Purdue was founded in 1874 with just 39 students and six teachers. Now it's a public land-grant research university with over 50,000 students,000 students, including about 40,000 undergraduates.
About one-third of Purdue undergrads enroll in its well-regarded school of engineering. Overall, students have more than 200 different majors to choose from, with programs ranging from animal sciences to finance drawing many students. (If you’re unsure what you’d like to study, Purdue has a path called Exploratory Studies that gives you four semesters to learn about your career interests to land on a best-fit major.)
Boilermaker football is a school-wide obsession at this Big Ten school, and Greek life is a dominant social force on campus. But with more than 1,000 student organizations to choose from, everyone is likely to find something to match their interests, whether that's volunteering at no-kill animal shelters or preparing for dental school. When students want to venture off campus, West Lafayette boasts its share of student-friendly bars and restaurants.
The campus is expansive and boasts landmarks like the Neil Armstrong statue and the Purdue Memorial Union Gateway. Purdue is also home to a gaming lounge and the Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex, a state-of-the-art complex featuring two championship courses.
Purdue scores high for affordability. In 2013, Purdue University froze its tuition rate, locking the price at $9,992. Now, 13 years later, that price is still unchanged, and the estimated net price of a Purdue degree is much lower than the national median.
