purdue university northwest english requirements

Purdue University’s graduate admission process seeks to select students whose applications document their outstanding ability, preparation, and potential for successful completion of graduate study. Purdue University’s Nondiscrimination Policy is found on the Purdue University Policy Office webpage -  https://www.purdue.edu/purdue/ea_eou_statement.php  

Purdue University is committed to maintaining an inclusive community that recognizes and values the inherent worth and dignity of every person; fosters tolerance, sensitivity, understanding and mutual respect among its members; and encourages each individual to strive to reach his or her own potential. In pursuit of its goal of academic excellence, Purdue University seeks to develop and nurture its diversity. The University believes that diversity among its many members strengthens the institution, stimulates creativity, promotes the exchange of ideas and enriches campus life. Purdue University views, evaluates,  and treats all persons in any university-related activity or circumstance in which they may be involved solely as individuals on the basis of their own personal abilities, qualifications and other relevant characteristics. Purdue University does not condone and will not tolerate discrimination against any individual on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, genetic information, disability, status as a veteran, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Purdue University promulgates policies and programs to ensure that all persons have equal access to its employment opportunities and educational programs, services and activities. The principal objective of this policy is to provide fair and consistent treatment for all students and employees of the University. Purdue is committed to increasing the recruitment, selection, and promotion of faculty and staff at the University who are racial or ethnic minorities, women, persons with disabilities and veterans. The University also is committed to policies and programs that increase the diversity of the student body.[1] 

Inquiries about the need for academic adjustments or auxiliary aids and services because of a disability should be directed to the Disability Resource Center at (765) 494-1247, [email protected] or http://www.purdue.edu/odos/drc/ .

Within the broad, University‑wide framework authorized by the Graduate Council and the dean of the Purdue Graduate School, departments are primarily responsible for recruitment of students, establishment of appropriate entry qualifications beyond minimum standards set by the Graduate Council, and initial evaluation and admission recommendation of applicants.  Recruitment resources are available from the Office of Graduate Admissions.

Occasionally, pilot programs that deviate from standard policies and procedures are approved and administered by the Graduate School. These pilot programs are limited in scope and scale, help determine best practices in admissions and recruitment, and may impact future policies and procedures. Requirements and participating departments for these pilot programs are detailed in a proposal. Approved proposal documents are maintained by the Graduate School for the duration of the pilot program.

1 Purdue University Equal Opportunity, Equal Access and Affirmative Action (III.C.2.) last revised August 14, 2020.

A. Graduate Student Recruitment

Purchased lists (such as from the GRE search service or Council of Undergraduate Researchers) and information from inquiries about admission received by the Purdue Graduate School are entered into Slate. Slate is the client relationship management system that includes unsolicited, inquiry, and application records. Once entered into Slate, inquirers receive communication from the Purdue University Graduate School and/or the appropriate department/interdisciplinary program[2].  As appropriate, inquiries are directed to the electronic application available at https://www.purdue.edu/gradschool .

The Office of Graduate Admissions provides a variety of recruitment services related to two primary missions: (1) to recruit graduate students through direct outreach to prospective students and (2) to promote assistance, collaboration, and sharing of best practices among graduate departments.

Direct outreach to students includes attendance at key graduate recruitment fairs and conferences, on-campus recruiting events such as the Big Ten+ Graduate School Exposition and the Midwest Graduate School Summit, presentations and online webinars, and the leveraging of social media outlets.  The Office of Graduate Admissions also maintains prospective student and admitted student webpages including information on how to prepare for graduate school and Purdue factual information.  An extensive communication plan is delivered to specific audiences throughout the recruitment cycle.  Special initiatives, such as the formation of a graduate student-based Global Ambassadors program and strategic partnerships with organizations such as EducationUSA are developed by the Office of Graduate Admissions to support specific recruitment objectives of the Graduate School.

In addition to direct student recruitment, the Office of Graduate Admissions is a resource for all graduate departments on the West Lafayette campus.  The Office of Graduate Admissions offers consultations on recruitment, application, and admission opportunities and concerns.  Graduate Admissions hosts a meeting for graduate contacts and chairs of departmental graduate committees/directors of graduate studies each fall, spring, and summer session.  At these meetings, announcements, updates, and presentations are made to assist departments with their admission-related responsibilities. Many Graduate School brochures, displays, and other event resources are made available to departments free of charge.  The Slate client relationship management tool is maintained for department use and includes access to purchased prospective student lists and direct inquirers for PWL graduate programs. The Office of Graduate Admissions also maintains a website detailing its services and helpful resources at https://www.purdue.edu/gradschool/admissions/internal   and http://www.purdue.edu/GRADSCHOOL/faculty/recruitment.html .

B. Application Policies and Procedures

The following sections detail the various components of the graduate application. Because initial review of all graduate applications is done by the graduate department (See section III.C. Admissions Policies and Procedures), graduate departments should receive all supporting documents which may include transcripts, diplomas, letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, diversity essay, resume, test scores, writing samples, digital portfolios and additional questionnaires. These documents may be submitted electronically through the online application system, Slate, or be sent directly to the department.

If the applicant is recommended for admission by the program, the approved application, uploaded transcripts, and proof of degree must be submitted electronically through Slate to the Office of Graduate Admissions for final approval.  The Graduate School issues a formal letter of admission following review and approval of the application.

• Electronic Application Applicants are to be directed to the electronic application .  
• West Lafayette, Northwest, and Fort Wayne Campuses   All degree-seeking applicants and graduate certificate applicants must submit a nonrefundable application fee.  The application fee can be paid by credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover) at the end of the application process.  The application fee is $60 for domestic applicants (including permanent residents) and $75 for international applicants for programs leading to a degree and certificate.  Non-degree applicants do not pay an application fee.

As an alternative to paying the application fee via credit card, Purdue University Graduate School has partnered with Western Union Business Solutions, a specialist in global business payments. This payment option allows applicants to pay the Graduate School application fee in the currency of choice and provides a simple and secure method for initiating payments electronically. Please note: A foreign currency payment is a “pending” payment and does not automatically update the application fee payment.  Purdue University Accounts Receivable will post the U.S. dollar equivalent to the applicants’ Business Partner account, generally within two to five days after your local bank initiates payment.  When this has occurred, the application fee will be updated. For more details about this fee payment option in the online application, visit our  Foreign Currency Payments Web page .

Applicants are eligible for one application fee waiver per program in which he/she has participated. Fee waivers are valid until December 31st two years after the applicant became eligible. For example, if an applicant participated in the Big Ten+ Graduate School Exposition in October 2020, he/she must apply and request the fee waiver by December 31, 2022.

Proposals for new Application Fee Waivers and Departmental Paid Application Fee Satisfaction Programs are to be submitted to the Office of Graduate Admissions by April 15 using the “ Form_to_collect_Fee_Waiver_Requests 31     .” Proposals are reviewed with legal counsel, and approved ones become effective July 1.

During the online application process, an in-progress applicant has the ability to select a recruitment program.  When the application is saved, an automatic email notification is sent to the applicant informing of the application fee waiver process. This involves verification of the applicant’s participation in a recruitment program.  The email notice is copied to the Graduate School office for follow up in this verification procedure.  Once participation is verified, an update is made to the application fee portion of the application and an email is sent to the applicant that their fee has been satisfied.  If participation is not verified, no update is made in the application fee portion of the application and an email is sent to the applicant to return and pay the application fee in order for his/her application to be reviewed. Graduate School applicants who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents experiencing economic hardship may request a waiver of the application fee. To request a waiver of the application fee, please send an email explaining your situation to  [email protected] .

Application fees are non-refundable. If an applicant who would otherwise qualify for a fee waiver pays the application fee before eligibility is verified, the application fee is not refunded.

• American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AICHE) - must visit Purdue recruiter at annual conference and complete contact information card.
• Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) - must visit Purdue recruiter at annual conference and complete contact information card.
• AISES Conference  - must visit Purdue recruiter at annual conference and complete a contact information card
• Big Ten+ Graduate School Exposition  - must register and participate in the event. For more information on this program please visit their  website .
• Big Ten Academic Alliance FreeApp -   Ph.D. or MFA applicants who have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher (A = 4.0), are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and possess qualities and experiences that would enhance the diversity of the intellectual, cultural, and social environments at Big Ten Academic Alliance universities.  This includes women in STEM, first-generation students, minorities, and other applicants who have faced adversity . For more information on this waiver, and participating universities, please visit their  website .”
• EducationUSA Opportunity Fund Recipient - must provide a copy of the official EducationUSA Opportunity Fund award letter.
• Engineering Undergraduate Research Office - must be a Purdue University Engineering undergraduate student and a recipient of an academic year competitive fellowship program.
• Florida A&M Graduate Feeder Program - must be a participant of this program.  For more information on this, please visit their website . 
• GEM Fellows Program -   U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents who have applied for the GEM Fellows program (submitted a completed application to GEM prior to their deadline) with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0.
• Institute for Recruitment of Teachers Program - must be selected and participate in their summer program.
• Mandela Washington Fellows for Young African Leaders - for more information please visit this website: ( https://www.irex.org/people/wash-fellows )
• McNair Scholars Program  - name must be listed in National Directory. For more information on this program please visit their  website .
• Midwest Graduate School Summit  - must register and participate in the event.  For more information on this program, please visit their  website
• National Science Foundation Summer Internship (Purdue University)  - must be selected and participate in sponsored program at Purdue.
• National Society of Black Engineers National Career Fair - must visit Purdue recruiter at annual conference and complete a contact information card.  For more information please visit this website: http://www.nsbe.org . 
• Native American Institution Visit Program  - must be invited and visit campus as part of this program.
• NIH MARC USTAR/PREP/RISE  - must have participated in one of these NIH-sponsored undergraduate research programs.
• POSSE Scholars -  must provide a copy of the official POSSE scholar participation letter.
• Purdue Emerging Leaders Program  - must be a participant of the program. 
• Purdue Engineering Virtual Graduate Showcase - must register for and attend the Purdue Engineering Virtual Graduate Showcase.
• Purdue Graduate Diversity Visitation Program  - must be invited and attend the visitation hosted by Purdue. For more information on this program please visit their  website .
• Purdue Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) - must be a participant of the program.  Please visit their website ( https://www.purdue.edu/gradschool/diversity/programs/louis-stokes-alliance-for-minority-participation/ )
• Purdue Summer Research Opportunity Program  - must be invited and participate in the program hosted by Purdue. For more information on this program please visit their  website .  
• Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers  - must visit Purdue recruiter at annual conference and complete a contact information card.  For more information please visit their website: http://shpe.org .
• Society of Mexican American Engineers & Scientists - must visit Purdue recruiter at annual conference and complete a contact information card.  For more information please visit their website: http://mymaes.org
• Society of Women Engineers - must visit Purdue recruiter at annual conference and complete a contact information card. For more information please visit this website: http://societyofwomenengineers.swe.org
• Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) National Conference  - must visit Purdue recruiter at annual conference and complete contact information card.
• Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)  - must be selected and participate in the Purdue program. For more information on this program please visit their  website .
• Tau Beta Pi National Convention - must visit a Purdue recruiter at the annual convention and complete a contact information card.  For more information, please visit https://www.tbp.org/about/Infobook/membership.cfm .
• U.S. Veterans or U.S. Military Service Members - must be a U.S. military veteran or an active U.S. military service member.
• University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) Meyerhoff Scholars - a student must be a member of this program.  For more information, please visit https://meyerhoff.umbc.edu/about
• Departmental Paid Application Fees

A list of approved department- or college-led fee payment programs that have been vetted by legal counsel is maintained by the Office of Graduate Admissions. Ad hoc application fee payments should be used cautiously.  Fee payments are permissible as long as the selection process for granting the fee payment uses objective, neutral criteria and can carry the burden of proof for non-discrimination.  In a review of applicants who received a fee payment, there should be a fair distribution of recipients across racial, ethnic, and gender categories. Departments may pay the application fee for an applicant through a journal voucher. Please contact the Office of Graduate Admissions for details.  

