How to Apply

• 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).
• Review your current/previous academic institution’s country for a listing of required admission documents.
• 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.
  1. Cumulative Grade Point Average from most recently conferred undergraduate, graduate, or professional degree: 3.0 or equivalent (A=4.0).
  2. Students may be admitted with conditions of continued enrollment under the following three circumstances:

1. 1. 1. When the applicant’s background shows some academic deficiency.
      2. When the applicant’s GPA at the institution from which he/she most recently graduated is lower than 3.0/4.0. In addition, the Graduate Studies Office may place a condition on the amount of prior coursework available for use on a graduate plan of study.
      3. When required supporting document from applicant is missing.

• 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.

The graduate 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 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 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 gradinfo@purdue.edu.

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.
• 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 graduate application. The online graduate application can be found here. 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.

The graduate 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.

Your references should be persons who can assess your academic potential such as faculty members, academic staff, supervisors, industry leaders, employers, or advisors. The Graduate Studies Office strongly encourages you to provide reference email addresses that are affiliated with an academic institution, professional organization, or employer.

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

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 graduate 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.

1. What are your professional plans and career goals? How will attending graduate school assist you in reaching those goals?
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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:

1. Describe how your background and life experiences contribute to your ability to be both persistent and resourceful in graduate school.
2. 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.

Optional:

3. 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.

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.

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.

All transcripts and/or academic documents uploaded to the online application system by the applicant or program are considered unofficial.

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 Graduate Studies Office.

The Graduate Studies Office accepts electronic transcripts from accredited colleges and universities sent via Parchment Exchange, the National Student Clearinghouse, or directly from the accredited college and university. The transcript must be sent to grad@pnw.edu 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.

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 Graduate Studies Office 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 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 studies at Purdue, you must upload a transcript of that study into the online application.

Certificate Applicants:  If you are applying for certificate program, applicants must upload transcript(s)/academic document(s) into the online application. The transcripts must be from the college or university attended, that includes evidence of a baccalaureate degree awarded. Applicants can 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 Graduate Studies Office reserves the right to require official transcripts and/or academic documents at any time during the admissions process.

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
• Education
• Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Engineering – Interdisciplinary
• Graduate Continuing Studies (Hammond)
• Graduate Continuing Studies (Westville)
• History
• Management (Master of Accountancy)
• Management (MBA)
• Mechanical Engineering
• Nursing
• 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
• Biological Sciences
• Communication
• 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)
• English
• 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
• Mechanical Engineering
• Medical Physics
• Nutrition
• 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
• Psychological Sciences – Social Psychology
• Secondary STEM Education/Initial Licensure
• Sociology
• Spatial Data Science
• Systems
• Technology Leadership and Innovation (Residential Only)
• Telemental Health Counseling
• Theatre – Visual and Performing Arts
• Toxicology

Purdue Fort Wayne (PFW)

• Biological Sciences
• Business Administration (MBA+)
• Business Administration (Professional)
• Computer Science
• Counseling
• Educational Leadership
• Elementary Education
• English
• Graduate Continuing Studies
• Mathematics
• Nonprofit Management
• Organizational Leadership
• Professional Communication Studies
• Public Administration
• Secondary Education
• Special Education
• Technology
• Transition to Teaching – Elementary Education
• Transition to Teaching – Secondary Education
• Transition to Teaching – Special Education

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. The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), IELTS (International English Language Testing System), and Duolingo English test evaluate a person’s level of English proficiency for individuals whose native language is not English. For information regarding requirements, please visit English Proficiency Requirements.

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.

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).

An applicant who, after being granted admission by the Graduate Studies Office, 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.

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.