How to Apply

• Create an Application Account to start your application.
• Choose up to 3 campuses and/or graduate majors in priority order.  Note: Not all graduate programs offer a third-choice option.  List of third choice graduate majors.
• Submit results of required tests (if needed) for your graduate program (example of tests: GMAT, TOEFL, IELTS).
• Review your current/previous academic institution’s country for a listing of required admission documents.
• Prepare any additional documents based on your desired graduate program, including documentation for a 2nd or 3rd choice graduate program.
• Pay the Nonrefundable Application Fee (not required for non-degree or teacher license applicants)

• Upload Transcripts for every institution of higher education attended
• Submit a Statement of Purpose. If applying to a 2nd or 3rd choice graduate program, be sure your Statement of Purpose is all-inclusive, and supports your suitability for all graduate programs listed on your application.
• Provide three Letters of Recommendation or the number required by your graduate program. If applying to a 2nd or 3rd choice graduate program, the program with the highest number of required recommendation letters will determine the minimum number of letters to be submitted.

• Provide evidence of a bachelor’s degree (may be a transcript, copy of a diploma or a letter from your college/university verifying the degree)

• Upload Transcripts for every institution of higher education attended.

• Log in to your Online Application Account.
• If applying to a 2nd or 3rd choice graduate program, Check Your Application Status for each graduate program.
• Contact your Graduate Program directly with any questions.

The Graduate School application fee is $60 (U.S. dollars) for domestic applicants and $75 (U.S. dollars) for international applicants. The application fee payment will satisfy the payment requirement for all campus and/or graduate major selections listed on the application, up to three selections. You must pay your application fee online with your credit card. Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express cards are accepted and processed using a secured online payment system.

Your application will not be processed until your nonrefundable application fee has been paid.

As an alternative to paying your application fee via credit card, Purdue University Graduate School has partnered with Western Union Business Solutions, a specialist in global business payments. This payment option allows you to pay the Graduate School application fee in the currency of your choice and provides a simple and secure method for initiating payments electronically.

Please note: A foreign currency payment is a “pending” payment and does not automatically satisfy your application fee payment.  Purdue University Accounts Receivable will post the U.S. dollar equivalent to your Business Partner account, generally within two to five days after your local bank initiates payment.  When this has occurred, your application fee payment will be updated.

For more details about this fee payment option in the online application, visit our Foreign Currency Payments Web page.

If you are applying to a degree program or Graduate Certificate program at one of the Purdue University campuses, you will be charged an application fee. If you are a nondegree applicant applying to the West Lafayette, Northwest, or Fort Wayne campus, you will not be charged an application fee.

Application Fee Waivers

Purdue provides application fee waivers to advance diversity, recognize outstanding undergraduate achievement, and engage prospective students in recruitment events where Purdue is affiliated.

Applicants are eligible for one application fee waiver per program he/she has participated in. Fee waivers are valid until December 31st two years after the applicant became eligible. For example, if a person belonging to the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers visited with a Purdue recruiter at the society’s annual conference in September 2020, that individual must apply and request the associated fee waiver by December 31, 2022.

Graduate School applicants who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents experiencing economic hardship may request a waiver of the application fee. To request a waiver of the application fee, please send an email explaining your situation to gradinfo@purdue.edu.

Application fee waivers are available for participants in the programs listed below. Please note any special requirements for each program:

• AISES Conference – must visit Purdue recruiter at annual conference and complete a contact information card.
• American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AICHE) – must visit Purdue recruiter at annual conference and complete contact information card.
• Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) – must visit Purdue recruiter at annual conference and complete contact information card.
• Big Ten+ Graduate School Expo – must register and participate in the event. For more information on this program please visit their website.
• Big Ten Academic Alliance FreeApp – Ph.D. or MFA applicants who have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher (A = 4.0), are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and possess qualities and experiences that would enhance the diversity of the intellectual, cultural, and social environments at Big Ten Academic Alliance universities. This includes women in STEM, first-generation students, minorities, and other applicants who have faced adversity. For more information on this waiver, and participating universities, please visit their website.
• EducationUSA Opportunity Fund Recipient – must provide a copy of the official EducationUSA Opportunity Fund award letter.
• Engineering Undergraduate Research Office – must be a Purdue University Engineering undergraduate student and a recipient of an academic year competitive fellowship program.
• Florida A&M Graduate Feeder Program – must be a participant of this program.  For more information on this program, please visit their website.
• GEM Fellowship Program – U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents who have applied for the GEM Fellows program (submitted a completed application to GEM prior to their deadline) with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0.  For more information, please visit their website.
• Institute for Recruitment of Teachers Program – must be selected and participate in their summer program.
• Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders – must have participated in the Mandela Fellows program.  For more information, please visit their website.
• McNair Scholars Program – name must be listed in National Directory. For more information on this program please visit their website.
• Midwest Graduate School Summit – must register and participate in the event. For more information on this program, please visit their website.
• National Science Foundation Summer Internship (Purdue University) – must be selected and participate in sponsored program at Purdue.
• National Society of Black Engineer National Career Fair – must visit Purdue recruiter at annual conference and complete a contact information card.  For more information please visit this website: http://www.nsbe.org.
• Native American Institution Visit Program – must be invited and visit campus as part of this program.
• NIH MARC USTAR/PREP/RISE – must have participated in one of these NIH-sponsored undergraduate research programs.
• POSSE Scholars – must provide a copy of the official POSSE scholar participation letter.
• Purdue Emerging Leaders Program – must be a participant of the program.
• Purdue Engineering Virtual Graduate Showcase – must register for and attend the Purdue Engineering Virtual Graduate Showcase.
• Purdue Graduate Diversity Visitation Program – must be invited and attend the visitation hosted by Purdue.  For more information on this program please visit their website.
• Purdue Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) – must be a participant of the program.  Please visit their website.
• Purdue Summer Research Opportunity Program – must be invited and participate in the program hosted by Purdue. For more information on this program please visit their website.
• Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) National Conference – must visit Purdue recruiter at annual conference and complete contact information card.
• Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers – must visit Purdue recruiter at annual conference and complete a contact information card.  For more information please visit their website: http://shpe.org.
• Society of Mexican American Engineers & Scientists – must visit Purdue recruiter at annual conference and complete a contact information card.  For more information please visit their website: http://mymaes.org.
• Society of Women Engineers – must visit Purdue recruiter at annual conference and complete a contact information card. For more information please visit this website: http://societyofwomenengineers.swe.org.
• Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) – must be selected and participate in the Purdue program. For more information on this program please visit their website.
• Tau Beta Pi National Convention – must visit a Purdue recruiter at the annual convention and complete a contact information card.  For more information, please visit https://www.tbp.org/about/Infobook/membership.cfm.
• University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) Meyerhoff Scholars – a student must be a member of this program.  For more information, please visit https://meyerhoff.umbc.edu/about.
• U.S. Veterans and U.S. Military Service Members – must be a U.S. military veteran or an active U.S. military service member.

In order to request an application fee waiver under one of these programs, you will need to start a Purdue University Graduate School application. Visit The Graduate School website at www.purdue.edu/gradschool and click on the ‘Apply Now’ button on the left hand side of the page. During the online application process on the ‘Additional Information’ page there is a question that asks if you are a member of a recruitment program. In the drop-down box select the appropriate recruitment program. This will trigger an email to the Office of Graduate Admissions. If your recruitment program requires you to submit additional information, please submit the required documentation to gradinfo@purdue.edu.

Within two weeks you will receive a return email indicating whether or not the application fee has been waived. If you pay the application fee before the fee has been waived, it is non-refundable.

The academic credentials listed by country are generally required from most institutions in the selected country.  English translations should be certified by the issuing college or University.  Credential evaluation reports will not be accepted as official academic records.  As institutions may vary, academic credentials will be reviewed on an individual basis for determination of acceptable documents.

For more information, please visit Documents Required by Country.

A student wishing to pursue two degrees in two different departments simultaneously must submit an application for admission to each department.

The student must submit a Notice of Dual Graduate Program Status to the program department. Please use Dual Graduate Program Request, G.S. Form 18 (PDF).

International applicants whose native language is not English are required to provide proof of English proficiency for admission to degree, certificate, non-degree, and teacher license graduate programs.  For information regarding requirements, please visit English Proficiency Requirements.

The Purdue Graduate School application allows applicants to select up to three graduate campuses and/or majors per application. If you are applying to more than one graduate program, we highly suggest you contact your recommendation providers and encourage them to write all-inclusive letters of recommendation that support your suitability for all graduate programs listed on your application.

Unless otherwise noted within the Graduate Program Requirements Web page, three (3) letters of recommendation are required for degree-seeking applicants. If you choose to apply to more than one campus and/or graduate major, the graduate program that requires the highest number of letters of recommendation will establish the minimum number of letters of recommendation to be submitted.

When you create an online application to the Purdue Graduate School, once you click “Send to Recommender,” your recommendation providers will receive an email with instructions on submitting their recommendation online.

The Purdue University Graduate School strongly encourages you to provide an email address affiliated with an academic institution, professional organization, or employer. Once the online recommendation is submitted the graduate program to which you applied will have access to view your online recommendation.