• English Proficiency Requirements

International applicants  whose native language is not English are required to provide proof of English proficiency at the time of recommendation for admission to degree, certificate, non-degree, and teacher license graduate programs in  one  of the following ways 1 :

Submit test scores from a Purdue Graduate School-approved English proficiency provider. A complete list of proofs of English proficiency accepted by the Graduate School can be found on the Graduate School website in the How to Apply section. https://www.purdue.edu/gradschool/admissions/how-to-apply/apply-toefl .html . Note: Individual Graduate programs may have different English Proficiency requirements. Graduate program requirements can be found here: https://www.purdue.edu/gradschool/prospective/gradrequirements/index.htm l Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) -  TOEFL iBT (Internet-based Test), TOEFL iBT Home Edition, TOEFL iBT Paper Edition, TOEFL paper-delivered test, and TOEFL Essentials . The Graduate School accepts valid TOEFL scores earned through internet-based testing. The new TOEFL iBT Paper Edition will also be accepted, after test administration begins on December 11, 2021. The former TOEFL paper-delivered tests were discontinued as of April 11, 2021. Scores from the discontinued tests up to two years prior to the date of recommendation for admission will be valid through April 11, 2023.   Applicants with disabilities or health-related needs should follow instructions found at  https://www.ets.org/toefl/test-takers/ibt/take/disabilities/. The minimum Internet-based test scores required for admission, are the following  

• Speaking 18
• Listening 14

TOEFL Essentials

• Listening 8
• Total 8  

Note that in addition to required minimum scores for writing, speaking, listening, and reading, the Graduate School also requires a minimum overall score on the IBT test 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. Some graduate programs require higher minimum scores. Likewise, a growing number of graduate programs include English proficiency examination performance among the factors they consider during holistic reviews of applicants; typically, these programs may seek higher overall and writing, speaking, listening, and reading scores than the minimums established by the Graduate School. Please check the Graduate Program Requirements Web page for additional requirements.

Only official TOEFL scores received directly from Educational Testing Service are acceptable and must be no more than 24 months old at the time the complete recommendation for admission is received by the Graduate School. For further information, visit www.toefl.org .

Purdue University’s code for the TOEFL application is 1631.

Purdue University Northwest’s code for the TOEFL application is 1638.

Purdue University Fort Wayne’s code for the TOEFL application is 1336.

IUPUI’s code for the TOEFL application is 1325.  

• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) - IELTS Academic Module and IELTS Indicator.

The Graduate School also accepts International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic scores. An overall band score of 6.5 is required for admission. Applicants with disabilities or special needs should consult   https://www.ielts.org/en-us/for-test-takers/special-requirements  The minimum section requirements, effective Spring 2019, are as follows:

• Writing 5.5
• Listening 6.0
• Reading 6.5
• Speaking 6.0

For more information, visit  http://www.ielts.org .

Routine waivers of an English Proficiency examination are granted for applicants who have been conferred a baccalaureate degree or graduate or professional degree within the last 36 months from an institution where English is the primary language of instruction in a country/location where English is the native language. Official English-speaking countries/location, in addition to the U.S., include:  Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Christmas Island, Cook Islands, Dominica, Fiji, The Gambia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guyana, Isle of Man, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Micronesia, Montserrat, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norfolk Island, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Pitcarin Islands, Republic of Ireland, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, South Sudan, St. Helena, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and Grenadines, Swaziland, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uganda, United Kingdom, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. 

The Graduate School will waive the English proficiency requirement and admit international applicants who have met the following criteria from a country listed above.  If the degree has been completed, the applicant must submit a final transcript that reflects this information. If the degree has been awarded, and degree information is not listed on the transcript, a diploma will also be required.  If the degree has NOT been awarded, a letter from the Office of the Registrar or Graduate School from the current institution stating that all degree requirements have been met must be received in order to lift HOLDS placed because of conditional admission. If a letter from the Registrar or Graduate School is provided, the official transcript would be required to follow later that session or next session.  Students who are using this option to meet the English proficiency requirement, but who are unable to provide such a letter, would be required to meet the English proficiency requirement using one of the other options in order to enroll in the Graduate School.

Because of Homeland Security requirements, the Office of International Students and Scholars will not be able to prepare visa paperwork for applicants who have a HOLD as a result of not meeting the Graduate School’s English proficiency requirement.   Visa paperwork will not be prepared until the English proficiency requirement has been met and the hold has been released.

Routine waivers of the English proficiency requirement are granted to current Purdue University graduate degree, certificate, non-degree, and teacher license graduate students. This is with the condition that students have previously met English proficiency requirements (via one of the ways listed in this section) and are being recommended for admission, within three consecutive sessions of their last registration, to a graduate degree-seeking,  non-degree, teacher’s license, or graduate certificate program.

Another alternative is available for international applicants who are non-native speakers of English transferring to Purdue from another graduate program (where English is the primary language of instruction in a country/location where English is the official language) because they will be continuing to study with their major professor who has been hired in a Purdue University position and has the credentials to serve as the chair of the student’s doctoral or master’s advisory committee. These applicants must have no lapse in registration between the previous institution and Purdue University. In that specific situation, the applicant’s English proficiency may be confirmed and satisfied by a letter from the previous university registrar (or equivalent) or graduate school.  This letter must attest that the applicant’s English proficiency requirements were met for admission purposes at that institution and must specify the test or other method which the applicant used to meet the previous university’s English proficiency standard.  If this documentation is provided, no further English proficiency testing will be required for the applicant’s admission to the Purdue University Graduate School.

The Graduate School will consider applicants who have (a) enrolled at one of the following intensive English programs and (b) satisfied the exit requirements established for the program as having met the Graduate School’s English proficiency requirement:

• Purdue Northwest English Language Program (ELP) Exit Requirement: achieve a minimum of 80% (Level 4 examination) and pass an Exit Test (consisting of speaking and writing components)

• Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) Program for Intensive English (PIE) Exit Requirement: pass all classes with grades of at least B (82%), and pass the PIE Proficiency Exit Test at the Level 7 level. • For Purdue Fort Wayne applicants only, the Graduate School will consider applicants who have enrolled in ELS Language Center’s English for Academic Purposes program and who have passed ELS Level 112 as having met the Graduate School’s English proficiency requirement. Successful completion of ELS Level 112 includes the following components: Completion of 12 weeks of intensive study using curricular materials written at the native speaker level (approximately 360 hours of classroom instruction in speaking, listening, reading, writing); completion of an extensive research paper using standard research protocols in a monitored setting; Passing of the Michigan English Language Institute College English Test (MELICET) and Listening Comprehension Test (LCT) standards; passing of speaking evaluations; passing of writing evaluation. These results must be certified, in writing, by ELS Language Center to the Fort Wayne graduate office before applicants using this method of establishing English proficiency may be admitted to the Graduate School.

These results must be certified, in writing, by the intensive English program faculty to the Office of Graduate Admissions at West Lafayette or the equivalent office at the regional campuses before applicants using this method of establishing English proficiency may be admitted to the Graduate School. (Note that ELS is available at the Fort Wayne campus only.)

Conditional admission may also be extended to applicants prior to their enrollment in one of these approved intensive English programs if they commit to and enroll in the program. Conditional admission is for English proficiency only.

All other admission requirements must be satisfied. Initial recommendations for conditional admission must be made by the graduate program to which the student applied. If the Graduate School approves the student’s conditional admission, the student must begin study in one of the approved intensive English programs. Students who successfully complete the exit requirements for one of the intensive English programs, as noted above, would satisfy the admission condition and be eligible to enroll in their graduate program. If a student does not successfully complete the English program courses or pass the Exit Test, or if the appropriate certification is not received from the intensive English program faculty, the condition would remain in effect. The student would not be eligible to enroll in their graduate program unless the English language proficiency requirement is satisfied using one of the other options. Students would have until the start of the session in which they are going to begin to satisfy the English language proficiency requirement.

• Transcripts
• Uploaded/Unofficial Transcripts

Applicants should upload to the online application system, Slate, transcript(s) and/or academic document(s) for every institution of higher education they attended. If a transcript is not in English, they must also upload an English translation certified by the college or university which issued it. Both the original language and English translation are required. Copies of diplomas or other official proof of degree must be included if the degree has been conferred and the conferral information is not listed on the transcript.

The uploaded transcript and/or academic document may be from the official or unofficial version of the document.  An official transcript bears the original signature of the registrar and/or the original seal of the issuing institution. A print-out from the student information system will not be accepted.

Graduate departments who receive hard-copy official transcripts and/or academic documents may also upload these documents to the appropriate application record in Slate.

Uploaded/unofficial transcripts may be used to review and recommend an application for admission. The Graduate School will admit on official or unofficial uploaded transcripts.

All final, official credentials are required during your second term of enrollment and you will not be allowed to register for subsequent semesters until all required documents have been received. University officials may contact institutions directly to verify official documents. If we are unable to verify the student’s transcripts or credentials, the University reserves the right to drop the student from active status and may refer the matter to authorities.  

• Official Transcripts            

Applicants will need to provide official transcripts and/or academic records at the request of the graduate program or if the applicant is admitted and chooses to enroll 2 . If colleges or universities attended do not provide transcripts in English, the official, original language transcripts must be accompanied by certified English translations. Both the original language and English translation are required 3 . Official documents must be received by the Graduate School before the applicant can register for their third session 4 .

