In 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Morrill Land Grant Act, turning over public lands to states that agreed to use the land or the sale of the land to create an institute of higher learning that taught agriculture and the mechanic arts. The state of Indiana decided to participate in the project in 1865 and, in 1869, chose Lafayette as the location for the new institution. John Purdue, a wealthy businessman and industrialist, provided a $150,000 gift while Tippecanoe County provided $50,000 for the university. The original 100 acres were provided by local residents. In honor of John Purdue, the state legislature named the new school Purdue University.
The first president of the university followed the rules of the Morrill Act strictly, devoting resources to programs related to the industrial college rather than liberal arts. Students were prepared for industrial work but were also given guidance in citizenship and the importance of family. Initially, fraternities were banned, leading to a legal battle that ended when the Indiana Supreme Court overturned the ruling. By 1925, Purdue University had the largest undergraduate engineering enrollment in the country.
In 1935, Amelia Earhart joined the faculty after the establishment if the Purdue University Airport, the first university-owned airport and the first location of college credit level flight training. During World War II, almost every department provided either research or training for the war effort.
U.S. News & World Report has ranked the university as one of the top universities in the world and Forbes ranks it as one of America's best colleges. Kiplinger named the school as one of the best values in public colleges, both in-state and out-of-state. Today, the school has an enrollment of over 40,400 people.
Purdue University Accreditation Details
Purdue University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Accreditation indicates that the school offers high-quality education that prepares students for their field of study and that they have the resources not only to continue offering excellent education but to improve any areas that are identified as needing improvement by the accrediting agency. In addition, programs throughout the university are accredited by the following specialized agencies, organizations or associations:
- ABET
- Accreditation and Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board
- Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics
- Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education
- American Council for Construction Education
- American Psychology Association
- American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers
- American Veterinary Medical Association
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
- Association of Technology, Management and Applied Engineering
- Aviation Accreditation Board International
- Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs
- Institute of Food Technologists
- National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science
- National Association of Schools of Art and Design
- National Association of Schools of Theatre
- National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
- Society of American Foresters
Purdue University Application Requirements
Students without college credit after high school graduation enter Purdue University as freshmen. All students must complete an application and most students use the Common Application or Coalition Application. Using these applications requires completion of an essay question. Students must provide official high school transcripts as well as official ACT or SAT test scores.
Students who have earned credit after high school graduation are admitted as transfer students. Students must meet minimum GPA requirements before applying. Students must have completed at least 12 semester hours after graduation to be considered a transfer student. Students with less than 24 college credits must provide official high school transcripts as well as official SAT or ACT scores or they must have been out of high school for more than five years.
Each graduate program has its own requirements for admission so students are encouraged to speak to an admissions counselor before applying. Students must hold a bachelor's degree or higher in order to apply to graduate programs.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Full-time tuition for Indiana residents is $9,992 per year and for non-residents it is $28,794 per year. Graduate tuition is $329.05 per credit hour. The Division of Financial Aid is available to help any student who needs assistance with college tuition attend the school. In order to qualify for any financial aid at Purdue University students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Students may qualify for scholarships, grants, loans or work-study programs.
Online Degrees Available
Master's of Aeronautics & Astronautics Engineering
The Master's of Aeronautics & Astronautics Engineering degree program is available online and is the same top aerospace engineering program students who attend traditional classes complete. The program focuses on aerospace engineering that is specifically designed for working engineers. Students gain an understanding of aerodynamics, aerospace systems, astrodynamics and space applications. Students also understand dynamics and control, structures and materials as well as propulsion. The program is a non-thesis curriculum and is delivered through streaming video and downloadable MPEG-4 files that are available at convenient times. The plan of study is created with an academic advisor so the degree is customized for each individual student's needs.
Aviation and Aerospace Management
The Master's of Science in Aviation and Aerospace Management provides students with an understanding of the challenging world of aviation. Students develop leadership skills as well as an understanding of technical skills needed for decision-making. Students develop an understanding of analytic and problem-solving skills related to aviation as well as how to apply the latest technology to the industry. Courses include human error and safety as well as measurement and evaluation. Students may also complete critical systems thinking, management and design of instructional systems along with critical systems thinking and aviation leadership. Other courses include operational assessment and improvement, transportation security and resource analysis.
Related Resource: Top 30 Online Master's in Liberal Studies Degree Programs
Purdue University offers many degree programs that are available in a flexible online format. These courses are designed for working professionals who may have difficulty attending traditional classrooms. Purdue University offers high quality education that allow students enrolled in both on-campus and online courses the ability to achieve their higher education goals and either advance in a current career or move into a new career.