Purdue leads on affordability with frozen tuition, accelerated degree pathways

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Frozen tuition. Accelerated degree pathways. Nationally recognized student outcomes. For 14 consecutive years, Purdue University has held tuition flat while expanding opportunities for students and finding new ways to make a Purdue education more affordable and attainable.

“Our goal is straightforward, giving students and families the greatest possible return on their Purdue investment,” said Purdue interim President Mitch Daniels. “That means keeping costs down, shortening degree pathways when it makes sense, and providing students with the education and opportunities that will prepare them for whatever comes next.”

Purdue’s ongoing commitment to affordability and value has helped Purdue students and their families cumulatively save more than $2.5 billion in educational expenses since 2013. That commitment now spans 12 graduating classes — and counting — that have never experienced a tuition increase.

Purdue’s room and board rates also remain the most affordable by a significant margin among Big Ten universities, a position that will extend into the 2027-28 academic year. In 2012, the university’s rates were the second-most expensive in the conference.

Balancing affordability, simplicity and flexibility, Purdue’s 2027-28 meal plan rates will remain below the Big Ten average for comparable plans, with options to fit students’ needs and budgets.

The university continues to find ways to reduce the time and costs of earning a degree, with nearly 60 majors now offering Degree in 3 pathways. Introduced in 2017, Purdue’s Degree in 3 was among the first accelerated degree programs of its kind. The program enables students to complete eligible bachelor’s degrees in fewer semesters, saving a student up to $19,000 in educational expenses and allowing them to enter the workforce or pursue graduate school a year earlier.

Across the university, students are now completing their degrees in an average of 3.84 years, with 65% of Purdue students graduating debt-free, compared with 36% nationally.

This value proposition is resonating with students and families as the university continues to see strong demand for a Purdue education, with an 80% increase in applications over the past 10 years and near-record enrollment for the fall 2026 freshman class.

Purdue’s affordability and value have also been recognized in national rankings. The university was ranked No. 2 nationally in SmartAsset’s 2026 study of Best Value Public Universities and was ranked the No. 1 public university in Indiana for return on investment by the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity in 2024.

At the same time, Purdue continues to invest in its people, facilities and research. The university has offered merit-based compensation increases to faculty and staff every year since 2010, except during the 2020-21 pandemic year, and has expanded its housing capacity to support 18,500-plus students by adding six new residence halls in 10 years. Purdue surpassed $1 billion in total research expenditures in 2025.

Other key figures:

• Today’s freshmen were in pre-K the last time Indiana residents saw a tuition increase.
• Indiana resident tuition remains under $10,000 per year.
• The Bachelor’s to Doctorate in 7 Years accelerated pilot program reduces the costs of participation in eligible doctoral programs by providing a distinct timeline for graduation.
• The Boiler Gold Grant can cover up to eight semesters of tuition, fees and books for eligible Indiana residents.

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a research institution ranked among the top 10 public universities in the United States. More than 111,000 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.