Why PNW
PNW sits between Chicago’s skyscrapers and Lake Michigan’s sandy shores. Diverse, hardworking, and innovative, we’re where academic excellence meets real-world experience. At PNW, students from next door and students from halfway across the world come together to learn, grow, and connect.
PNW Proud
Electrical Engineering
“What I like most about Purdue Northwest was the smaller class sizes, hands-on learning and the professors who are willing to take time out of their day to engage in one-on-one time with students.”
Accounting
“PNW gave me the fundamentals for my career, and I feel very confident about my capabilities now.”
Nursing
“I want to create my courses to guide and enhance my students’ efforts, so they can be successful, and I want them to know I believe in them!”
Power Onward with Purdue Northwest
At Purdue University Northwest, we go beyond the classroom, walking the extra mile with students to empower confidence and encourage real-world experiences. We push beyond the boundaries of innovation to drive engagement and make an impact in Northwest Indiana and the world at large.
PNW at a Glance
Take a look around. We think you’ll like what you see.
98% Full-Time Freshmen
New students add to our vibrant campus community each fall.
16:1 Student-to-Faculty Ratio
Small class sizes foster individual attention and mentorship opportunities.
Approximately 8,800 Students
We’re bigger than your high school, but not so big that you’re just a number.
70+ Areas of Study
From engineering to education, our six colleges have majors, concentrations and courses to suit every passion.
30 Miles to Chicago
All the perks of a world-class city are just a half hour drive away from PNW’s main Hammond campus.
15 Miles to the Dunes
Enjoy the natural beauty of the Indiana Dunes National Park and Lake Michigan, right by PNW’s Westville branch campus.
38 Countries Represented
Students come from all over the world to study at PNW.
17 NCAA Division II Athletic Teams
We pair high-quality academics with competitive athletics. Suit up or come cheer us on!
66,000+ Alumni
Connect with and get support from our global alumni community.
“I’m on a first-name basis with all of my professors I’ve had at PNW, and I know a lot of my friends who go to bigger schools can’t say the same thing.”
Recognized Impact
PNW earned notable accolades among the best regional universities in the 2022 U.S. News & World Report’s annual Best Colleges rankings, with special mentions for the School of Engineering, College of Nursing and computer science program.
PNW Graduates in Action
Our graduates land with some of the top employers in the nation.
Diverse Industries
PNW graduates find careers in thriving industries such as healthcare, manufacturing and education.
Local Roots
Top local employers of PNW graduates include La Porte Hospital, Michigan City Area Schools and Parkview Health.
National Prestige
PNW alumni hold positions in some of the world’s most renowned companies including Microsoft, Amazon and Marriott.
Live Here
MODERN ON-CAMPUS HOUSING
Enrich your college experience and make the most of our community by living in PNW’s University Village on the Hammond campus.
Our Favorite Places
Two campuses mean twice as many spots to study, eat, exercise, spend time with friends or just relax. Take a look at a few of our favorites.
One of the best places to get the full view of PNW’s Westville campus is the main Plaza. Students love relaxing by the fountain or studying while surrounded by the unique art around campus.
From intramurals to fitness centers, PNW provides a range of opportunities for students to meet friends, have fun and make progress.
PNW’s state-of-the-art Center for Innovation through Visualization and Simulation (CIVS) combines advanced simulation techniques and 3-D visualization to solve real-world engineering problems.
Students can balance study time with workout breaks in PNW's two fully equipped Fitness Centers.
Located at the heart of our Hammond campus, PNW’s state-of-the-art Nils K. Nelson Bioscience Innovation Building has teaching classrooms for our nursing and biology students, including entire sections designed to look just like physicians’ offices or acute-care facilities.
From buggies to canoes, PNW students take part in a range of engineering competitions that build hands-on skills and real-world experience.
State-of-the-art buildings, like the Dworkin Student Services and Activities Complex, give students comfortable space to study and socialize.
Paws Up, Roar Pride! Purdue Northwest competes in the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). We have 19 varsity sports, including softball, baseball, basketball, tennis, cross country, track & field, golf, soccer, volleyball, ice hockey (ACHA) and Esports.
Our Hammond campus offers apartment-style housing with private bedrooms for you and your 750 new best friends. You can walk everywhere — you’ll be steps from our fitness center and less than a mile from every building on campus.
PNW's Hammond and Westville campuses offer a relaxed college feel, but Chicago and Lake Michigan are just short drives away.
With nearly two dozen research and specialty centers, PNW lets you build your skills and connect with experts in fields ranging from sales to cybersecurity. State-of-the-art lab space gives students the opportunities to build abilities they will carry into their careers.