About PNW
Purdue University Northwest (PNW) is a premier metropolitan university located in Northwest Indiana that is dedicated to empowering transformational change in our students and in our community.
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, 17 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.
Our two campuses serve approximately 8,900 undergraduate and graduate students. At PNW, we value academic excellence, support growth and celebrate diversity.
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.
Our impact also extends well beyond the region. Students from 30 states and 38 countries currently attend PNW, taking what they learn here and applying it all around the world.
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
Purdue Northwest faculty and students are dedicated to Northwest Indiana and want to provide support to enrich the lives of those in our community. Universities are not islands, but rather great contributors to the overall well-being of their communities.
Thomas L. Keon, PNW Chancellor
High-Quality Education for the Real World
PNW’s colleges offer 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.
With new Esports Arenas and over 80 student organizations, there is never a dull moment on campus!
With new Esports Arenas and over 80 student organizations, there is never a dull moment on campus!
With over 15 research centers and institutes students, faculty and staff can collaborate and deepen their understanding of the world around them.
The additions of the Nils K. Nelson Bioscience Innovation Building, the PNW Design Studio, and the Dave Roberts Center for Innovation and Design provide students, faculty and staff with opportunities to work in fully updated, modern facilities.
The Nils K. Nelson Bioscience Innovation Building provides ample space for hanging out between classes, studying and group projects!
The PNW Design Studio, has a wide variety of equipment for engineering students to use in their projects.
Our Hammond campus offers apartment-style housing with private bedrooms for you and your 750 new best friends.
Our students show off their PNW pride in colorful ways! Pride Stride is an annual favorite among the student body.
PNW's Welcome Rallies allow students to discover the resources and organizations across our campuses!
Events like our Hispanic Heritage Festival allow students to learn about and celebrate the diversity and richness that other cultures and communities can offer.
Our bell tower is a Hammond Campus landmark that stands between Lawshe Hall, the Student Union Library Building and Nils K. Nelson Bioscience Innovation Building.
Our bell tower is a Hammond Campus landmark that stands between Lawshe Hall, the Student Union Library Building and Nils K. Nelson Bioscience Innovation Building.
PNW recognized among best Midwest universities by U.S. News and World Report
Purdue University Northwest (PNW) is recognized for its campus diversity and several undergraduate programs in U.S. News & World Report’s 2022-2023 annual Best Colleges rankings.
Our Mission
Purdue University Northwest transforms students’ lives and our metropolitan region through a diverse campus committed to innovative education, applied research, and community engagement.
Learn More About Us
VISIT US
Scenic settings just minutes from the highway, PNW’s two campuses in Hammond and Westville are easily accessible.
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.
GUARDING PNW’S FUTURE
Meet Chancellor Thomas L. Keon and the university’s senior leadership team, and learn about PNW’s strategic plan.
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
PNW professor awarded fellowship by the Software Sustainability Institute
Purdue University Northwest (PNW) faculty member Magesh Chandramouli has been awarded a fellowship by the Software Sustainability Institute (SSI).
PNW Esports to host UNIFIED Gaming Fanfest
Purdue University Northwest’s Esports program is set to host the UNIFIED Gaming Fanfest March 4 to 5 at the Westville campus’ Dworkin Student Services and Activities Complex (DSAC).
Student Spotlight: Thomas Stobbe
The School of Engineering is #PNWEngineeringProud of Thomas Stobbe. He will graduate in December 2023 with his bachelor’s in mechanical engineering.
PNW Event Highlights
Mar 21
Women’s History Month
From academic events to art showcases, join PNW in celebrating the accomplishments and achievements of women all month long!
Mar 22
Tornado Drill
Campus members, we will be conducting a Tornado Drill (move to a storm safe area) at both campuses on Wednesday, March 22, 2023.
Mar 28
“Chinese Art in American Museums” with the Art Institute of Chicago’s Tao Wang
Take a visual journey of Chinese art guided by visiting scholar Dr. Tao Wang from the Art Institute of Chicago.
Apr 04
Days of Discovery – Westville Campus
The 2023 Days of Discovery will be held on April 4 at the Westville Campus and on April 5 at the Hammond Campus. This two-day event features distinguished internal and external keynote speakers as well as faculty and student oral and poster presentations.