A baccalaureate degree received or its equivalent must be recorded on the corresponding transcript or documented by other official evidence.  If an applicant is admitted and was studying for a degree at the time the application was submitted, the applicant will be required, during the second session of enrollment, to submit a final transcript.  If completion of the degree is a condition for admission, the applicant will be required, during the second session of enrollment, to submit official evidence of being awarded the degree.

The Graduate School welcomes applications from Bologna bachelor’s degree recipients. Bologna bachelor’s degrees are conferred in European countries listed on the following  website . Applicants with three-year baccalaureate degrees from countries that are not part of the Bologna Process may also be considered for admission, on a case-by-case basis, using holistic review.  Departments may recommend applicants from these countries with three-year baccalaureate degrees with or without conditions, depending upon the outcome of the holistic review of the candidate.  Conditions for admission should be clearly communicated to students at the time of their admission.

An official transcript bears the original signature of the registrar and/or the original seal of the issuing institution. Official documents should be submitted to:

Office of Graduate Admissions Purdue University Graduate School 155 South Grant Street, YONG 170 West Lafayette, IN 47907

Transcripts and/or English translations must be mailed directly from a Registrar’s office to the Office of Graduate Admissions. Applicants can choose to send the transcripts themselves, but the transcripts must be in an envelope sealed by the Registrar.

The Office of Graduate Admissions also accepts electronic transcripts from accredited U.S. colleges and universities sent via eSCRIP-SAFE, Docufide, Parchment Exchange or directly from the accredited U.S. college and university. The Office of Graduate Admissions also accept electronic transcripts from colleges and universities in India via TrueCopy Credentials or Parchment Exchange. The transcript must be sent to  [email protected]  in order to verify the authenticity of the documents.  If any departments receive emails stating that electronic transcripts are waiting for them, please notify that institution of the correct email address.  The Office of Graduate Admissions does not accept electronic transcripts from international colleges or universities except for those noted in the program above. Transcripts will not be returned.    

• Required Documents by Enrollment Objective

The following is a list of applicant requirements for submitting transcripts and/or academic documents based upon enrollment objective:

• Degree-Seeking Applicants: IIf applicants are applying to a master’s, doctoral, or educational specialist degree program, they must upload transcript(s)/academic document(s) into the online application. The transcripts must be from each college or university attended, including evidence of a baccalaureate degree awarded. If currently studying for a baccalaureate degree, applicants will later be required to submit a document that verifies the awarding of that degree. If requested by the graduate program or if they are admitted and choose to enroll, applicants must submit official transcripts and/or academic documents directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions 3  
• Re-entry Applicants: If applicants are seeking re-entry to a degree program and attended another college or university since they last attended graduate school at Purdue, they must upload a transcript of that study into the online application system. If requested by the graduate program or if they are admitted and choose to enroll, applicants must submit official transcripts and/or academic documents directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions 3 .    
• Certificate Applicants: If applying for certificate classification, applicants must upload evidence of a baccalaureate degree. Some graduate certificate programs require additional documentation. Applicants can refer to the  Graduate Program Requirements Web page  for specific details. Teacher License: If applying for the teacher license classification, applicants must upload a transcript from the college or university where the baccalaureate degree was awarded. If currently studying for a baccalaureate degree, applicants will later be required to submit a document that verifies the degree has been awarded. If requested by the graduate program or if they are admitted and choose to enroll, applicants must submit official transcripts and/or academic documents directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions.  
• Non-Degree Applicants: I If applying for non-degree classification, applicants must upload evidence of a baccalaureate degree. This may be a transcript, a copy of the diploma, or a letter from the college or university verifying the degree.

The Purdue University Graduate School reserves the right to require official transcripts and/or academic documents at any time during the admissions process.  

• Transcript Retention Policy

The Graduate School images into Banner Document Management Suite all official transcripts for admitted graduate students.  After imaging and validating, admitted applicant transcripts are shredded.  The Graduate School recognizes that, in rare and unusual instances, students have access to only one official transcript (or a very limited number of transcripts).  In these rare instances, the Graduate School will retain these documents, after careful review, for applicants on a case-by-case basis until the end of the first session for which they are admitted.  Applicant requests to preserve their paper documents must be submitted in writing at the same time the original documents are submitted to the Graduate School. 

• Supplementary Information for International Students

• Financial Capability

Federal regulations require that all international students provide proof of financial capability before they qualify for a Certificate of Eligibility (I-20 or DS-2019).  Each admitted international student (degree-seeking or non-degree seeking) is required to complete the online International Graduate Student Notification of Intent Form (NOI) and submit it to the Office of International Students and Scholars (ISS).  It must be accompanied by official documentation, showing full financial support.  Copies of graduate assistantship/fellowship offer letters will be acceptable.  All other sources of support must show original documents.  Once the NOI  is submitted, all the financial documents are in order, and any additional documents required by ISS are received, a Certificate of Eligibility (I-20 or DS-2019) will be issued by the Office of International Students and Scholars. http://www.iss.purdue.edu/

• International Student Transfer

Each international student who applies for transfer to the West Lafayette campus while attending another U.S. educational institution must receive a Certificate of Eligibility (I-20 or DS-2019) from the Office of International Students and Scholars (ISS). Students may not begin any on-campus employment at Purdue University until they receive their Purdue issued I-20 or DS-2019. To initiate the transfer process, the student must submit the completed online International Graduate Student Notification of Intent Form (NOI), together with all required supporting documents, and must supply a completed International Student Transfer In request to the ISS office.  Upon arrival at Purdue West Lafayette, the student should contact an immigration counselor in the ISS office to confirm their attendance at Purdue and begin the process of completing the transfer in order to maintain legal status. It is the student’s responsibility to comply with requirements to maintain legal status. http://www.iss.purdue.edu/Current/F1/MaintainingLegalStatus.cfm

• Graduate Record Examination (GRE)             

The Graduate School does not require applicants to take the GRE, but an applicant who falls into one or more of the following categories may be expected to take the verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing test sections of the GRE:

                  a.   The applicant’s department requests it.

                  b.   The applicant holds a baccalaureate degree from a non-accredited institution.

                  c.   The applicant is to be considered for certain fellowship programs.  Applicants will be informed of this requirement when they apply for the fellowship.

                  Official score reports are sent electronically by ETS to the Graduate School. These are available in Slate and the Banner myPurdue system.  

• Graduate Management Aptitude Test (GMAT)

The Graduate School does not require applicants to take the GMAT, but an applicant who falls into one or more of the following categories may be expected to take the GMAT:

C. Admissions Policies and Procedures

Departments are responsible for the primary evaluation of applications. Departments have the authority to identify the set of applicants who can be adequately served by their programs and to select from this set the applicants to be recommended for admission.

Departmental correspondence should make it clear to applicants that their admission will be official only if they receive an admission letter from the dean of the Graduate School. If, on review in the Graduate School, it appears that the applicant fails to meet the minimum academic requirements, the application may be returned to the department for re-evaluation.

Departments must select from the following two statements the one that is appropriate for inclusion in their correspondence with prospective international students.        

For international students entering from foreign countries:

“You should not apply for your visa, or make an appointment with the embassy, or make travel plans until you receive a formal letter of admission from the dean of the Graduate School AND your Certificate of Eligibility (I‑20 or DS-2019) from the Office of International Students and Scholars at Purdue University.  These papers will be sent to you as soon as all admission procedures are completed and you have submitted the online International Graduate Student Notification of Intent Form (NOI), along with the required proof of financial resources and any other required documents to the Office of International Students and Scholars (ISS).   Please allow 10 business days for processing the Certificate of Eligibility”

For international students entering from within the U.S.:

“If you are transferring to Purdue University from another educational institution in the U.S., certain transfer procedures must be completed before you come to Purdue.  After all admission procedures are successfully completed, you will receive official notification of admission from the Graduate School.  With that notification, you will be requested to complete the International Graduate Student Notification of Intent Form (NOI). 

You must follow the directions on NOI and submit the completed form, together with official financial documentation, to the Office of International Students and Scholars (ISS). Purdue’s ISS office will then e-mail you an International Student/Scholar Transfer Form to be completed by the international office at your previous U.S. educational institution.  Purdue’s ISS office will need to receive the completed transfer form and will then prepare the Certificate of Eligibility (I-20 or DS-2019) after the SEVIS release date listed on the form. 

As soon as you arrive at Purdue, bring your Purdue-issued Certificate of Eligibility (I-20 or DS-2019), all previous Certificates of Eligibility (I-20 or DS-2019/IAP-66), passport, and I-94 card (the same documents for any dependents) to the ISS office. 

That office will then advise you on the process of checking in and completing your transfer to Purdue University.”

Questions concerning nonimmigrant status should be directed to the Office of International Students and Scholars .

The application of each student recommended for admission must bear the electronic signature of the head of the graduate program or designee.  Complete application materials for each student should be electronically submitted to the Office of Graduate Admissions at the earliest possible opportunity. This is particularly important for international students, due to the time required for processing and for the issuance of a Certificate of Eligibility (I-20 or DS-2019) by the Office of International Students and Scholars.

The Graduate School and the Office of International Students and Scholars have established deadlines for submission of applications in order to provide sufficient time for an admitted student to plan for a timely arrival on campus.  These deadlines are as follows:

The deadline for forwarding all other applications to the Graduate School is the end of the first week of classes for that session.

Admission to a Degree Program Departments may recommend for consideration by the Graduate School, degree-seeking applicants for admission or admission with conditions for continued enrollment.

• Admission to a Degree Program without Conditions for Continued Enrollment Admission to a degree program without conditions for continued enrollment, a B (3.0/4.0) or better grade point average in prior study is required.  Departments may set admission standards higher, but not lower, than those established by the Graduate School.

Departments may recommend admission to a degree program with conditions for continued enrollment for a student whose background reflects some academic deficiency. The conditions placed by the department are not stated in the formal admission letter and are not monitored by the Graduate School.

• The Graduate School will place a condition of continued enrollment on an applicant’s admission if the applicant has not earned the equivalent of a 3.0/4.0 grade point average or higher at the institution from which he/she most recently graduated. In addition, the Graduate School may place a condition on the amount of prior coursework available for use on a graduate plan of study.

The Graduate School may place a condition of continued enrollment on an applicant’s admission if a required supporting document is missing.  Specific requirements for removing a condition will be provided in the admission letter. Failure to fulfill the conditions placed upon a student’s continued enrollment will result in the student’s inability to register.  Students, generally, have one session to fulfill conditions.  It is a student’s responsibility to satisfy a condition and to check with the appropriate office. If a department wishes to seek an extension on the period of time allowed to satisfy a condition, a memorandum justifying that request should be submitted to the Office of Graduate Admissions.

