About PNW
Purdue University Northwest (PNW) is a premier metropolitan university located in Northwest Indiana that is dedicated to empowering transformational change in our students and in our community.
Why PNW?
With PNW’s 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio, you will get to know and connect with professors and mentors. Our 60+ student organizations, 17 NCAA Division II athletic teams and 40+ intramural activities provide you with a large selection of ways to get involved or have fun on campus!
From academics to extracurriculars, PNW helps you build skills to launch your career and make friends that will last a lifetime.
Our two campuses serve approximately 8,900 undergraduate and graduate students. At PNW, we value academic excellence, support growth and celebrate diversity.
Our Hammond campus is only 30 miles from Chicago and our Westville branch campus is only 15 miles from the Indiana Dunes National Park. Our two campuses foster a community full of contrasts: urban and rural, industrial and natural, well-established history and forward-thinking innovation. Our determined students — many of whom are the first in their families to attend college — make the most of this rich range of resources.
A Hispanic-Serving Institution, PNW has an impact that extends well beyond the region. Students from 30 states and 50 countries currently attend PNW, taking what they learn here and applying it all around the world.
PNW's Undergraduates
– 96% Full-Time Freshman
– Over 56% First Gen
– 25.8% Hispanic or Latino
– Nearly 11% Black or African American
– Nearly 4% Multiracial
– Nearly 3% Asian
Our faculty and staff are focused on excellence in teaching, passionate about helping students succeed and dedicated to serving the communities in our metropolitan region.
PNW Chancellor Chris Holford
High-Quality Education for the Real World
PNW offers more than 70 areas of study for undergraduate and graduate students. We’re consistently recognized among the best regional universities in the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings.
Our emphasis on research and applied learning opportunities means our students graduate ready for the next phase of their lives.
Accreditation
Purdue University Northwest is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Power Onward at PNW
Purdue University Northwest is continually changing lives with its focus on students, research and community.
A First Scholars, Hispanic-Serving Institution and doctoral-granting institution, Purdue University Northwest is a premier metropolitan university dedicated to empowering transformational change in our students and our community.
With new Esports Arenas and over 80 student organizations, there is never a dull moment on campus!
With nearly 20 research centers and institutes students, faculty and staff can collaborate and deepen their understanding of the world around them.
PNW is an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University, an acknowledgment for public research universities with strong evidence of collaboration with public and private sector partners to support economic development, innovation, community development and other areas.
The additions of the Nils K. Nelson Bioscience Innovation Building, the PNW Design Studio, and the Dave Roberts Center for Innovation and Design provide students, faculty and staff with opportunities to work in fully updated, modern facilities.
The Nils K. Nelson Bioscience Innovation Building provides ample space for hanging out between classes, studying and group projects!
The PNW Design Studio, has a wide variety of equipment for engineering students to use in their projects.
Our Hammond campus offers apartment-style housing with private bedrooms for you and your 750 new best friends.
PNW's Welcome Rallies allow students to discover the resources and organizations across our campuses!
Events like our Hispanic Heritage Festival allow students to learn about and celebrate the diversity and richness that other cultures and communities can offer.
Our bell tower is a Hammond Campus landmark that stands between Lawshe Hall, the Student Union Library Building and Nils K. Nelson Bioscience Innovation Building.
Our scenic Westville Campus is filled with welcoming places to study, eat, exercise, spend time with friends or just relax.
PNW Named Among 2025 Best Midwest Universities by U.S. News & World Report
Purdue University Northwest was ranked as a top public regional university in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 annual Best Colleges rankings while also being recognized for student social mobility.
Our Mission
Purdue University Northwest transforms students’ lives and our metropolitan region through a diverse campus committed to innovative education, applied research, and community engagement.
Learn More About Us
VISIT US
Scenic settings just minutes from the highway, PNW’s two campuses in Hammond and Westville are easily accessible.
70+ YEARS OF PRIDE
We’ve only been the PNW Pride since 2016, but our students have been making us proud since both campuses opened in the 1940s.
GUARDING PNW’S FUTURE
Meet Chancellor Chris Holford and the university’s senior leadership team, and learn about PNW’s strategic plan.
Purdue University Northwest helps power our region. Our impact includes $745.9 million of total income: 2 percent of gross regional product.
PNW News Highlights
Purdue University Northwest to Offer Flexible Evening Courses at Westville Branch Campus
PNW invites community members to build their professional knowledge and work toward expanding their careers goals through evening courses at PNW’s Westville branch campus. Classes start January 2025.
Celebrate International Education Week
We’re looking forward to celebrating International Education Week (IEW) 2024 from November 18 to 22!
PNW’s Baja Racing team shines at Midwest competition
Purdue University Northwest’s (PNW) Baja Racing team excelled at the fall 2024 Midwest Baja SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) competition, including winning the top business presentation among over 200 colleges and universities.
PNW Event Highlights
Nov 21
Start Your Journey: WestvilleWant a closer look at our programs on the Purdue University Northwest’s Westville branch campus?
Nov 21
Cultural Conversations: Things That Make You Go, “Hmmm” in the U.S. and Around the GlobeJoin us as we explore thought-provoking moments of culture shock and differences experienced both in the U.S. and abroad!
Nov 21
Signing Day – Celebrate your Graduation with us! (Westville)We want to celebrate YOU! Come celebrate your graduation with the Career Center!
Nov 21
Explore the Study Away Experience: Expanding Global Horizons – WestvilleJoin our interactive discussion led by experts from International Programs and Partnerships, who will share their experiences in study away and how they help students achieve their global education goals.