Purdue expands degree offerings that target Indianapolis’ workforce needs

INDIANAPOLIS — Purdue University has launched the academic year in Indianapolis with multiple new undergraduate- and graduate-level academic programs that lean into the city’s existing industry strengths, including construction management, athletic training, and hospitality and tourism management.

The start of the fall semester marks the launch of Purdue’s third academic year since its strategic expansion in the capital city. The university’s enhanced presence in Indianapolis reflects a deliberate alignment between academic programming and fast-growing labor markets that are critical to the state’s economic future.

“Purdue is training the next generation of leaders for industries in the heart of the city, where demand for skilled, job-ready graduates is outpacing supply,” said David Umulis, Purdue’s senior vice provost for Indianapolis. “As Indianapolis continues to develop into a major hub for development, sports and tourism, the university is positioning its graduates to step directly into the areas driving that growth.”

The new Indianapolis programs draw from three of Purdue’s colleges — the College of Engineering, the College of Health and Human Sciences, and Purdue Polytechnic Institute.

Purdue Polytechnic’s construction management program is now offered in Indianapolis within the newly named Bowen School of Construction. The reimagined major combines technical expertise, practical skills and industry knowledge.

At the same time, the College of Health and Human Sciences is expanding its Indianapolis presence with new programming in hospitality and tourism management. The program will focus on fulfilling workforce needs in a major urban center that continues to draw large-scale conventions and events.

The college is also expanding the Master of Science in athletic training program — housed at Canal Square Apartments, Purdue’s first physical footprint in the facility it purchased last fall. The program addition builds upon last year’s launch of the Master of Science in sport management, further capitalizing on Indianapolis’ renown in the professional and amateur sports sectors.

Programs launching for Indianapolis in 2026-27

• Bachelor of Science in construction management
• Bachelor of Science in hospitality and tourism management
• Bachelor of Science in industrial engineering
• Bachelor of Science in multidisciplinary technology
• Master of Science in athletic training
• Master of Science in biomedical engineering — concentration in clinical engagement and biomedical innovation

In addition to this lineup, Purdue will require all undergraduate students to complete AI-focused coursework. The initiative, approved by Purdue’s Board of Trustees in December 2025, positions Purdue among the first universities in the nation to embed AI competency into every degree program.

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a research institution ranked among the top 10 public universities in the United States. More than 106,000 students study at Purdue across multiple campuses, including more than 57,000 at our main campus locations in West Lafayette and Indianapolis. As a land-grant university committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue’s main campus has frozen tuition 14 years in a row, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free.