Skip to main content
Loading
Why Purdue Engineering?

Why Purdue Engineering?

You have an interest in changing the world. To get there, you need strong leadership characteristics, ingenuity, adaptability, and technical proficiency. Purdue Engineering is here to help! We are dedicated to helping you attain the skills and attributes needed to succeed in this rapidly-changing global economy.

A World-Class Engineering Institution

U.S. News & World Report and corporate recruiters consistently rank Purdue Engineering near the top of their lists as one of the best engineering schools in the country for both academics and career preparation. Purdue's engineers stand at the forefront of industry, education, and discovery, with a goal of impacting the world and those who live in it.

Students receive a top-quality experience, at the best value, with some of the industry's most competitive starting salaries.

The Boilermaker Family

As a Purdue Engineer you would be joining a broader family with over 100,000 living Purdue Engineering alumni around the globe who are happy to help other Boilermakers. Some of our notable alumni include:

  • Neil Armstrong (the first astronaut on the Moon)
  • Eugene Cernan (the most recent astronaut on the Moon)
  • Roger Chaffee and Gus Grissom (Apollo pioneers)
  • Amy Ross (spacesuit engineer)
  • Charles Ellis (designer of the Golden Gate Bridge)
  • Michael Ramage (petrochemical innovator)
  • John Atalla (father of the "PIN")
  • Lillian Gilbreth (the first lady of engineering)
  • Reginald Fessenden (father of radio broadcasting)

Being a member of the Boilermaker family is part of our collaborative culture and begins the day you step onto campus as a student, although we hope you notice it when you visit, too. Faculty, staff, and students are all dedicated to helping each other succeed.

Accessible Faculty

Faculty lead over 80% of Purdue Engineering classes which means that you can study alongside professors who are happy to share their rich experience and expertise. Faculty want to meet students and hold regular office hours dedicated to the students from their classes.

A Collaborative Culture

Teamwork is a culture, not an expectation. Top students from around the world come to Purdue and you'll have the opportunity to collaborate in a variety of ways throughout your undergraduate degree.

A Diverse, Global Community

You would become a part of a student body that reflects our diverse world. To help provide leadership in the area, the Women in Engineering Program (WiE) and the Minority Engineering Program (MEP) are resources available to all engineering students. Purdue is home to students from over 120 countries and all 50 states are represented in the College of Engineering! Come and meet the world right here in West Lafayette, Indiana!

Campus Involvement

Purdue Engineering students are very involved across campus, so you'll be able to find other students with similar interests. With over 1,000 student organizations, sports teams and events (Big 10, club, intramural), the Purdue Musical Organization, and several ensembles through Purdue Bands & Orchestras, there is something for everyone! These opportunities will connect you with others students, expand your knowledge, and prepare you for success.

Turn Interests Into Impact

Where would you like to apply your interests and make a difference in the world? Engineers, educated with the fundamental and necessary math and science, are essential to solving the Grand Challenges our world is facing today. While all majors of Engineering are critical to making a difference; Purdue's First-Year Engineering Program gives you the time and resources to identify which major is the best fit for your career goals. Start your journey as an engineering student with our road map for success.

Breadth of Majors

Choose from 17 engineering majors and several unique minors. You also have the option to customize your own major through our Interdisciplinary Engineering Studies and Multidisciplinary Engineering programs.

Innovative, Hands-On Learning

You will be surrounded with a rich history mixed with modern technologies. There are over 30 buildings that are dedicated to or have dedicated space for engineering. These state-of-the-art facilities include the Neil Armstrong Hall of Engineering, which serves as our flagship facility with the first 360° learning environment on campus, and the Bechtel Innovation Design Center, providing students access to modern technology and innovative space for student-directed project development.

Expand Your Horizons

Extend your education beyond the classroom by taking part in one of the many experiential opportunities open to undergraduate students, such as research or EPICS service-learning projects. You can also prepare for the global economy by taking advantage of amazing global workplace or study abroad opportunities at distinguished universities all around the world through the Global Engineering Programs & Partnerships office.

Industry Partnerships & Experience

Students who graduated with a bachelor's degree from Purdue Engineering in 2021 saw a 97% placement rate within 6 months of graduating and an average starting salary over just over $72,000. To assist you in developing your resume and open doors of opportunity at graduation, students are strongly encouraged to get work experience.

These opportunities begin as early as the summer after the first-year and include internships, co-ops, and other innovative options for gaining work experience while taking classes at Purdue. All students are encouraged to attend one of the many career fairs on campus, including our largest student-run job fair, Industrial Roundtable, offered on campus each year. With over 1,000 unique employers visiting Purdue every year to recruit, there is ample opportunity for you to gain work experience. Well over 80% of our students report having had at least one internship or co-op experience prior to graduation.

Still interested? Connect with us!

If you would like to learn more about Purdue Engineering, the first place to start is with us in the Office of Future Engineers (OFE). The OFE Staff and the Peer Counselors are here to answer any and all of your questions relating to Purdue Engineering - from academics to student life and beyond. Feel free to contact us anytime and check out all the visit opportunities to see Purdue Engineering for yourself!