Begin your Purdue experience with Math Momentum. During this five-week summer program, you’ll build math skills to prepare for requirements in your major, develop strong study skills with a supportive community and get a head start on college life.

$An educator stands before a classroom of students, explaining math problems displayed on a projector screen.$

Start Strong at Purdue This Summer

Through focused coursework, earn credit toward your degree while building a foundation for your major’s math requirements. Beyond the classroom, benefit from support and programming to help you transition into the fall. A scholarship fully covers summer tuition, fees, housing, books and program materials, ensuring you can focus on learning and settling into campus life.

Program Details

Program dates: July 13 – Aug. 14, 2026

Move-in: July 11, 2026

Format: In-person

At the end of the summer session, you move directly into the fall term as a full-time Purdue student.

four students discussing numbers on a transparent white board.

Why Math Momentum?

Get the preparation you need to succeed.

Build math readiness before starting the courses required for your degree. Math Momentum helps you strengthen essential skills through focused coursework and personalized support.

Start your Purdue experience early.

You live and learn on campus this summer, meet other new Boilermakers and build strong connections before most students arrive in August.

Take advantage of a fully-funded summer.

Our program scholarship covers:

Summer term tuition and fees
Housing and meals
Books and program materials

Earn credit toward your degree.

Complete seven credit hours in just five weeks, helping you stay on track for on-time graduation.

What You’ll Do

Take Purdue’s Foundations of College Math course designed to prepare you for the required math in your degree program.
Learn in small classes with dedicated instructors and study table support.
Participate in mentoring, academic support and community-building events.
Build relationships with peers, advisors and campus partners who support your transition into the fall.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Math Momentum?

Math Momentum is a required, five-week summer session for select incoming Purdue students. It strengthens your math foundation and helps you begin your college experience with confidence.

How was I selected?

Your admission to Purdue reflects your readiness for this next step. Math Momentum is an added investment in your success. It ensures you have the preparation needed for your required math sequence in the fall and sets you up for future coursework requiring higher-level math.

Is the program mandatory?

Yes. Participation is required for you to enroll at Purdue in the fall.

When does the program start?

Move-in is July 11, 2026. Classes begin July 13 and conclude Aug. 14.

What courses will I take?

You enroll in a foundations of college math course and a general studies course focused on campus resources, academic skills and strategies for a strong start at Purdue. You then work with your academic advisor to choose one additional course for a total of 7 credits.

Will I need to take a math placement exam?

No. A math placement test is not required.

What if my ALEKS math placement score indicates I could take a higher-level math course? Does that exempt me from Math Momentum?

All students admitted through Math Momentum participate in the experience, regardless of your math placement level. Math Momentum is designed to give students time to prepare, build confidence and adjust to Purdue’s academic expectations before the fall semester begins.

Completing Purdue’s Foundations of College Math course over the summer supports your readiness for the math courses required for your degree after Math Momentum. Your advisor and the program team will help you enroll in the course that best fits your preparation and academic goals.

How will this affect my fall schedule?

Completing Math Momentum prepares you for the appropriate major-required math course in the fall. Your advisor helps you build your fall schedule based on your summer performance.

What else happens during the program?

You participate in academic support, mentoring sessions and social events that help you build connections and settle into campus life.

Where will I live during the summer?

West Lafayette students live in one of the following halls: Earhart, Harrison, Meredith South, Aspire, Honors and Hillenbrand.

Indianapolis students will live in North Hall.

How does summer/academic year housing work?

You must submit:

Summer 2026 Housing Application – no later than June 1 (for the summer term)
2026-27 Academic Year Housing Application – no later than May 5 (for the academic year, if you plan to live on campus)

Note: Living on campus after the summer is optional. Some students may choose to commute during the academic year, especially if housing is not covered by a scholarship.

