Colleges Purdue University

Purdue University www.purdue.edu

Purdue is a public institution that was founded in 1869. The University’s West Lafayette, Indiana, campus is 2,468 acres in size and is the main campus in the Purdue University system, which encompasses four other campuses throughout the state. Although a large university, Purdue maintains an intimate atmosphere that highly values individual needs and achievements. Purdue offers a wide range of activities and organizations. Performance groups include the “All American” Marching Band, six jazz bands, and two symphony orchestras.

Academics

Purdue is made up of 13 schools and colleges, many of which serve both undergraduate and graduate students. It is one of the nation’s premier institutions with more than 200 areas of undergraduate study and renowned research initiatives. Purdue’s programs in a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate disciplines consistently rank among the best in the country. The student-faculty ratio is 13:1 and 38% of classes have fewer than 20 students. Popular majors include Business, Mechanical Engineering, and Industrial Engineering.

Special Highlights

Slayter Center. Slayter Center is an outdoor amphitheater with striking architecture. Throughout the year, it hosts musical events, dances and lawn movies. The Fourth of July Stars and Stripes Concert is an annual event with more than 20,000 people attending. Architect Joseph Baker conceived Slayter Center in the concept of Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England. The side and back walls of the stage are formed of stelae similar to the stone monoliths that comprise Stonehenge.

Discovery Park. Nestled on 40 acres on the southwest edge of Purdue’s West Lafayette campus, Discovery Park is a place where challenge and innovation converge, a hub where researchers move beyond traditional boundaries, collaborating across disciplines and with policy makers and business leaders to create solutions for a better world. DURI Internship Program supports faculty-led teams of undergraduates to investigate problems in the strategic areas of global security, global health, and global sustainability.

School Mission & Unique Qualities

Purdue’s esteemed School of Aeronautics and Astronautics within the College of Engineering has acquired the nickname “Cradle of Astronauts.” One popular university tradition: many students mark the beginning and end of their time at Purdue by running through any of the five campus fountains. The Boilermaker Special, Purdue’s official mascot, is a railroad locomotive cared for and maintained by the student-run Purdue Reamer Club.

Student Reviews…

“The campus is beautiful and compact enough to get around just by walking. The faculty are wonderful. Students are offered plenty of opportunities to participate in research. Purdue is a great school to cultivate connections and develop necessary leadership skills for their careers.”