• Teacher License Enrollment Objective Individuals applying for the teacher license enrollment objective must submit an official transcript from the college or university where the baccalaureate degree was received.  

Individuals who have earned the baccalaureate degree and wish to enroll in a graduate-level course on a non-degree basis must be admitted to Purdue University as a non-degree student.  Evidence of a baccalaureate degree from a properly accredited institution of higher learning is required.

Individuals who have earned the baccalaureate degree and wish to enroll in a graduate certificate program must be admitted to Purdue University as a graduate certificate student.  An application to the Graduate School must be processed indicating the enrollment objective of graduate certificate.  Evidence of a baccalaureate degree from a properly accredited institution of higher learning is required.  Official transcripts are required for some graduate certificate programs.

Students who may be interested in pursuing a degree program at a later date should discuss this prospect with a departmental graduate advisor or the departmental graduate committee chair as soon as possible to receive appropriate advising, including information on the limit of non-degree credits that can later be applied to a degree program.  Students who later decide to pursue a degree program at Purdue need to submit a new application as a degree-seeking student.

With the approval of the department and the permission of the dean of the Graduate School, a student with a minimum of a 3.0/4.0 grade point average may be admitted to the Graduate School in the session in which the baccalaureate degree is being completed.

A memorandum, from the head of the graduate program, justifying the request for early admission should be uploaded to the application in Slate. The memorandum should be accompanied by the usual Graduate School application and supporting materials.

Baccalaureate and master’s combined and dual-degree programs formally approved by the department and the dean of the Graduate School (and in the case of combined degrees, approved by the Graduate Council) are designed to provide a seamless transition from the baccalaureate to the master’s curriculum.  While the details of the specific program may vary, such programs are restricted to undergraduate students in high academic standing.  Application and admission to the Graduate School are required and are detailed in the program document. The student must submit a combined degree request form ( Form 27 ) with the application for admission to the Graduate School. The standard Graduate School application process is to be followed.

Minimal requirements of students participating in formally approved baccalaureate/master’s degree programs:

• Students must be in high academic standing
• The graduate student’s plan of study should be approved by the Graduate School by the end of the first session in which the student has dual enrollment
• For combined programs, before the baccalaureate degree is awarded, any course and/or research credits taken to satisfy the graduate degree requirements must be designated as undergraduate excess credits
• Students must meet all requirements for the baccalaureate degree
• The baccalaureate degree must be awarded at least one term before the graduate degree
• Simultaneous Admission at More Than One Campus (Same Department) A student wishing to take a graduate-level course at a Purdue campus other than the campus of admission and residence must apply for admission to the desired campus.  Non-degree status is appropriate for such admission.  
• Concurrent Graduate Program Status A student wishing to pursue two degrees in two different departments simultaneously must complete an application for admission to each department.  This usually happens when a student currently is pursuing a Ph.D. degree in one department and wishes to pursue a master’s degree in another department.  The student must submit a Notice of Concurrent Graduate Program Status ( G.S. Form 18 ) with the application for admission to the second department.  
• Admission Recommendation for Applicants from Sanctioned Countries:

Due to U.S. Government economic and trade sanctions on certain countries, applications of students from those countries require additional scrutiny to ensure that their proposed plans of study and research do not violate U.S. Law.  When a department is considering an applicant for admission who is from one of the countries listed at http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/Pages/Programs.aspx send the following to the Export Control Office with the Office of Research and Partnerships at [email protected] , noting the student’s name and the department in the subject line:

• Curriculum vitae of the applicant
• Proposed major professor
• A brief statement summarizing the expected plans of study and research from the major professor (this information is provided to the State Department on the I-20 document and should be understandable by a layperson) and
• The names of any dependents

The export control review does take time, so it is important to complete the above step once the decision is made to recommend admission to the graduate school to avoid any unnecessary delay.  Due to the variations in the sanctions requirements, in order to complete this review, the assigned export control administrator may need to ask additional questions.

When the Graduate School concurs with the department’s recommendation to admit a student, an electronic notification is sent to the applicant.  This notification instructs the applicant to return to the Slate application system and view their admission decision.  This decision includes the official admission letter from the dean of the Graduate School and an admission summary sheet.  This information is available to departments through Slate.  Since the final action and notification of such action comes from the dean of the Graduate School, care should be taken that no irrevocable department commitments are made until the dean has notified the student of his or her status. Any academic conditions (e.g., course and/or grade requirements) or technical conditions (e.g., final transcripts and diplomas) imposed by the Graduate School will be stated on the admission summary sheet, along with other important general information. Beginning July 1, 2020, admitted students will need to complete an online enrollment form in MyPurdue to accept enrollment.  Admitted students who decline their offer of admission will complete a Slate enrollment form.  If enrollment is accepted on an offer and the student wishes to change the response they will need to email  [email protected] .  If no enrollment response is completed the offers will automatically decline after the admission session starts.  This will impact their eligibility to register and can be used by departments to anticipate enrollment

• Each successful applicant is admitted to a specific enrollment objective and a specific graduate program on a specific campus.  Although each admission is for a specific academic session, the ability to register is valid for two additional sessions, unless otherwise restricted. (see Section V-A-4   ) However, the Certificate of Eligibility (I-20 or DS-2019), issued by the Office of International Students and Scholars , is valid for only a single academic session.  

Official decisions, including denial notices, will be released through the Slate application system by the Office of Graduate Admissions. Applications being denied by the department should be moved to the Pending Denial bin in Slate. The Office of Graduate Admissions will then assign the official denial decision and an email notification will be sent to the applicant, prompting them to return to their application and view the decision notice. No additional denial notice should be sent by the department.

An applicant who, after being granted admission by the Graduate School, does not enroll for three or more consecutive academic sessions (including the summer session) must submit a new application and pay the application fee.  (During the 2021-2022 academic year, the Graduate School will consider more than one deferral for an admitted student - if requested by the department - for COVID-19-related reasons.)  Updated or additional admission information may be required.  Conditions may be placed on admission, as described in Section III-C-1-a-(2).

Although an international applicant’s admission is governed by the same regulations as those of a domestic applicant, the Certificate of Eligibility (I-20 or DS-2019), issued to international applicants by the Office of International Students and Scholars (ISS), is valid only for the session specified on the document.  For this reason, a deferral request is required for any session change.  The department must complete a  GS-Form 45 Deferral Request    ( Deferral Request), along with a copy of the applicant’s request for a deferral, and send using the appropriate deferral process outlined by the respective campus Office of Graduate Admissions.  A formal deferral request must be submitted to the Graduate School before the end of the session in which the student was originally admitted.  The Graduate School will not require new/updated English proficiency scores for admitted international students seeking deferral requests.

Students who have interrupted their graduate study must submit a new application if three or more consecutive academic sessions (including summer session) have elapsed since their last registration. Upon the recommendation of the department and on a case-by-case basis, special consideration will be given to students returning to continue their graduate studies after being called to active military service. 

Five-year Rule:  Course credits earned by a student whose graduate study and/or professional activity has been inactive for five years or more cannot be used on a plan of study for an advanced degree.  A plan of study approved prior to such a period of inactivity is invalid.  A preliminary examination passed prior to such a period of inactivity is invalid. (See Section V-A-2   , VII-B-1-a   , and VII-D-4   .) Readmission is granted by the dean of the Graduate School.  The dean of the Graduate School will notify students who have been readmitted, and the readmission letter will be available to the department.

• Change from Nondegree Status to a Degree Program A student in non-degree status who wishes to be considered for admission to a degree program must submit a new application, accompanied by the same materials required of other degree‑seeking applicants.  

If a student’s degree objective changes before completion of the degree program, in which he or she is enrolled, as well as to have more accurate data about the number of students studying in the various degree programs, the Graduate School should be notified without delay so the student will remain in the appropriate enrollment objective.  The deadline for Change of Degree Objective (CODO) submission is the end of the second week of the effective term. Requests received by the Graduate School after the second week of the term will be made effective with the next session. (See University Regulations, D-3 )

It is particularly important to report immediately any change in degree objective for visa purposes or if the student has a graduate appointment since only degree-seeking and license students are eligible for these appointments.  (See Section IV-A-1)

CODO requests may be communicated to the Graduate School through the formal online application process, or through one of the following methods:

• Written, signed request from the department
• A copy of the department’s approval letter sent to the student
• Indicate the student’s intent to continue on the master’s plan of study
• Indicate intent to continue with the doctoral degree on the master’s degree graduation audit/certification form
• Indicate the student’s intent to leave on the master’s plan of study
• Indicate intent to leave with the master’s degree on the master’s degree graduation audit/certification form After degrees have been awarded, the Office of the Registrar will inactivate the records of those graduates.  If a graduate wishes to continue to register, they must be continuing for another degree within the same department, or have been admitted to another program.  

Both departments should review any conditions of admission that have not been met at the time of transfer and make the appropriate notation on the transfer form.  If a new application is requested, the department in which the student is currently enrolled must upload to Slate a completed Request for Transfer of Department ( G.S. Form 17 ). International students who wish to transfer from one department to another must check with the Office of International Students and Scholars to determine if their visa status will be affected by the transfer. If a student completes a graduate degree in one department and wishes to seek an additional graduate degree in another department, a new application is required.

Purdue employees who hold a Graduate Faculty appointment on a Purdue campus may take graduate courses but may work for advanced degrees at Purdue only under certain conditions and with prior approval of the dean of the Graduate School. (See Section I-E-3, and Appendix S    )

Members of the administrative, professional, instructional, research, extension, and regular clerical/service staffs of the University who wish to register as graduate students should consult the appropriate staff handbooks concerning admission, academic loads permitted, and fee information.

• Admission to Study Toward a Second Ph.D. Admission to study toward a second Ph.D. degree is generally discouraged at Purdue, but exceptional circumstances may be considered by departmental graduate committees. No Graduate Council approval is required. (See Section VII-K-2   .)

Footnotes: 

1 Heads of graduate programs which are fully delivered in distance, executive, or weekend formats may request, in writing to the dean of the Graduate School, that their applicants receive exemptions to the English proficiency examination requirement. If approved, these departments may recommend applicants without meeting the usual English proficiency requirements for Graduate School admission. Graduate program exemptions to the English proficiency requirement must be renewed by a new request to the dean of the Graduate School every five years. It is suggested that renewal requests coincide with graduate program assessments.

English Proficiency Requirements - School of Industrial Engineering - Purdue University

English Proficiency Requirements

International degree-seeking applicants whose native language is not English are required to  provide proof of English proficiency via a Graduate School approved mechanism . Current testing options include  T est of English as a Foreign Language ( TOEFL ) or International English Language Testing System ( IELTS ),  or Duolingo English Test  for admission to the Purdue University Graduate School.