If you waive your right to examine your recommendation, you forfeit your right to request a copy of your recommendation letter.  If you do not waive your right, you have the ability to request a copy of your recommendation letter.  Some recommendation providers may be reluctant to submit a recommendation on your behalf if you do not waive your right to view the letter.

For recommenders wishing to complete a paper recommendation, please send the following recommendation form (PDF).

Not all programs use the default form above. Please consult the Graduate Program Requirements Web page for recommendation letter requirements. If your program indicates that it uses a separate recommendation form, a link to that form will be provided by the graduate program.

For additional information, please visit our Letter of Recommendation FAQ.

A student in non-degree status who wishes to be considered for admission to a degree seeking program must submit a new application, accompanied by the same materials required of other degree-seeking applicants.

An applicant who, after being granted admission by the Graduate School, does not enroll for three or more consecutive academic sessions (including the summer session) must submit a new application and pay the application fee. Updated or additional admission information may be required. Conditions may be placed on admission.

Upon the recommendation of the department and on a case by case basis, special consideration will be given to students returning to continue their graduate studies after being called to active military service.

A statement of purpose is required for all degree-seeking applicants. The Purdue University Graduate School application allows applicants to select up to three graduate campuses and/or majors per application. Each  program to which you are applying may have specific topics or requirements for information to be listed in your statement of purpose. If you are applying to a 2nd or 3rd choice program, you are only required to submit one statement of purpose with your application. Be sure your statement of purpose is all-inclusive, and supports your suitability for your enrollment in all the graduate programs listed on your application. Please visit the Graduate Program Requirements Web page for a list of specific graduate application requirements before completing your statement of purpose.

A statement of approximately 500 words is encouraged concerning your interest in undertaking or continuing graduate study, your reasons for wanting to study at Purdue, and your professional plans, career goals, and research interests. You also may explain any special circumstances applicable to your background and elaborate on your special abilities, awards, achievements, scholarly publications, and/or professional history. The graduate program to which you are applying may have additional requirements.

Uploading Transcripts

You must upload to the online application transcript(s) and/or academic document(s) for every institution of higher education you attended regardless of whether or not a degree was received.  To review a list of required documents by your previous or current institution’s country, click here.

If a degree was received then it must be printed on the transcripts.  If no degree conferral is printed on the transcripts then a copy of the original diploma (degree certificate) is needed. If the documents are not in English, you must upload an English translation certified by the college or university which issued it.

The uploaded transcript and/or academic document may be from the official or unofficial version of the document. An official transcript bears the original signature of the registrar and/or the original seal of the issuing institution. An unofficial transcript printed from your current/previous institution(s) student system is not an acceptable document.  For tips about uploading your transcripts into the online application click here.

Official Transcripts

You must provide official transcripts and/or academic records at the request of the graduate program.

If you are admitted and choose to enroll at Purdue University, you must submit official transcripts before you can register for your third session. Once you submit official transcripts to Purdue University, they become property of the University and will not be returned. We recognize, in very rare instances, that students may have access to only one transcript (or an extremely limited number of transcripts) or other academic credentials. In this instance, you may submit a written request (at the time you submit your transcripts) to preserve your original documents to the Office of Graduate Admissions.

The Office of Graduate Admissions accepts electronic transcripts from accredited U.S. colleges and universities sent via Parchment Exchange, the National Student Clearinghouse, or directly from the accredited U.S. college and university. The Office of Graduate Admissions will also accept electronic transcripts from colleges and universities in India via TrueCopy Credentials or Parchment Exchange. The transcript must be sent to grad@pnw.edu in order to verify the authenticity of the documents. If any departments receive emails stating that electronic transcripts are waiting for them, please notify that institution of the correct email address. The Office of Graduate Admission does not accept electronic transcripts from international colleges or universities except for those noted above.

An official transcript bears the original signature of the registrar and/or the original seal of the issuing institution.  Transcripts and/or English translations may be mailed directly from a Registrar’s office to the Office of Graduate Admissions or you can choose to send the transcripts yourself.

Official documents may also be mailed to:

Graduate Studies Office
Purdue University Northwest
Lawshe Hall, Room 212
2200 169th Street
Hammond, IN 46323

Degree-Seeking Applicants:  If you are applying to a master’s, doctoral, or educational specialist degree program, you must upload your transcript into the online application.  Your transcripts must be from each college or university you have attended which may include evidence of a baccalaureate degree awarded. This may either be your final transcript showing degree awarded (if applicable) or a copy of your original diploma (degree certificate).  If requested by the graduate program or if you are admitted and choose to enroll, you must submit official transcripts and/or academic documents directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions. If you are currently studying for a baccalaureate degree, you will later be required to submit a document that verifies the awarding of that degree.

