Purdue is Indiana’s STEM university-with side helpings of business, health professions, and liberal arts. Compare to Kansas State and Big Ten rival Michigan State. Does better than most large universities in giving students hands-on opportunities such as internships and co-ops-and resisting tuition increases. Flight technology and aerospace-and turning out future astronauts-are longtime specialties.

Successful Indiana colleges typically have three things in common: a solid agricultural program, a powerhouse basketball team, and a conservative student body. Purdue University has all of these-plus one of the nation’s strongest engineering programs, and the distinction of having awarded more bachelor’s degrees in the field than any other institution. Purdue is also home to the nation’s first computer science department, and its programs in pharmaceutical sciences, nursing, and management are top-notch. Budding classicists, dramatists, and literary critics might want to look elsewhere, but those seeking small-school friendliness with big-school spirit may be very happy to join the ranks of Boilermakers.

Purdue, founded in 1869 and named for its first major donor, is the main attraction in the small industrial town of West Lafayette, where the population triples when students return each fall. The campus features redbrick and limestone buildings arranged around lush shaded courtyards. Completed in 2020, the $64 million STEM Teaching Lab provides multidisciplinary laboratory classrooms for up to 15,000 undergraduates. Purdue is also home to Amazon’s first ever brick-and-mortar location, where students can have textbooks shipped overnight for no cost.

Students apply to and enroll in one of Purdue’s 10 colleges, and academic requirements vary by school and major. Typically, they include English, math, a lab science, and foreign language proficiency. Management is the most popular major, followed by mechanical engineering, computer science, and industrial engineering. Students flock to the five-year engineering co-op program, one of the most competitive on campus, because it marries classroom study with real-world work. Additionally, Purdue offers a strong undergraduate program in professional flight technology, which includes hands-on training at the university’s own airport. Purdue has produced more than 20 astronauts, including pioneers Neil Armstrong and Gus Grissom. A four-year program in retail management is available in partnership with the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York. For those seeking to save money on their degree and pursue their post-graduation plans sooner, Purdue offers nearly 20 “Degree in 3” programs in the colleges of Liberal Arts and Education, through which students can earn a bachelor’s degree in three years; options range from communication and history to sociology and special education.

“The academic climate is fairly competitive and intense,” says a sophomore. Despite the university’s size, 38 percent of classes have fewer then 20 students and many freshman classes are seminar-style, taught by graduate students and academic advisors who help answer students’ questions and provide career advice. “I’ve had some teachers who were phenomenal at connecting with the students and having them understand the concepts,” one student confides, “and other teachers act like they are presenting to an empty room.” About a third of undergrads study abroad, and options are available for students in all majors in more than 60 countries. Undergraduates also participate in more than 2,000 research projects each year.

“The students here are very academically focused and driven,” says a junior. “They have fun and relax on weekends, but everyone knows the reason we are here is to get a degree to be successful in the future.” Fifty-three percent of undergraduates are from Indiana, although there is a healthy proportion of international students, at 14 percent. Just 3 percent are African American, 9 percent are Asian American, 5 percent are Hispanic, and 4 percent are multiracial. A tuition freeze has been in place since 2013, helping to keep costs down. Thousands of merit scholarships averaging $5,000 are awarded annually; athletes vie for 210 scholarships in 18 sports. The Purdue Promise program grants financial assistance and specialized academic and leadership coaching to eligible Indiana residents from lower-income backgrounds.

Forty-one percent of students live in Purdue’s residence halls. Almost all freshmen live on campus, though they aren’t required to, and Harrison Hall is said to be a good pick for newbies. “Some are definitely nicer than others,” a sophomore admits. “Many of them still do not have air-conditioning.” The notion of a “co-ed dorm” here means that men and women share a lobby. Most upperclassmen find inexpensive housing just off campus. Those with a grumbling stomach are treated to tasty options on campus. “Our food is fantastic,” cheers one junior. “It’s all-you-can-eat.” Walking and riding escorts and a visible security presence help students feel safe.

“The social life typically takes place on campus,” reports one philosophy major. Alcohol is prohibited in dorms, and “people have been kicked out of the residence halls for being caught with alcohol,” says a sophomore. Still, as at other schools, underage students can find ways to get served. Greek life draws 18 percent of Purdue men and 20 percent of the women and offers many social opportunities. But there are other options, too, including sports games and more than 1,000 student organizations, ranging from the BBQ society to professional development clubs. “Outside of class, you can do anything from skydiving, paintball, choir, rock climbing, salsa dancing-anything. It’s up to you,” encourages a senior mechanical engineering major.

As far as college towns go, West Lafayette “would not exist if it weren’t for Purdue,” one student says. Another adds, “The surrounding area has a good social scene for those 21 [and over], with excellent bars and nightlife. There are also many great nearby restaurants within walking distance for all students.” Harry’s Chocolate Shop-a bar, not a candy store-is a longtime student favorite. Chicago and Indianapolis are favored weekend destinations for students with cars, and each spring, a week of fun and parties leads up to the Grand Prix go-kart races. Students also look forward to the Bug Bowl, an annual event sponsored by Purdue’s entomology department, including cricket-spitting and cockroach races.

Purdue’s “Boilermaker” moniker was coined by a sportswriter in 1891 describing how “the Burly Boiler Makers from Purdue” defeated Wabash College’s football team 44–0. Boilermaker pride manifests itself at Division I games of all types, especially when the opposing team is Indiana University, known derisively as “that school down south,” in the annual struggle for the Old Oaken Bucket. Every year, the winner adds a link to a chain on the bucket in the shape of either an “I” or “P.” Men’s and women’s basketball, golf, and swimming and diving are among the most competitive sports on campus. Thirty-two club sports and more than 40 intramurals are a big draw for those looking for friendly competition. Solar car racing and Rube Goldberg machine contests are some of the more popular activities among STEM students.

In 2019 Purdue drew national headlines with its acquisition of for-profit Kaplan University and plans to create a “mega-university,” but the project has been slow to take off. In the meantime, happy Purdue students continue to discover that learning is fun when academics are mixed with real-world experience and a healthy dose of school spirit. “Purdue has great academic programs, incredible organizational and social opportunities, and an awesome sense of community,” says one enthusiastic sophomore. “Boiler Up!”

-Fiske Guide