Important dates and deadlines

April 15: Priority deadline to participate in the roommate matching process
- To ensure access to the housing application by April 15, accept your offer of admission by April 11.
May 5: Deadline to submit the academic year (fall/spring) housing application.
- Applications submitted by this date are guaranteed housing for new students.
May 22: Students eligible to participate in the room selection process will begin matching with roommates.
May 29: Deadline for students participating in Math Momentum to select a roommate for the academic year.
June 1: Final deadline to submit the summer housing application to participate in Math Momentum.
June 10: Housing assignments released

Roommate preferences

If you have academic year roommate requests:
- Complete your academic year housing application by May 5 and include your roommate requests during the roommate matching process.
- Complete your summer housing application by June 1. You will not include roommate requests if your roommate(s) are not also participating in Math Momentum or Early Start.
If you don’t have academic year roommate requests:
- Complete your academic year housing application by May 5.
- Complete your summer housing application by June 1. You may include roommate requests for students participating in Math Momentum or Early Start. Please note that housing assignments will remain for the academic year.
If you’re not planning to have an academic year housing contract:
- Complete only the summer housing application by June 1.
- You may include roommate requests; however, it’s likely you’ll be placed with other Math Momentum or Early Start students who are also not holding academic year housing contracts.

Summer-to-fall room assignments

All efforts are made to assign students in the summer to their academic year assignment.
Housing assignments are based on availability.

Will I live in the same hall during the academic year?

In most cases, you remain in your academic year-assigned room.

I won’t be living in a university residence during the academic year. When does my summer housing contract end?

Non-academic year housing contract holders will need to move out of their housing August 14 by noon.

Will other students be on campus?

Yes. You’ll be on campus alongside other Purdue students participating in summer programs and activities, including Early Start — an option for incoming students to take classes, become familiar with campus, and begin building community ahead of the fall term.

Throughout the summer, you’ll also have opportunities to connect with other students at free social events sponsored by the Office of Summer and Winter Sessions.

Do I need to register for Purdue 101 and/or BGR?

Purdue 101 begins in May, and you’re automatically enrolled once you accept your offer of admission. After completing Purdue 101, you work with an academic advisor to plan your summer and fall courses.

You are expected to register for Boiler Gold Rush (BGR) — Purdue’s orientation week held between the end of summer and the start of fall classes. Room and board for the four days between housing contracts are included in the BGR fee.

How does orientation work?

All incoming students complete Purdue’s four-step All Aboard Purdue orientation experience.

Purdue 101 (Step 1) begins in May. Students are automatically enrolled after accepting their offer of admission.

After completing Purdue 101, students schedule Purdue Advising (Step 2), an appointment with an academic advisor to plan summer and fall coursework.

As part of this program, you’re automatically enrolled in Purdue 102 (Step 3), which begins in June.

Students are expected to participate in a Purdue Welcome (Step 4) program. Most students attend Boiler Gold Rush (BGR), while others participate in programs such as the Purdue “All-American” Marching Band camp or Purdue Musical Organizations activities. BGR requires an additional registration fee; a limited number of need-based waivers are available to cover part or all of the cost.

Do summer credits count toward graduation?

Your 7-credit summer coursework is designed to support a strong start at Purdue and help you begin developing a college mindset before the fall semester. Purdue’s Foundations of College Math course and Summer Seminar for Beginners I are part of your academic on-ramp. While these courses do not fulfill major-level requirements, the Foundations of College Math course does count as elective credit and is designed to strengthen your math foundation and prepare you for your required college-level math course in the fall.

You will also enroll in one 3-credit, five-week course during the summer. This course may count toward University Core Curriculum or major-level requirements, depending on your selected course and academic program. Your academic advisor can help confirm how this course applies to your specific degree plan. Together, these courses are intended to support both preparation and academic progress as you begin your Purdue journey.

What is the workload like?

Summer courses move quickly because they cover a full semester of content in five weeks. The pace is intensive, but you have strong support from faculty, academic support during study tables and staff.

What if my math skills improve before summer begins?

That’s a good thing, and we encourage it. Any additional progress you make before summer can help you feel more confident and comfortable ahead of beginning at Purdue.

Math Momentum is not about reassessing where you place. It’s about helping you build momentum as you transition into college-level math at Purdue and preparing you to be successful in the math courses required for your degree.

What is the difference between ‘major-level’ and ‘elective’ courses as it relates to my degree progression?

Major-Level credits are courses that count directly toward the required classes for your specific major.

Elective credits count toward the total number of credits needed to graduate but do not always apply directly to your major requirements.

Both types of credit are important for making progress toward your degree, and an academic advisor can help you understand how your credits apply to your individual plan.

Three Purdue students walk together outside in Indianapolis

summer program

Math Momentum Program

A student sits on a bench outside listening to his headphones and working on a laptop

undergraduate Admissions