The minimum Internet-based test scores required for admission to the Purdue University School of Industrial Engineering are the following:

TOEFL Only official TOEFL scores received directly from Educational Testing Service are acceptable. For further information, visit  ETS TOEFL . Due to long delays for score submissions, upload a copy of your PDF score report and attach it as a miscellaneous document to your application.

Purdue University West Lafayette's code for the TOEFL application is 1631.

*Applicants must meet or exceed each of the four sections in TOEFL.

• Minimum Internet-Based Test (IBT) Overall Score Required: 90
• Reading: 19
• Listening: 14
• Speaking: 18
• Writing: 18

TOEFL: Essentials: Minimum Overall Required Score: 9.5

• Listening: 8
• Speaking: 8

The Graduate School also accepts valid* International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores (Academic Module). 

IELTS (Academic Module): Minimum Overall Required Score: 6.5

• Reading: 6.5
• Listening: 6.0
• Speaking: 6.0
• Writing: 5.5

For more information, visit  www.ielts.org . The official test score report can be uploaded to the online application under Miscellaneous Supporting Documents, sent electronically to the Office of International Students and Scholars , or the hard copy score report can be mailed directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions .

The Graduate School accepts the Duolingo English test. To learn more about this test option visit   https://englishtest.duolingo.com/applicants.  

Minimum Duolingo English Test Score Required by the Graduate School for Admission is a total score of 115 and 115 on each subscore.

*To be valid for admission, English proficiency test scores (TOEFL and IELTS) must be no more than two years old at the time the recommendation for admission is received at the Graduate School. 

See  FAQ  for additional questions.

English proficiency test exemption policy.

The Purdue Graduate School will routinely waive the TOEFL/IELTS/PTE for applicants who have received a Bachelor's degree, a graduate degree, or a professional degree within the last 36 months from a school where English is the primary language of instruction in a country/location where English is the native language. If the test score expires before end of March for fall admission and end of October for spring admission, you are not eligible for test exemption and must retake the test.

Official English-speaking countries/locations, in addition to the U.S., include:

• Antigua and Barbuda
• British Virgin Islands
• Cayman Islands
• Christmas Island
• Cook Islands
• Isle of Man
• New Zealand
• Norfolk Island
• Papua New Guinea
• Philippines
• Pitcairn Islands
• Republic of Ireland
• Sierra Leone
• South Sudan
• St. Kitts and Nevis
• St. Vincent and Grenadines
• South Africa
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Turks and Caicos Islands
• United Kingdom

Undergraduate Admissions

Freshman Admission Criteria

Are you ready to take your next giant leap?

1) Are you academically prepared to succeed in your desired academic program?

2) are you a competitive candidate in the context of the overall pool of applicants for the program based on available space.

Purdue applications are reviewed individually and holistically with these two primary questions in mind.  There is no definitive answer to 'what does it take to be admitted?'

You can use our Freshman Class Profile Page to see “middle 50%” ranges for GPAs and SAT or ACT tests. However, these ranges represent the entire freshman class – the middle 50% for individual majors may be higher or lower based on space availability or the rigor of the program's curriculum.

Those that accept their offer of admission to Purdue must have a high school diploma or receive a recognized equivalent of a high school diploma (e.g., GED) unless they are 18 years of age or older. Purdue requires that students submit proof of high school graduation. Purdue will review to confirm that enrollment conditions have been met.

Evaluation begins when we have received your application and all required material.

Here's what you need to know when preparing for admission to and success at Purdue:

Complete your application.

For most first-time college students (future freshman) a complete application includes:

• The application itself
• Purdue-specific questions from the application
• Self-reported high school grades
• Self-reported ACT or SAT test scores*
• The application fee (or qualified fee waiver)

Students apply to Purdue using the Common Application. This application requires you to provide a personal essay and answer Purdue-specific questions. View  current essay questions .

We accept SAT or ACT scores and have no preference on which test is taken. You may report the best scores from across different tests. If able, you should take one or the other in the spring of your junior year in preparation for the November 1 Early Action deadline that encompasses scholarship consideration.

When you apply, you are able to report best components from different test dates. School codes for Purdue West Lafayette: ACT – 1230; SAT – 1631.

*Purdue University expects applicants to have SAT or ACT scores. Recognizing that in some exceptional cases, applicants may not have been able to take a test, we allow submission of applications in those cases via the Common App. 

International undergraduate applicants whose native language is not English will be evaluated for English language proficiency during the application review process. The most common and preferred way for applicants to provide evidence of their English proficiency is through an English proficiency exam .

Don't Miss Deadlines

Meet the minimum requirements and be competitive.

You should meet or exceed these minimum high school expectations.

• Math—eight semesters
• English—eight semesters
• Lab science—six semesters ( for engineering applicants, chemistry experience is expected ; for nursing, pharmacy and veterinary nursing, two semesters must be chemistry and two must be biology)
• Social studies—six semesters
• World language—four semesters

Visit the  high school course requirements page for more specific information.

If you are an Indiana resident, we strongly encourage you to pursue the Academic Honors Diploma. While this does not guarantee admission to Purdue, those who earn this diploma are generally stronger candidates and better prepared for the academic rigor of Purdue classes.

Admission to Purdue is competitive and we’ll use the following factors to evaluate your application:

• High school course expectations
• Overall grades in academic coursework
• Grades related to intended major
• Strength of your overall high school curriculum
• Trends in achievement (If you have weaker grades/courses, were they earlier in your high school record?)
• Grades in academic core coursework (English, academic math, laboratory science, foreign language, social studies)
• SAT or ACT scores (if provided)
• Proof of English proficiency (for citizens of non-English speaking countries)
• Ability to be successful in intended major
• Essay and answers to Purdue questions
• Personal background and experiences
• Information provided by your high school
• Time of year you apply
• Space availability in the desired program
• Check Your Application Status
• Closed Programs
• Maximizing Scholarship Consideration
• Find Your Admissions Counselor
• High School Course Requirements

About the Program

Degree Requirements

• 126 Credit Hours
• Minimum of B- (at least 80) is required in EDCI 32300, EDCI 35500, EDCI 36600, EDPS 37000, and EDCI 34100.
• Minimum of B- (at least 80) is required in ENGL 10400, 10500, and COM 11400
• Minimum of C (at least 74) is required in GENED courses except ENGL 10400, 10500, and COM 11400 and in all non-education courses.
• Minimum overall GPA of 2.5 (C+/at least 77) is required to be admitted to the Secondary Education program.
• Minimum overall GPA of 2.8 (B-/at least 80) is required to be eligible for student teaching.
• Minimum overall GPA of 2.8 (B-/at least 80) is required for graduation.
• Certain courses may only be available at one campus location.

PNW General Education Core (30 Credits Minimum)

• English Composition (6 Credits): ENGL 10400 - English Composition I    and ENGL 10500 - English Composition II    
• Speech Communication (3 Credits): COM 11400 - Fundamentals of Speech Communication    
• Quantitative Reasoning (3 Credits): STAT 13000 - Statistics And Contemporary Life    or MA 15300 - College Algebra    
• Natural Sciences (3 Credits): Select one course with Lab from the Natural Sciences Core list    
• Technology (3 Credits): EDCI 32300 - Educational Technology For Teaching And Learning    
• Humanities (3 Credits): PHIL 11000 - Introduction To Philosophy    
• Social Sciences (3 Credits): SOC 10000 - Introductory Sociology    
• Additional Credits (3 Credits):  ENGL 23100 - Introduction To Literature    
• First-Year Experience (FYE) (3 Credits): ENGL 11200 - First-Year Seminar For English    

Major Core (39 Credits)

• ENGL 28800 - Theory And Investigation    
• ENGL 30800 - Modern English Grammar    
• ENGL 38800 - Literature And Culture In Context    - variable topics course, to be taken three times (9 credits)
• ENGL 39100 - Composition For English Teachers    
• ENGL 49200 - Literature In The Secondary Schools    
• Choose one course focused on diversity in literature (3 credits): ENGL 25700   , ENGL 31100   , ENGL 31200   , ENGL 31300   , ENGL 32300   , ENGL 32400   ,  ENGL 33400      ENGL 33600   ,  ENGL 33800   , ENGL 34600   , ENGL 34900   ,  ENGL 35300   , ENGL 36000   , ENGL 36500   , ENGL 36600   , ENGL 39600    
• Choose one Multimodal Writing course (3 credits):    ENGL 42401     ENGL 42501   , ENGL 42601   **,  ENGL 43100   (e) , ENGL 43500   *,  ENGL 43700   (e) , ENGL 43800    

*variable topics course, may be repeated for credit

• Choose any course in Public Writing and Rhetoric (3 credits):   ENGL 20200   ,  ENGL 20500   ,  ENGL 30502   , ENGL 42800   *, ENGL 43300   , ENGL 44300   *, ENGL 48000   (e)
• Capstone Course (3 credits): ENGL 30502   ,  ENGL 48700   , ENGL 48000    (e)
• English Literature Elective (3 credits): Choose any English Literature course, ENGL 20000 or above
• Linguistics Course (3 credits) Choose one: ENGL 32600     or ENGL 32700     

Concentration Core (36 Credits)

• ECON 10100 - Survey Of Economics
• EDCI 34100 - English Teaching In Senior High, Junior High And Middle Schools
• EDCI 35500 - Teaching And Learning K-12 Classroom
• EDCI 36600 - Use Of Assessment In The K-12 Classroom
• EDCI 49700 - Supervised Teaching
• EDPS 22000 - Psychology Of Learning
• EDPS 26000 - Introduction To Special Education
• EDPS 28500 - Diversity And Education
• EDPS 37000 - Teaching Students With Diverse Learning Needs In K-12 Class

Other Required Courses (21 Credits)

• World Languages (12 Credits) - Spanish, French, American Sign Language - must complete four (4) semesters of the same language.
• SCI 11200 - Introduction To The Physical Sciences I    
• SCI 11300 - Introduction To The Physical Sciences II     
• SCI 15000 - Brewing Science    
• HIST 10400 - Introduction To The Modern World    
• HIST 11000 - The Pre-Modern World    
• HIST 15100 - American History To 1877    
• HIST 15200 - United States Since 1877    
• POL 10100 - American Government And Politics    
• POL 13000 - Introduction To International Relations    
• POL 14100 - Governments Of The World    

Civics Literacy Proficiency

The Civics Literacy Proficiency activities are designed to develop civic knowledge of Purdue Northwest students in an effort to graduate a more informed citizenry.

