Trustees approve 2%+0.5% faculty and staff salary increase

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — The Purdue University Board of Trustees on Friday (April 10) endorsed the merit increase for fiscal year 2026-27 for the main campus, which includes a 2% recurring increase, plus a 0.5% nonrecurring amount for recognition and retention of exceptional employees.

The projection for Purdue’s total compensation increase for FY27 is 4% to 4.5%, well ahead of the 3% comparative estimate among local employers and higher education peers. The nation’s inflation rate in February stood at an annualized 2.4%.

Except for the pandemic year of 2020-21, Purdue has offered a merit increase every year since 2010. In November 2020 more than 15,000 employees also received a one-time appreciation award of $750. The university’s average total compensation increase over the past five years is 26%, averaging more than 5% per year.

Meanwhile, Purdue staff recruitment metrics show an acceptance rate exceeding its target and staff turnover at multiyear lows.

Merit increases will take effect July 1, which is the beginning of the university’s fiscal year.

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a public research university leading with excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities in the United States, Purdue discovers, disseminates and deploys knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 106,000 students study at Purdue across multiple campuses, locations and modalities, including more than 57,000 at our main campus locations in West Lafayette and Indianapolis. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue’s main campus has frozen tuition 14 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap — including its integrated, comprehensive Indianapolis urban expansion; the Mitch Daniels School of Business; Purdue Computes; and the One Health initiative — at https://www.purdue.edu/president/strategic-initiatives.