A PNW student in a food pantry shirt stands outdoors

About PNW

Purdue University Northwest (PNW) is a student-centered university in Northwest Indiana that transforms lives through innovative education, impactful research and community engagement

A PNW student wears a Somos PNW t-shirt.

Why PNW?

With PNW’s 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio, you will get to know and connect with professors and mentors. Our 80+ student organizations, 20 NCAA Division II athletic teams and 40+ intramural activities provide you with a large selection of ways to get involved or have fun on campus!

From academics to extracurriculars, PNW helps you build skills to launch your career and make friends that will last a lifetime.

Find Your Right Fit

A map of the Midwestern United States, with the Chicago region and northwestern Indiana highlighted. PNW's campuses in Hammond and Westville, Indiana are prominent along Interstates 90/94. The top left corner reads "Regional Strength, Global Reach".

At PNW, we value academic excellence, support growth and celebrate diversity. Our two campuses serve approximately 8,700 undergraduate and graduate students. Core enrollment—the number of students attending classes on PNW campuses—is 6,049 students.

Our Hammond campus is only 30 miles from Chicago and our Westville branch campus is only 15 miles from the Indiana Dunes National Park. Our two campuses foster a community full of contrasts: urban and rural, industrial and natural, well-established history and forward-thinking innovation. Our determined students — many of whom are the first in their families to attend college — make the most of this rich range of resources.

A Hispanic-Serving Institution, PNW has an impact that extends well beyond the region. Students from 30 states and 50 countries currently attend PNW, taking what they learn here and applying it all around the world.

Read About Our Diverse Metropolitan University

PNW's Undergraduates

– 96% Full-Time Freshman

– Over 56% First Gen

– 25.8% Hispanic or Latino

– Nearly 11% Black or African American

– Nearly 4% Multiracial

– Nearly 3% Asian

Our faculty and staff are focused on excellence in teaching, passionate about helping students succeed and dedicated to serving the communities in our metropolitan region.

PNW Chancellor Chris Holford

PNW placeholder image


A PNW student works on a laptop

High-Quality Education for the Real World

PNW offers more than 70 areas of study for undergraduate and graduate students. We’re consistently recognized among the best regional universities in the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings.

Our emphasis on research and applied learning opportunities means our students graduate ready for the next phase of their lives.

Accreditation

Purdue University Northwest is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

Power Onward at PNW

Purdue University Northwest is continually changing lives with its focus on students, research and community. 

PNW students talk near a lion sculpture in front of the Nils K. Nelson Bioscience Innovation Building

PNW Named Among 2025 Best Midwest Universities by U.S. News & World Report

Purdue University Northwest was ranked as a top public regional university in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 annual Best Colleges rankings while also being recognized for student social mobility.

Read The Story

A PNW student works on an electric bike

Our Mission

Purdue University Northwest is a diverse, student-centered university that transforms lives and serves our region through innovative education, impactful research and community engagement.

See the Full Strategic Plan

Learn More About Us

A PNW student drives a dune buggy on campus

Getting to Purdue Northwest

VISIT US

Scenic settings just minutes from the highway, PNW’s two campuses in Hammond and Westville are easily accessible.

The first students walk into the Education Building (now Schwarz Hall), 1967

History

70+ YEARS OF PRIDE

We’ve only been the PNW Pride since 2016, but our students have been making us proud since both campuses opened in the 1940s.

PNW Chancellor Holford

Leadership

GUARDING PNW’S FUTURE

Meet Chancellor Chris Holford and the university’s senior leadership team, and learn about PNW’s strategic plan.

PNW Lion Statue

PNW Economic Impact

Purdue University Northwest helps power our region. Our impact includes $745.9 million of total income: 2 percent of gross regional product.

PNW News Highlights

Rey Barretto (left) and Charles Steele (right)

PNW faculty members contribute to innovation addressing water contamination

Professors from multiple Purdue locations, cross-disciplinary students and industry have all joined together with a singular focus: safer water.

Alyssa Gomezdelacasa stands in uniform in front of a port

Two PNW students named 2025 Purdue Military Family Research Institute Focus Forward Fellows

Two Purdue University Northwest (PNW) students who are veterans have earned the distinguished honor of serving as 2025 Focus Forward Fellows with Purdue West Lafayette’s Military Family Research Institute.

Terrell Sucre stands outside in commencement regalia

Purdue University Northwest graduates urged to confidently embrace change as they pursue their dreams

Purdue University Northwest’s (PNW) 2025 graduates have poured countless hours into their persistent journeys to earn their degrees. On May 10, the culmination of over 850 candidates’ hard work was celebrated during PNW’s 2025 Commencement.

PNW Event Highlights

May 19

Summer 2025 Session 1 Classes Begin

First day of Summer 2025 Session I Classes, including 12-week session, first six-week session and first four-week session.

May 26

Memorial Day

There are no classes and campus offices are closed on Memorial Day.

Jun 13

First 4-week Module Classes End

Classes end that run the first four weeks of the Summer Session (May 19 to June 13).

Jun 16

Summer 8-week and Second 4-week Classes Begin

Summer 8-week (June 16 to August 8) and Second 4-week (June 16 to July 11) Classes Begin