Students will complete the Proficiency by passing a test of civic knowledge, and completing one of three paths:

• Attending six approved civics-related events and completing an assessment for each; or
• Completing 12 podcasts created by the Purdue Center for C-SPAN Scholarship and Engagement that use C-SPAN material and completing an assessment for each; or
• Earning a passing grade for one of the approved courses (or transferring in approved AP or departmental credit in lieu of taking a course)

For more information visit the  Civics Literacy Proficiency website .

Total 126 Credits Required

Degree maps, requirements.

Minimum Grade and Grade Point Average (GPA):   Minimum grade of B- required for EDCI 32300, EDCI 34100, EDCI 35500, EDCI 36600, EDPS 37000, ENGL 10400, ENGL 10500, and COM 11400; minimum grade of C required for EDPS 22000, EDPS 26000, EDPS 28500, and all non-education courses.

Experiential Learning (EL):   One EL course required.   EL courses are noted by (e)  next to the course title.

General Education Core:   General Education notations can be found within the course description.  Please click on a course to see if it meets a Gen Ed requirement.

Milestone Courses noted by (m) next to the course title have been identified as being critical to your success in this field of study. 

Please see the Additional Information and Guidelines section below for more information.

Semester 1 (15 Credits)

• ENGL 10400 - English Composition I
• ENGL 11200 - First-Year Seminar For English Majors
• SOC 10000 - Introductory Sociology
• STAT 13000 - Statistics And Contemporary Life or MA 15300 - College Algebra    
• World Language Level I (See Note 1)

Semester 2 (15 Credits)

• COM 11400 - Fundamentals Of Speech Communication
• ENGL 10500 - English Composition II
• ENGL 23100 - Introduction To Literature
• World Language Level II (See Note 1)

Semester 3 (18 Credits)

• ENGL 38800 - Literature And Culture In Context (see Note 3)
• PHIL 11000 - The Big Questions: Introduction to Philosophy
• Physical Science Course - SCI 11200   , SCI 11300   , SCI 15000   , or another Physical Science Course
• Public Writing and Rhetoric Course (See Note 4)
• World Language Level III (See Note 1)

Semester 4/Gate 1 (18 Credits)

• ENGL 28800 - Theory And Investigation
• ENGL 30800 - Modern English Grammar
• ENGL 38800 - Literature And Culture In Context (See Note 3)
• Diverse Literatures Course (See Note 4)
• World Language Level IV (See Note 1)

Semester 5 (18 Credits)

• ENGL 39100 - Composition For English Teachers
• History Option - HIST 10400   , HIST 11000   , HIST 15100   , or HIST 15200    
• Natural Sciences - select any course with lab from the Gen Ed Core List     (See Note 2)
• Multimodal Writing Course (See Note 4)

Semester 6/Gate 2 (17 Credits)

• EDCI 35500 - Teaching And Learning K-12 Classroom (m) (e) (f) (See Note 7)
• EDPS 37000 - Teaching Students With Diverse Learning Needs In K-12 Class (e) (f) (See Note 8)
• ENGL 49200 - Literature In The Secondary Schools
• Political Science Option - POL 10100   , POL 13000   , or POL 14100    

Semester 7/Methods (16 Credits)

• EDCI 32300 - Educational Technology For Teaching And Learning
• EDCI 34100 - English Teaching In Senior High, Junior High And Middle Schools (f)
• English Capstone Course (See Note 6)
• English Literature Elective (See Note 5)
• Linguistics Course - ENGL 32600 - English Linguistics    or ENGL 32700 - English Language I: History And Development    

Semester 8/Professional Semester (Student Teaching) (9 Credits)

• EDCI 49700 - Supervised Teaching (9 Credits) (e) (f)

Additional Information and Guidelines

• No cross-listed course may be double-counted.
• No single ENGL course may count toward more than one requirement of the English literature concentration.

Note 1: SPAN, FR, or ASL - students must complete 4 semesters of the same language.

Note 2: Natural Science (with Lab) – Choose 1 course from: SCI 10300, SCI 10400, SCI 10500, or SCI 11400. Note: SCI 10500 also meets the Wellness requirement for General Education

Note 3: Take ENGL 38800 Literature and Culture in Context, a variable topics course, three times, on three different topics

Note 4: Choose one Multimodal Writing course:

• ENGL 42401 Writing For Digital Media
• ENGL 42501 Writing for New Media
• ENGL 42601 Writing for Social Media**
• ENGL 43100 Web Usability: Writing and Reading on the Web (e)
• ENGL 43500 Topics in Writing for Interactive Digital Media*
• ENGL 43700 Writing for Video Games(e)
• ENGL 43800 Games and Gamification

 *Variable topics, may be repeated for credit

Choose any course in Public Writing and Rhetoric

• ENGL 20200 Engaging English  
• ENGL 20500 Introduction To Creative Writing     
• ENGL 30502 Creative Writing as a Profession
• ENGL 42800 Special Topics in Writing*
• ENGL 43300 Writing Proposals and Grants
• ENGL 44300 Intermediate Creative Writing*
• ENGL 48000 Internship in Writing* (e)

Capstone course - select one from list:

• ENGL 48700 Community-Engaged Literature
• ENGL 48000 Internship in Writing (e)
• ENGL 49500 Capstone Seminar for Seniors

Choose any Diverse Literatures course: ENGL 25700, 31100, 31200, 31300, 32300, 32400, 33400, 33600, 33800, 34900, 35300, 34600, 36000, 36500, 36600, 39600.

Note 5: Choose any ENGL literature course at the 20000 level or above

Note 6:  Choose any Capstone course: ENGL 30502, 48700, 42001, or 48000.

Note 7: EDCI 35500 (f) (m) - Admission to Gate 2 courses requires application screening by the Department of Teacher Preparation advisor. Courses marked with (f) require field observations.

Note 8: EDCI 37000 (f) - Admission to Gate 3 and beyond requires Admission to Teacher Preparation Program and passing of state licensure exams.

Courses marked with (f) require field observations. Students may not receive less than B- in professional education courses.

Visit the 15 to Finish website for information and resources.

For career information, click here to visit the Careers and Employment Trends page.

For Financial Aid eligibility, click here. Annual FAFSA filing deadline is March 10. Financial Aid recipients are required to complete 30 credits per calendar year to stay eligible for the standard financial aid award.

Financial Guarantee: If you follow the degree map and find a course unavailable, you may be able to take the course for free in a future semester.  Certain exclusions apply. 

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Online MSN Admissions Requirements

Getting started.

Each Purdue University Northwest degree program has specific requirements that you must meet in order to enroll. Please read the admissions guidelines below for the MSN program. For specific questions or more details, view our  admissions FAQs  or access the  MSN Student Handbook .

PNW Online MSN Admissions Requirements

Admissions requirements.

Only applicants from Indiana, Illinois or Wisconsin, or Purdue Northwest alumni are authorized to enroll in the online MSN program.

Applicants must have:

• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
• Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 from an accredited baccalaureate program in nursing (conditional admittance may be available under 3.0 GPA but higher than a 2.5 GPA with holistic review)
• Current unencumbered U.S. registered nurse (RN) licensure
• Applicants whose native language is not English must submit TOEFL, International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or Pearson Test of English (PTE) scores

Review our guides for nursing in Indiana , Illinois or Wisconsin .

Admissions Documents

• Application for admission
• Application fee
• Official transcripts from all colleges attended
• Letters of recommendation: three professional/academic recommendations using the University's online recommendation system
• Statement of purpose: 300–500 words describing the purpose of graduate study, professional plans and career goals related to concentration
• Copy of current U.S. RN license
• Resume with RN license information included (state and license number)

Other Requirements

The following are not conditions for acceptance:

• Introductory statistics course is a prerequisite for Research course
• Background check:  this is a progression requirement that should be completed no more than 4 months before the practicum

Transfer Credit and Transcripts

Transfer credit.

A maximum of 9 semester hours may be used as transfer credit from another university. Courses must fulfill curriculum requirements; must have been taken at a university with a national nursing accreditation; and must have a grade of the equivalent of 3.0 (on a 4-point scale) or higher. All specialty and advanced core courses, including NUR 51000 - Research and Evidence-Based Nursing, must be taken at PNW. A request for an exception to this policy will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Other core courses will be evaluated for equivalency and transferability. You must submit the syllabi for all courses you wish to have considered for transfer credit by the application deadline date.

Transfer credits are dependent upon program approval.

Transcripts

To enroll as well as to apply for transfer credit, you will need to request your official transcripts be sent to PNW. We accept electronic transcripts so long as they are sent to us directly by your respective college and/or university.

Send electronic transcripts to:

The Graduate Studies Office at  [email protected]

Send hard copies of transcripts to:

Purdue University Northwest Graduate Studies Office C.H. Lawshe Hall, Room 242 2200 169th Street Hammond, IN 46323-2094

Upcoming Start Dates

Calendar and enrollment deadlines, april 29, 2024 start date.

Application Deadline: 4/8/2024

Documents Deadline: 4/12/2024

Registration Deadline: 4/22/2024

Tuition Deadline: 4/26/2024, 1:00pm CST

August 19, 2024 Start Date

Application Deadline: 7/29/2024

Documents Deadline: 8/2/2024

Registration Deadline: 8/12/2024

Tuition Deadline: 8/16/2024, 1:00pm CST

MSN Admissions FAQs

The program has 3 starts per year.

A maximum of 9 semester hours or equivalent of graduate credit may be used as transfer credit from another university. To be accepted, courses must fulfill curriculum requirements and must have been taken at a university that has national nursing accreditation. Additionally, a grade equivalent to 3.0 (on a 4-point scale) or higher must be present for any transfer course.

All specialty and advanced core courses, including NUR 51000: Research and Evidence-Based Nursing, must be taken at PNW. A request for an exception to this policy will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Other core courses will be evaluated for equivalency and transferability. You will need to submit the syllabi for all courses you wish to have considered for transfer credit by the application deadline date.

If you have questions about transfer credits or outstanding program requirements that you will need to fulfill, please direct those questions to your assigned PNW academic advisor.

This review happens during the admissions process. For requests outside the admissions period, you should work directly with an advisor.

In addition to the Introductory Statistics course, the core class that could be considered is Healthcare Organization, Policy, and Economics. With regards to seeking transfers for core courses, if you took a theory course or ethics course elsewhere, you would still need to take the PNW theory/ethics course because your course would not have the same ethics component. If you took both the theory and ethics classes separately, PNW would consider that for transferability.

Nurse Executive courses that can be considered include: Human Resource Management and Healthcare Financial Management.

Nurse Educator courses that can be considered include: Pathophysiologic Concepts and Pharmacologic Interventions for Nurse Educators or separate graduate-level pathophysiology and pharmacology classes, and Advanced Health Assessment for Nurse Educators.

