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Purdue University Northwest

Public Graduate Good 69/100

Purdue University Northwest

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Hammond, Indiana

About Purdue University Northwest

Purdue University Northwest is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Hammond, Indiana. It enrolls 5,671 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Official website: pnw.edu

Acceptance: 72.4%
Graduation: 40.1%
Net Price: $6,079
Median Earnings (10yr): $48,318
Enrollment: 5,671
Student : Faculty: 17:1

Accreditor Higher Learning Commission

Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Good

69/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 20

Value 98

Affordability 67

Selectivity 42

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 72.4%, Purdue University Northwest is moderately selective.

Acceptance Rate

72.4%

Moderate

SAT Range (25th–75th)

890 – 1140

Reading + Math combined

ACT Range (25th–75th)

16 – 24

Cumulative composite

Test Policy Not Considered Standardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Purdue University Northwest is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Becoming less selective ↑ 42.1 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Purdue University Northwest isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $6,079 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$6,079

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

28%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

25%

Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees (in-state): $8,675
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state): $16,094
Room & Board (on-campus): $8,907
Room & Board (off-campus): $9,333
Books & Supplies: $598
Other Expenses (on-campus): $4,212
Other Expenses (off-campus): $5,023
Total Cost of Attendance: $15,571

Application fee: $25 (one-time, due at submission)

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

Under $30,000

$1,432
$30,001 – $48,000

$2,428
$48,001 – $75,000

$7,026
$75,001 – $110,000

$12,452
Over $110,000

$13,645

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$3,250

10% percentile

$5,864

25% percentile

$21,229

Median percentile

$25,000

75% percentile

$37,716

90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median

Pell recipients $14,363 ↓ $6,866

No Pell $11,250 ↓ $9,979

Dependent students $12,000 ↓ $9,229

Independent students $16,525 ↓ $4,704

Female students $13,822 ↓ $7,407

Male students $12,066 ↓ $9,163

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,002, less than completers ($21,229), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

40% of full-time students who enrolled at Purdue University Northwest graduate within six years, and 67% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

40%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

67%

Returning for their second year

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Purdue University Northwest earn a median of $48,318 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$48,318

Earning > $25K

72%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates

$35,300

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$53,900

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$38,100

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$46,200

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$47,300

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $18,600, about 35% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑ 15.0 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Moderate. Only 69% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Purdue University Northwest is home to 5,671 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 43% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled

5,671

Part-Time

19%

First-Generation

43%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

White 48.3% 2,736

Hispanic 27.0% 1,531

Black 11.5% 654

International 4.2% 239

Other 3.8% 217

Asian 3.3% 186

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Purdue University Northwest. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Large Suburb Hammond, Indiana

Housing

Limited on-campus housing 776 beds

Adult Learners

14% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

Designation

Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)

What You Can Study

Purdue University Northwest offers an extensive catalog of programs: 65 distinct programs across 20 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

8 Programs

Health

Nursing $89K ($68K–$114K)
Nursing $89K ($68K–$114K)
Health Sciences $61K ($43K–$82K)

9 Programs

Business

Accounting $76K ($56K–$97K)
Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)

8 Programs

Engineering

Mechanical Engineering $92K ($78K–$109K)
Civil Engineering $87K ($74K–$101K)
Electrical Engineering $101K ($85K–$122K)

8 Programs

Computer Science

Information Systems $92K ($64K–$128K)
Computer Science $107K ($75K–$152K)
Computer Science $107K ($75K–$152K)

7 Programs

Engineering Tech

Environmental Tech $90K ($71K–$110K)
Mechanical Engineering Tech $82K ($67K–$99K)
Construction Engineering Tech $94K ($77K–$112K)

2 Programs

Biology

Biology $57K ($39K–$79K)
Biology $57K ($39K–$79K)

2 Programs

Communication

Communication & Media $56K ($40K–$76K)
Communication & Media $56K ($40K–$76K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Purdue University Northwest is 17:1, on the higher side.

Student : Faculty

17:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Instruction / Student

$10,838

Annual instructional spending per enrolled student

Endowment

$52M

Modest endowment

Avg Faculty Salary

$86,963

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

204 instructional faculty across 4 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank	Faculty Count	Share	Avg Salary
Full Professors	66	32%	$107,763
Associate Professors	84	41%	$88,103
Assistant Professors	40	20%	$82,125
Instructors	14	7%	$59,643

Pros & Cons of Purdue University Northwest

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Purdue University Northwest tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Very affordable net price after aid
First-gen-friendly student body

CONS

Class sizes are on the higher side
Below-average completion rate
First-year retention is below typical

Best for: Based on the data, Purdue University Northwest is a fit for families focused on keeping net cost low.

Frequently Asked Questions about Purdue University Northwest

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Purdue University Northwest.

Is Purdue University Northwest hard to get into?

Admissions at Purdue University Northwest are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 72.4%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.

What is the acceptance rate at Purdue University Northwest?

Purdue University Northwest has an acceptance rate of 72.4%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

What SAT score do you need for Purdue University Northwest?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Purdue University Northwest scored between 890 and 1140 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

What ACT score do you need for Purdue University Northwest?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Purdue University Northwest scored between 16 and 24 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

How much does Purdue University Northwest cost?

The average net price after aid at Purdue University Northwest is $6,079 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is Purdue University Northwest worth it?

Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $48,318 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $6,079 per year. That's roughly 7.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is Purdue University Northwest known for?

Purdue University Northwest is best known for its programs in Nursing, Nursing, Teacher Education (K-12). These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do Purdue University Northwest graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering Purdue University Northwest are $48,318, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is Purdue University Northwest accredited?

Yes. Purdue University Northwest is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

How many students attend Purdue University Northwest?

Purdue University Northwest enrolls 5,671 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at Purdue University Northwest?

Purdue University Northwest graduates 40% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is Purdue University Northwest a public or private college?

Purdue University Northwest is a Public institution.

Where is Purdue University Northwest located?

Purdue University Northwest is located in Hammond, Indiana.

What programs does Purdue University Northwest offer?

Purdue University Northwest offers 65 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Nursing, Teacher Education (K-12).

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Purdue University Northwest?

The student-to-faculty ratio at Purdue University Northwest is 17:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.