🏅 QS World Rank #88
Purdue University — Full Profile & Ranking 2026
The ‘Cradle of Astronauts’ hits a 15-year QS high — QS World Rankings 2027 #88
Purdue University is a public research university in West Lafayette, Indiana, founded in 1869. In the QS World University Rankings 2027 (published June 2026) it is 88th in the world. This guide covers programmes, admission, 2026-27 costs, scholarship rules for international students, advice for applicants from Pakistan and the questions applicants ask most.
Purdue Overview
Purdue was founded in 1869 as Indiana’s land-grant university and is a member of the Big Ten. Its West Lafayette campus is known for engineering, aviation and agriculture.
Purdue calls itself the “Cradle of Astronauts”. Its own newsroom counts 30 Purdue astronauts as of 2025, beginning with Gus Grissom in 1959 and including Neil Armstrong, who graduated in 1955. Purdue also says it has frozen tuition for a decade.
Purdue Rankings — QS World University Rankings 2027
Purdue is 88th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, published by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) in June 2026. Purdue’s own QS page says it was ranked among the top 10 U.S. public universities for the fourth year in a row.
This is a QS-specific result, not one universal ranking. Times Higher Education, U.S. News and ARWU use different methods and can order universities differently.
The tagline’s “15-year high” wording could not be confirmed on Purdue’s pages, so treat it as an unverified claim.
Source: QS TopUniversities (QS World University Rankings 2027, 18 June 2026).
Key Strengths & Programs
Purdue is known for:
- Aeronautical and astronautical engineering, with a university airport for its aviation programme
- Engineering across mechanical, electrical, industrial and other fields
- Computer science and data science
- Agriculture, through the College of Agriculture
- Business, through the Daniels School of Business
- Science and technology research in a large campus town
This page does not quote subject ranks. Check the current QS subject tables for exact positions.
Explore Related Guides & Rankings
Admission Requirements
International first-year applicants follow Purdue’s undergraduate process. Confirm every step on the official pages.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Tests | Purdue accepts the SAT, ACT or CLT, with no preference among them. Scores must be from the past five years |
| Selection | Holistic review of grades, curriculum strength, essay, activities and space available in your chosen programme |
| Required courses | Typically four years of maths and English, three of lab science, three of social studies and two of a world language. Engineering applicants are expected to have chemistry |
| English | Applicants whose first language is not English must submit proof of English proficiency |
| Early Action | 1 November is the Early Action date linked to scholarship consideration for eligible applicants |
| Documents | Proof of secondary-school graduation, plus any extra documents for your country |
Purdue Acceptance Rate
Purdue does not state one acceptance rate for international applicants on the pages we could read, so this page does not quote one. The old “about 53%” figure was not tied to a source. Entry to engineering and computer science is more competitive than the university average.
Practical Application Checklist
- Choose your programme and read its entry and language requirements
- Check the application deadline for your intake
- Book an English (or other required) language test
- Prepare transcripts, identification and any required documents
- Apply and accept your offer
- Meet the visa or residence-permit conditions for your destination
- Plan funding for tuition and living costs
- Verify every date, fee and requirement on Purdue’s official website before submitting
Tuition & Costs
Purdue’s Bursar lists these 2026-27 non-resident undergraduate figures for West Lafayette (tuition and fees for the academic year):
- General programmes: US$28,794
- Polytechnic Institute: US$29,366
- Daniels School of Business and economics: US$32,230
- Computer science, data science and engineering: US$32,844
- Estimated total with housing, food and other costs: about US$49,388 to US$53,696, depending on programme
Purdue says it has frozen tuition for a decade. The old range of US$29,000 to US$43,000 did not match these figures.
Source: Purdue Bursar 2026-27 undergraduate rates. Fees, dates and rules change each year.
Scholarships & Financial Aid
- Purdue’s first-year merit scholarships are for domestic students only. Purdue’s page says “Only domestic students are eligible” for the Trustees Scholarship (US$16,000 a year for non-residents), the Presidential Scholarship (US$10,000 a year for non-residents), Indy Scholars and Lilly Scholars. Students on F or J visas are excluded. The old page said the Trustees Scholarship covered international students, which was wrong.
- What international applicants can do: check the programme or college for any department-level award and look at outside funding. See our guide to fully funded scholarships for 2027.
Source: Purdue first-year scholarships. Fees, dates and rules change each year.
Purdue for Pakistani Students
Pakistani applicants apply as international first-year students:
- Tests: plan SAT, ACT or CLT dates early
- English: prepare IELTS, TOEFL or another accepted test. Our IELTS preparation guides can help.
- Money: budget for the full cost above, because Purdue’s merit scholarships are domestic-only
- Visa: an F-1 student visa is required after admission
Campus & Student Life
- The West Lafayette campus is in a large university town along the Wabash River
- Purdue has its own university airport for aviation students
- Strong engineering labs and a large student community
- Big Ten sports and a very large student body
Research & Career Opportunities
- Purdue is research-intensive, with deep ties to engineering, aerospace and agriculture
- Graduates work in engineering, technology, manufacturing, finance and the space sector
- The Daniels School of Business and the engineering colleges have industry links
- Purdue does not guarantee employment, salary or visa outcomes
Notable Alumni
- Neil Armstrong, first person to walk on the Moon, graduated from Purdue in 1955
- Purdue says it has 30 astronaut members in its Cradle of Astronauts, as of 2025
- Check Purdue’s alumni pages for other notable graduates
Contact & Location
Purdue University
610 Purdue Mall, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
Official website: purdue.edu
Admissions: admissions.purdue.edu
Frequently Asked Questions
Purdue University is ranked 88th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026.
Purdue says 30 of its alumni have been NASA astronauts as of 2025, starting with Gus Grissom in 1959 and including Neil Armstrong.
Yes, Purdue is a member of the Big Ten.
Purdue is best known for aeronautical engineering, engineering more broadly, agriculture and computer science.
Purdue’s Bursar lists non-resident tuition and fees of US$28,794 for general programmes and up to US$32,844 for computer science and engineering.
No. Purdue states that only domestic students are eligible for these first-year merit scholarships.
Purdue says it has frozen tuition for a decade.
Purdue accepts the SAT, ACT and CLT, with no preference. Scores must be from the past five years.
Yes. Pakistani applicants apply as international first-year students with test scores, English evidence and the documents Purdue lists.
Check Purdue’s official pages at admissions.purdue.edu. Fees, deadlines and rules can change.
Compare Purdue With Other Top Universities
Disclaimer: This page is based on the QS World University Rankings 2027, Purdue’s official pages, and other publicly available sources, last checked in October 2026. Fees, rankings, deadlines, and admission rules change, and no admission, funding, visa, or employment outcome is guaranteed. Always verify current details directly with the university before applying.