If you wish to transfer from one online concentration (e.g., Nurse Executive) to another online concentration (e.g., Nurse Educator) or vice versa, the process consists of submitting a written request to the graduate program advisor. The advisor will work with the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies to determine whether the request will be granted. The only eligibility requirement is that you be in good academic standing.

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How to Apply

Discover everything you need to know about applying to PNW graduate programs.

The Graduate Studies Office at PNW is a key resource for graduate information. We offer flexible programs to suit the needs of graduate students and their employers.

Traditional students and employed professionals can pursue focused courses and degrees designed for a wide variety of student ages, schedules and career paths, including those leading to doctoral study.

Please know that graduate admission is granted to a specific program. Each program can have its own unique deadline and admission requirements. Please make sure you contact your department/program for specific requirements and instructions

Application Fee (Domestic):  $60

Application Fee (International):  $75

See Graduate Programs

What’s Needed to Apply?

Applying is easy. The list below will assist you in completing your Graduate School application and preparing any necessary documents to support your application.

• Purdue University offers you the opportunity to apply for up to three different campuses and/or majors with a single application and application fee.
• Learn more about the Graduate Degree Programs offered at the Purdue University Northwest campus or explore All Graduate Programs at Four Campuses throughout the Purdue University system.
• Explore Admission Requirements for graduate programs that interest you.

For international applicants:

• Review your current/previous academic institution’s country for a listing of required admission documents .
• Review English Proficiency Requirements (you may be required to submit proof of English proficiency).
• Create an Application Account to start your application.
• Choose up to 3 campuses and/or graduate majors in priority order.  Note: Not all graduate programs offer a third-choice option.  List of third-choice graduate majors.
• Submit results of required tests (if needed) for your graduate program (example of tests: TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo).
• Prepare any additional documents based on your desired graduate program, including documentation for a 2nd or 3rd choice graduate program.
• Pay the Nonrefundable Application Fee (not required for non-degree or teacher license applicants)
• Upload Transcripts for every institution of higher education attended
• Submit an Academic Statement of Purpose . If applying to a 2nd or 3rd choice graduate program, be sure your Statement of Purpose is all-inclusive and supports your suitability for all graduate programs listed on your application.
• Submit a Personal History Statement .
• Provide three Letters of Recommendation or the number required by your graduate program. If applying to a 2nd or 3rd choice graduate program, the program with the highest number of required recommendation letters will determine the minimum number of letters to be submitted.
• Provide evidence of a bachelor’s degree (may be a transcript, copy of a diploma or a letter from your college/university verifying the degree)
• Upload Transcripts for every institution of higher education attended.
• Log in to your Online Application Account .
• If applying to a 2nd or 3rd choice graduate program, Check Your Application Status for each graduate program.
• Contact your Graduate Program directly with any questions.

Application Deadlines

• July 15 for fall admission
• December 1 for spring admission
• May 1 for summer admission

*Program application deadlines vary. Please be sure to check with your program of interest to determine its deadline.

• May 15 for fall admission
• October 15 for spring admission
• March 15 for summer admission

Application Guide

T he Graduate School application fee is $60 (U.S. dollars) for domestic applicants and $75 (U.S. dollars) for international applicants.  The application fee payment will satisfy the payment requirement for all campus and/or graduate major selections listed on the application, up to three selections. You must pay your application fee online with your credit card. Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express cards are accepted and processed using a secured online payment system.

Your application will not be processed until your non-refundable application fee has been paid .

As an alternative to paying your application fee via credit card, Purdue University Graduate School has partnered with Convera to offer a simple and secure way to pay your fees online. Convera’s platform is trusted by 800+ institutions worldwide to enable payments in 140+ currencies across 200+ countries and territories.

Please note: A foreign currency payment is a “pending” payment and does not automatically satisfy your application fee payment.  Purdue University Accounts Receivable will post the U.S. dollar equivalent to your Business Partner account, generally within two to five days after your local bank initiates payment.  When this has occurred, your application fee payment will be updated.

For more details about this fee payment option in the online application, visit our  Foreign Currency Payments Web page .

If you are applying to a degree program or Graduate Certificate program at one of the Purdue University campuses, you will be charged an application fee. If you are a non-degree applicant applying to the West Lafayette, Northwest, or Fort Wayne campus, you will not be charged an application fee.

Application Fee Waivers

Purdue provides application fee waivers to recognize outstanding undergraduate achievement and engage prospective students in recruitment events where Purdue is affiliated.

Applicants are eligible for one application fee waiver per program he/she has participated in.  Fee waivers are valid if the applicant has met the application fee waiver criteria starting on January 1, 2020, and beyond.

Graduate School applicants who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents experiencing economic hardship may request a waiver of the application fee. To request a waiver of the application fee, please send an email explaining your situation to  [email protected] .

Application fee waivers are available for participants in the programs listed below. Please note any special requirements for each program:

• AISES Conference  – must visit Purdue recruiter at annual conference and complete a contact information card.
• American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AICHE) –  must visit Purdue recruiter at annual conference and complete contact information card.
• Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS)  – must visit Purdue recruiter at annual conference and complete contact information card.
• Big Ten+ Graduate School Expo  – must register and participate in the event. Additional qualifications may be required, if the event is virtual. For more information, visit the Grad Expo  website .
• Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Meeting  – must attend this event.
• Cientifico Latino Graduate School Mentorship Initiative (GSMI)  – applicants must have been enrolled in the GSMI program and have completed an interview process with the Cientifico Latino team.
• Columbia Purdue Partnership  – must be selected into this program from strategic universities within Columbia.  For more information, please visit their  website .
• EducationUSA Opportunity Fund Recipient  – must provide a copy of the official EducationUSA Opportunity Fund award letter.
• Engineering Undergraduate Research Office –  must be a Purdue University Engineering undergraduate student and a recipient of an academic year competitive fellowship program.  For more information, please visit their  website .
• Florida A&M Graduate Feeder Program –  must be a participant of this program.
• GEM Fellowship Program –  U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents who have applied for the GEM Fellows program (submitted a completed application to GEM prior to their deadline) with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0.  For more information, please visit their  website .
• Institute for Recruitment of Teachers Program  – must be selected and participate in their summer program.
• Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders –  must have participated in the Mandela Fellows program.  For more information, please visit their  website .
• McNair Scholars Program  – name must be listed in National Directory. For more information on this program, please visit their  website .
• Midwest Graduate School Summit –  must have registered and participated in the Midwest Graduate School Summit.
• National Science Foundation Summer Internship (Purdue University)  – must be selected and participate in sponsored program at Purdue.
• National Society of Black Engineers National Career Fair –  must visit Purdue recruiter at annual conference and complete a contact information card.  For more information, please visit their  website .
• Native American Institution Visit Program  – must be invited and visit campus as part of this program.
• NIH Intramural Training/Education Graduate & Professional Fair  – must attend the fair and participate in an NIH training program.
• NIH MARC USTAR/PREP/RISE  – must have participated in one of these NIH-sponsored undergraduate research programs.
• POSSE Scholars  – must provide a copy of the official POSSE scholar participation letter.
• Purdue Emerging Leaders Program –  must be a participant of the program.
• Purdue Engineering Virtual Graduate Showcase –  must register for and attend the Purdue Engineering Virtual Graduate Showcase.  For more information on this program, please visit their  website .
• Purdue Fort Wayne Information Session or Recruitment Event –  must attend a Purdue Fort Wayne sponsored information session or recruitment event, please visit their  website .
• Purdue Graduate Diversity Visitation Program –  must be invited and attend the visitation hosted by Purdue.  For more information on this program, please visit their  website.
• Purdue Graduate School Information Session –  must register for and attend the entire Purdue Graduate School Information Session.
• Purdue Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP)  – must be a participant of the program.  For more information on this program, please visit their  website.
• Purdue Northwest Graduate Showcase  – must attend the event sponsored by Purdue Northwest.
• Purdue Northwest Professional Conference Events  – must attend a professional conference event sponsored by Purdue Northwest graduate programs.
• Purdue Summer Research Opportunity Program  – must be invited and participate in the program hosted by Purdue. For more information on this program, please visit their  website .
• Purdue Summer Undergraduate Research Experiences –  applicants must participate in an undergraduate research program offered across the Purdue University campus and affiliated with the Office of Undergraduate Research.
• Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) National Conference  – must visit Purdue recruiter at annual conference and complete contact information card.
• Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers  – must visit Purdue recruiter at annual conference and complete a contact information card.  For more information on this program, please visit their  website.
• Society of Mexican American Engineers & Scientists  – must visit Purdue recruiter at annual conference and complete a contact information card.  For more information on this program, please visit their  website.
• Society of Women Engineers  – must visit Purdue recruiter at annual conference and complete a contact information card. For more information on this program, please visit this  website .
• Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)  – must be selected and participate in the Purdue program. For more information on this program, please visit their  website .
• Tau Beta Pi National Convention  – must visit a Purdue recruiter at the annual convention and complete a contact information card.  For more information on this program, please visit their  website .
• University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) Meyerhoff Scholars  – a student must be a member of this program.  For more information on this program, please visit their  website .
• U.S. Veterans and U.S. Military Service Members –  must be a U.S. military veteran or an active U.S. military service member.

In order to request an application fee waiver under one of these programs, you will need to start a Purdue University Graduate School application. Visit The Graduate School website and click on the ‘Apply Now’ button on the left-hand side of the page. During the online application process on the ‘Additional Information’ page, there is a question that asks if you are a member of a recruitment program. In the drop-down box select the appropriate recruitment program.

Upon submission of your application, we will verify your current participation in this program and if eligible, waive your application fee.   If you pay the application fee before the fee has been waived, it is non-refundable.

The academic credentials listed by country are generally required from most institutions in the selected country.  English translations should be certified by the issuing college or University.  Credential evaluation reports will not be accepted as official academic records.  As institutions may vary, academic credentials will be reviewed on an individual basis for determination of acceptable documents.

For more information, please visit Documents Required by Country .

A student wishing to pursue two degrees in two different departments simultaneously must submit an application for admission to each department.

The student must submit a Notice of Dual Graduate Program Status to the program department. Please use  Dual Graduate Program Request, G.S. Form 18 (PDF) .

International applicants whose native language is not English are required to provide proof of English proficiency for admission to degree, certificate, non-degree, and teacher license graduate programs.  For information regarding requirements, please visit English Proficiency Requirements .

The Purdue Graduate School application allows applicants to select up to three graduate campuses and/or majors per application. If you are applying to more than one graduate program, we highly suggest you contact your recommendation providers and encourage them to write all-inclusive letters of recommendation that support your suitability for all graduate programs listed on your application.