Re-entry Applicants:  If you are seeking re-entry to a degree program and you attended another college or university since you last attended graduate school at Purdue, you must upload a transcript of that study into the online application. If requested by the graduate program or if you are admitted and choose to enroll, you must submit official transcripts and/or academic documents directly to the Office of Graduate Studies.

Certificate Applicants:  If you are applying for certificate classification, you must upload evidence of a baccalaureate degree. Some graduate certificate programs require additional documentation. Please refer to the Graduate Program Requirements Web page for specific details.

Teacher License:  If you are applying for the teacher license classification, you must upload a transcript from the college or university where your baccalaureate degree was awarded. If you are currently studying for a baccalaureate degree, you will later be required to submit a document that verifies the degree has been awarded. Your transcript may be uploaded into the online application. If requested by the graduate program or if you are admitted and choose to enroll, you must submit official transcripts and/or academic documents directly to the Graduate Studies Office.

Non-Degree Applicants:  If you are applying for non-degree classification, you must upload evidence of a baccalaureate degree. This may be a transcript, a copy of the diploma, or a letter from the college or university verifying the degree.

The Purdue University Graduate School reserves the right to require official transcripts and/or academic documents at any time during the admissions process.

Depending upon your field of study, you may be required to take one or more standardized tests. Standardized tests are uniform in nature and are administered and scored in the same fashion for all students by organizations not affiliated with Purdue University.

Typically these tests are completed in your senior year before you begin applying for graduate study, but always be sure to check with the Purdue program to which you may apply in order to determine its specific requirements and deadlines.

Common standardized tests that may be required for admission include:

• The GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) has a general test component, which is most often required for graduate admission. Some programs will also require the completion of a GRE Subject Test that focuses on a specific field of study.
• The GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) is often required for individuals interested in management or other business-related programs.
• The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and IELTS (International English Language Testing System) evaluate a person’s level of English proficiency for individuals whose native language is not English.

Third-Choice Graduate Application Participating Majors

Applicants may apply for up to three different campuses and/or graduate majors with a single application and fee payment. The majors listed below are available as third-choice graduate programs on the application.

Purdue Northwest (PNW)

• Biological Sciences
• Communication
• Education
• Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Engineering – Interdisciplinary
• Graduate Continuing Studies (Hammond)
• Graduate Continuing Studies (Westville)
• History
• Management (Master of Accountancy)
• Management (MBA)
• Mechanical Engineering
• Nursing
• Technology (MS)

Purdue West Lafayette (PWL)

• Advanced Methodologies in the Behavioral, Social, and Health Sciences
• African American Studies
• Agricultural and Biological Engineering
• Athletic Training
• Aviation Technology (Residential Only)
• Aviation Technology and Management
• Biological Sciences
• Communication
• Comparative Literature
• Comparative Pathobiology
• Computer and Information Technology (Residential Only)
• Construction Management Technology (Residential Only)
• Consumer Science
• Continuing Education
• Corporate Training and Communication
• Data Science in Finance
• Digital Humanities
• Earth Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences
• Engineering Management
• Engineering Technology (Residential Only)
• English
• Environmental and Ecological Engineering
• Forestry and Natural Resources
• Geospatial Information Science
• Gerontology
• Health Sciences
• Horticulture
• Imaging Sciences
• Inclusive Excellence
• Industrial and Physical Pharmacy
• Intercultural Competence Mentorship
• Interdisciplinary Ecological Sciences and Engineering
• Interdisciplinary Engineering
• Landscape Systems and Design
• Languages and Cultures
• Mechanical Engineering
• Medical Physics
• Nutrition
• Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences
• Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management
• Philosophy and Literature
• Political Science
• Psychological Sciences
• Psychological Sciences – Clinical Psychological Sciences
• Psychological Sciences – Cognitive Psychology
• Psychological Sciences – Industrial-Organizational Psychology
• Psychological Sciences – Mathematical and Computational Psychology
• Psychological Sciences – Neuroscience and Behavior
• Psychological Sciences – Social Psychology
• Secondary STEM Education/Initial Licensure
• Sociology
• Spatial Data Science
• Systems
• Technology Leadership and Innovation (Residential Only)
• Telemental Health Counseling
• Theatre – Visual and Performing Arts
• Toxicology

Purdue Fort Wayne (PFW)

• Biological Sciences
• Business Administration (MBA+)
• Business Administration (Professional)
• Computer Science
• Counseling
• Educational Leadership
• Elementary Education
• English
• Graduate Continuing Studies
• Mathematics
• Nonprofit Management
• Organizational Leadership
• Professional Communication Studies
• Public Administration
• Secondary Education
• Special Education
• Technology
• Transition to Teaching – Elementary Education
• Transition to Teaching – Secondary Education
• Transition to Teaching – Special Education