Criticism and Conservation
Art/Art Studies, General
Design and Visual Communications, General
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General
Minors
Legal Professions and Studies
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
International/Global Studies
Medieval and Renaissance Studies
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution
Natural Resources and Conservation
Environmental Science
Natural Resources and Conservation
Urban Forestry
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services
Forensic Science and Technology
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences
Child Development
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General
Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services
Human Nutrition
Social Sciences
Anthropology
Archeology
Economics
Political Science and Government
Social Sciences
Sociology
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
Accounting
Accounting and Finance
Actuarial Science
Finance, General
Hospitality Administration/Management
Mathematics and Statistics
Mathematics
Mathematics and Statistics
Statistics
Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies
African-American/Black Studies
Asian Studies/Civilization
Women's Studies
English Language and Literature/Letters
English Language and Literature, General
Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences
Agriculture, General
Agronomy and Crop Science
Animal Sciences, General
Farm/Farm and Ranch Management
Food Science
Horticultural Science
Landscaping and Groundskeeping
Soil Sciences
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Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Biochemistry
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
Biomedical Sciences, General
Biotechnology
Botany/Plant Biology
Plant Pathology/Phytopathology
Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
Chinese Language and Literature
Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
French Language and Literature
German Language and Literature
Italian Language and Literature
Visual and Performing Arts
Art History, Criticism and Conservation
Dance
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General
Film/Cinema/Video Studies
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
Philosophy and Religious Studies
Philosophy
Religion/Religious Studies
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
Health Professions and Related Programs
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services
Health Professions and Related Programs
Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration
Pre-Dentistry Studies
Pre-Medicine/Pre-Medical Studies
Pre-Veterinary Studies
Veterinary Medicine
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Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields
Computer Engineering Technology/Technician
Computer Technology/Computer Systems Technology
Industrial Technology/Technician
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians
Science Technologies/Technicians
Science Technologies/Technicians
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies
Engineering
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical/Space Engineering
Agricultural Engineering
Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Civil Engineering
Physical Sciences
Astrophysics
Chemistry
Physics
Education
Agricultural Teacher Education
Art Teacher Education
Biology Teacher Education
Computer Teacher Education
Early Childhood Education and Teaching
Academic programs
Academic Programs
Degrees offered
Certificate, terminal-associate, Bachelor's, Post-bachelor's certificate, Master's, Post-master's certificate, Doctorate - professional practice, Doctorate - research/scholarship
Combined-degree programs
B.S.I.M in Industrial Management M.B.A. (Management)
B.S. in Computer Graphics Technology M.S. in Computer Graphics Technology
B.S. (Various Depts. in Agriculture) M.S. (Various Depts. in Agriculture)
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering M.B.A. (Management)
B.A. in Communication M.S. in Management
Student participation in special study options
Honors program
Weekend college
Independent study
Accelerated program
Cross-registration
Student participation in special academic programs
Learning communities
Undergraduate research/creative projects
Senior capstone or culminating academic experience
Service learning
First-year experiences
Qualified undergraduate students may take graduate-level classes
Yes
Pre-professional programs
Pre-law, pre-dentistry, pre-medicine, pre-veterinary science, pre-optometry, pre-pharmacy, other
Cooperative education programs
Agriculture, Business, Computer Science, Engineering, Natural Sciences, Technologies, Vocational Arts
Teacher certification is offered in
Early childhood, special education, elementary, vo-tech, middle/junior high, secondary, bilingual/bicultural
Subject areas offering education certification
27
Counseling services offered
academic
birth control
career
minority student
military
older student
personal
psychological
religious
veteran student
international students
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Honors college 2018 enrollment
2,439
Honors program 2018 enrollment
-
Online bachelor's degree program offered
No
Percentage of bachelor's degree programs that are available online
-
Individual online courses offered for bachelor's degree credit
Yes
Domestic Study Away
Semester/term-away programs
Sea Semester
Student exchange programs offered with
-
Percent of 2018 graduates participating in domestic student exchange programs
-
Study Abroad
Countries where study abroad opportunities are available
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Bhutan
Brazil
Cambodia
Cameroon
Chile
China
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2018 graduates participating in study abroad programs
-
Consortia
Consortia
Collaboration in Biomedical Research (CBR)
Newberry Library Consortium
Inter-University Consortium for Political Science & Social Research
International Visualization Consortium
Aerospace Automation Consortium
Veterans
Institution is G.I. Bill certified
Yes
Institution participates in Yellow Ribbon Program
Yes