Unless otherwise noted within the  Graduate Program Requirements Web page , three (3) letters of recommendation are required for degree-seeking applicants. If you choose to apply to more than one campus and/or graduate major, the graduate program that requires the highest number of letters of recommendation will establish the minimum number of letters of recommendation to be submitted.

When you create an online application to the Purdue Graduate School, once you click “Send to Recommender,” your recommendation providers will receive an email with instructions on submitting their recommendation online.

The Purdue University Graduate School strongly encourages you to provide an email address affiliated with an academic institution, professional organization, or employer. Once the online recommendation is submitted the graduate program to which you applied will have access to view your online recommendation.

If you waive your right to examine your recommendation, you forfeit your right to request a copy of your recommendation letter.  If you do not waive your right, you have the ability to request a copy of your recommendation letter.  Some recommendation providers may be reluctant to submit a recommendation on your behalf if you do not waive your right to view the letter.

For recommenders wishing to complete a paper recommendation, please send the following recommendation form ( PDF ).

Not all programs use the default form above. Please consult the  Graduate Program Requirements Web page  for recommendation letter requirements. If your program indicates that it uses a separate recommendation form, a link to that form will be provided by the graduate program.

For additional information, please visit our Letter of Recommendation  FAQ .

A student in non-degree status who wishes to be considered for admission to a degree seeking program must   submit a new application, accompanied by the same materials required of other degree-seeking applicants.

An applicant who, after being granted admission by the Graduate School, does not enroll for three or more consecutive academic sessions (including the summer session) must submit a new application and pay the application fee. Updated or additional admission information may be required. Conditions may be placed on admission.

Upon the recommendation of the department and on a case by case basis, special consideration will be given to students returning to continue their graduate studies after being called to active military service.

The  Academic Statement of Purpose  is an opportunity for you to share information that will help reviewers understand your academic interests and objectives, assess your academic background, preparation, and training, and determine if you are a good match for the program to which you are applying.

The Purdue University Graduate School application allows applicants to select up to three graduate campuses and/or majors per application. If you are applying to a 2nd or 3rd choice program, you are only required to submit one academic statement of purpose with your application. Be sure your academic statement of purpose is all-inclusive and supports your suitability for your enrollment in all the graduate programs listed on your application.

A statement, not exceeding two pages in length, is encouraged.  The following topics should be addressed in your Academic Statement of Purpose.

• What are your professional plans and career goals? How will attending graduate school assist you in reaching those goals?
• Describe your research, scholarly, or creative interests. What topics are of particular interest to you? Reviewers know that interests change over time but try to be as specific as possible.
• Discuss how your experiences, skills, and abilities have prepared you for graduate study. Relevant topics may include coursework, work and research experiences, internships, presentations, exhibits, publications, and community service. If you describe a research or scholarly experience, include information on the topic, research mentor, your role, and outcomes.
• Describe how your skills, preparation, and interests are a match for the program to which you are applying. Identify faculty who share your research and scholarly interests. Reviewers will want to know that you have researched the program, faculty, and key focus areas.

The Academic Statement of Purpose and the Personal History Statement are two of the most important documents in your graduate school application. The documents should be concise, clear, and free of spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors. You should have others review your document for content, organization, and to ensure that there are no errors. Information in the Personal History Statement should complement but not duplicate information in the Academic Statement of Purpose.

The Personal History Statement  helps reviewers learn more about you as a whole person and as a potential graduate student. This may include relevant details on community service, leadership roles, participation in diverse teams, and significant barriers that you overcame to attend graduate school.

The Purdue University Graduate School application allows applicants to select up to three graduate campuses and/or majors per application.  If you are applying to a 2nd or 3rd choice program, you are only required to submit one personal history statement with your application. Be sure your personal history statement is is all-inclusive, and supports your suitability for your enrollment in all the graduate programs listed on your application.

Required of all applicants:

• Describe how your background and life experiences contribute to your ability to be both persistent and resourceful in graduate school.
• Describe how your life experiences have prepared you to contribute to an academic community where scholars with diverse research interests, abilities, backgrounds, and experiences are supported, respected, and valued.
• Please address concerns that you may have that your academic record does not reflect your true capabilities and discuss mitigating factors that have affected your academic record. Reviewers will be interested in understanding your accomplishments relative to your opportunities.

Uploading Transcripts

You must upload to the  online application transcript(s) and/or academic document(s) for every institution of higher education you attended regardless of whether or not a degree was received.  To review a list of required documents by your previous or current institution’s country,  click here .

If a degree was received then it must be printed on the transcripts. If no degree conferral is printed on the transcripts then a copy of the original diploma (degree certificate) is needed. If the documents are not in English, you must upload an English translation certified by the college or university which issued it.

The uploaded transcript and/or academic document may be from the official or unofficial version of the document. An official transcript bears the original signature of the registrar and/or the original seal of the issuing institution. An unofficial transcript printed from your current/previous institution(s) student system is not an acceptable document. For tips about uploading your transcripts into the online application  click here .

Official Transcripts

You must provide official transcripts and/or academic records at the request of the graduate program.

If you are admitted and choose to enroll at Purdue University, you must submit official transcripts before you can register for your third session. Once you submit official transcripts to Purdue University, they become property of the University and will not be returned. We recognize, in very rare instances, that students may have access to only one transcript (or an extremely limited number of transcripts) or other academic credentials. In this instance, you may submit a written request (at the time you submit your transcripts) to preserve your original documents to the Office of Graduate Admissions.

The Office of Graduate Admissions accepts electronic transcripts from accredited U.S. colleges and universities sent via Parchment Exchange, the National Student Clearinghouse, or directly from the accredited U.S. college and university. The Office of Graduate Admissions will also accept electronic transcripts from colleges and universities in India via TrueCopy Credentials or Parchment Exchange. The transcript must be sent to [email protected] in order to verify the authenticity of the documents. If any departments receive emails stating that electronic transcripts are waiting for them, please notify that institution of the correct email address. The Office of Graduate Admission does not accept electronic transcripts from international colleges or universities except for those noted above.

An official transcript bears the original signature of the registrar and/or the original seal of the issuing institution. Transcripts and/or English translations may be mailed directly from a Registrar’s office to the Office of Graduate Admissions or you can choose to send the transcripts yourself.

Official documents may also be mailed to:

Graduate Studies Office Purdue University Northwest Lawshe Hall, Room 212 2200 169th Street Hammond, IN 46323

Degree-Seeking Applicants:   If you are applying to a master’s, doctoral, or educational specialist degree program, you must upload your transcript into the online application . Your transcripts must be from each college or university you have attended which may include evidence of a baccalaureate degree awarded. This may either be your final transcript showing degree awarded (if applicable) or a copy of your original diploma (degree certificate). If requested by the graduate program or if you are admitted and choose to enroll, you must submit official transcripts and/or academic documents directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions. If you are currently studying for a baccalaureate degree, you will later be required to submit a document that verifies the awarding of that degree.

Re-entry Applicants:  If you are seeking re-entry to a degree program and you attended another college or university since you last attended graduate school at Purdue, you must upload a transcript of that study into the online application . If requested by the graduate program or if you are admitted and choose to enroll, you must submit official transcripts and/or academic documents directly to the Office of Graduate Studies.

Certificate Applicants:  If you are applying for certificate classification, you must upload evidence of a baccalaureate degree. Some graduate certificate programs require additional documentation. Please refer to the Graduate Program Requirements Web page for specific details.

Teacher License:  If you are applying for the teacher license classification, you must upload a transcript from the college or university where your baccalaureate degree was awarded. If you are currently studying for a baccalaureate degree, you will later be required to submit a document that verifies the degree has been awarded. Your transcript may be uploaded into the online application . If requested by the graduate program or if you are admitted and choose to enroll, you must submit official transcripts and/or academic documents directly to the Graduate Studies Office.

Non-Degree Applicants:  If you are applying for non-degree classification, you must upload evidence of a baccalaureate degree. This may be a transcript, a copy of the diploma, or a letter from the college or university verifying the degree.

The Purdue University Graduate School reserves the right to require official transcripts and/or academic documents at any time during the admissions process.

Depending upon your field of study, you may be required to take one or more standardized tests. Standardized tests are uniform in nature and are administered and scored in the same fashion for all students by organizations not affiliated with Purdue University.

Typically these tests are completed in your senior year before you begin applying for graduate study, but always be sure to check with the Purdue program to which you may apply in order to determine its specific requirements and deadlines.

Common standardized tests that may be required for admission include:

• The  GRE  (Graduate Record Examinations) has a general test component, which is most often required for graduate admission. Some programs will also require the completion of a  GRE Subject Test  that focuses on a specific field of study.
• The  TOEFL  (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and  IELTS (International English Language Testing System), Duolingo English test evaluate a person’s level of English proficiency for individuals whose native language is not English.

Third-Choice Graduate Application Participating Majors

Applicants may apply for up to three different campuses and/or graduate majors with a single application and fee payment. The majors listed below are available as third-choice graduate programs on the application.

Purdue Northwest (PNW)

• Biological Sciences
• Communication
• Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Engineering – Interdisciplinary
• Graduate Continuing Studies (Hammond)
• Graduate Continuing Studies (Westville)
• Management (Master of Accountancy)
• Management (MBA)
• Mechanical Engineering
• Technology (MS)

Purdue West Lafayette (PWL)

• Advanced Methodologies in the Behavioral, Social, and Health Sciences
• African American Studies
• Agricultural and Biological Engineering
• Athletic Training
• Aviation Technology (Residential Only)
• Aviation Technology and Management
• Comparative Literature
• Comparative Pathobiology
• Computer and Information Technology (Residential Only)
• Construction Management Technology (Residential Only)
• Consumer Science
• Continuing Education
• Corporate Training and Communication
• Data Science in Finance
• Digital Humanities
• Earth Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences
• Engineering Management
• Engineering Technology (Residential Only)
• Environmental and Ecological Engineering
• Forestry and Natural Resources
• Geospatial Information Science
• Gerontology
• Health Sciences
• Horticulture
• Imaging Sciences
• Inclusive Excellence
• Industrial and Physical Pharmacy
• Intercultural Competence Mentorship
• Interdisciplinary Ecological Sciences and Engineering
• Interdisciplinary Engineering
• Landscape Systems and Design
• Languages and Cultures
• Medical Physics
• Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences
• Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management
• Philosophy and Literature
• Political Science
• Psychological Sciences
• Psychological Sciences – Clinical Psychological Sciences
• Psychological Sciences – Cognitive Psychology
• Psychological Sciences – Industrial-Organizational Psychology
• Psychological Sciences – Mathematical and Computational Psychology
• Psychological Sciences – Neuroscience and Behavior
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