Purdue University Northwest
Hammond, IN 46323
About Purdue University Northwest
Purdue University Northwest is a public research university in Hammond, Indiana, serving roughly 5,671 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 72.36% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $48,318 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Purdue University Northwest charges 57% above the national public median tuition ($8,675).
- Versus the Indiana median, sticker tuition is 14% below.
- Average net price runs below the Indiana median net price.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 42.91%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $48,318.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Purdue University Northwest is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 1887% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Finding
Purdue University Northwest awards credentials across a wide program mix.
IPEDS completions cover more than 53 distinct degree programs at this campus.
Interpretation: Institutional averages blend very different fields; program-level completions and earnings matter more than the campus mean alone.
Limitation: Completions counts are not enrollment demand and do not measure program quality.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purdue University Northwest | $8,675 | $6,079 | 1 |
| Public (national median) | $5,512 | — | 1,688 |
| Indiana (state median) | $10,090 | $9,763 | 92 |
| Rural (locale median) | $14,160 | $18,700 | 1,649 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
Average net price is 30% below published tuition at Purdue University Northwest
Key findings
- Purdue University Northwest's average net price ($6,079) is 30% below published tuition ($8,675).
- Purdue University Northwest charges 57% above the national public median tuition ($8,675).
- Versus the Indiana median, sticker tuition is 14% below.
- Average net price runs below the Indiana median net price.
Purdue University Northwest tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $8,675
Finding Purdue University Northwest charges 57% above the national public median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $8,675. That is 57% above the national public median ($5,512). Versus the Indiana median ($10,090), sticker tuition is 14% below. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is 27% below.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to public and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Purdue University Northwest versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Purdue University Northwest versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Purdue University Northwest is $6,079.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $6,079 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $3,684 below the Indiana median net price. Versus rural campuses, net price runs $12,621 below the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway Purdue University Northwest’s published tuition substantially overstates typical undergraduate cost: average net price is about 30% lower after grants and scholarships.
Purdue University Northwest: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Purdue University Northwest—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
In-state tuition
$8,675
Out-of-state tuition
$16,094
Avg. net price
$6,079
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $1,432 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $2,428 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $7,026 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $12,452 |
| $110,001+ | $13,645 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $34,700. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Purdue University Northwest is known for
Top program completions
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse220
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Other214
- Computer Science78
- Psychology, General77
- Business Administration and Management, General76
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 26% of admitted students enrolled.
- Average SAT: 1024
- Midpoint ACT: 23
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Purdue University Northwest a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Purdue University Northwest is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Purdue University Northwest.
Campus
Location
Hammond, IN
City / state
- ZIP
- 46323
- NCES locale
- Rural fringe
Compared with Rural campuses nationally, net price is about 0.3× the median for Rural campuses ($18,700 median).
Control
Institution type
Public
Control
- Region
- Great Lakes
- Carnegie
- Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs
Size
Enrollment
5,671
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 9,211
- Graduate
- 850
- Full-time share
- 81%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$21,229
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 28.06%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Purdue University Northwest.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Purdue University Northwest was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Purdue University Northwest in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2017–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | $7,582 | $17,129 | $10,833 |
| 2018 | $7,691 | $17,367 | $10,605 |
| 2019 | $7,812 | $14,495 | $11,250 |
| 2020 | $7,942 | $14,734 | $11,384 |
| 2021 | $8,057 | $14,948 | $9,477 |
| 2022 | $8,174 | $15,165 | $8,732 |
| 2023 | $8,419 | $15,620 | $8,463 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Average 1024 (middle 50% not reported)
Midpoint 23 (middle 50% not reported)
Scores for enrollees who submitted tests (College Scorecard).
Academic Requirements
Estimated from admission selectivity and test scores. Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
Estimated range · median 3.20
Estimated GPA band from selectivity and test scores — not an official requirement.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Purdue University Northwest reported total enrollment of about 5,671 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 47% male and 53% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (48.2%), Hispanic or Latino (27.0%), and Black or African American (11.5%). About 28.06% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 43.0% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
81.2% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Purdue University Northwest in 2024 is 5,671 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 9,211 students. Graduate enrollment is about 850 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
65.7%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
25.69% 100% Completion Time
42.91% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 25.69% of students graduating from Purdue University Northwest completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 12% male / 88% female
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Other: 16% male / 84% female
- Computer Science: 79% male / 21% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Purdue University Northwest graduates earn a median of $48,318 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Purdue University Northwest.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $48,318. Median federal loan debt: $21,229. Average net price used in cost models: $6,079.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Purdue University Northwest graduates report median earnings of $48,318 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Purdue University Northwest.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (53 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Purdue University Northwest.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Purdue University Northwest graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Purdue University Northwest—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$51.6M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Indiana median 0.62× the median ($83.1M)
- Great Lakes median 1.6× the median ($31.8M)
- U.S. median 2.0× the median ($26.4M)
- Indiana median 0.26× the median ($31,877)
- Great Lakes median 0.50× the median ($16,690)
- U.S. median 0.70× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 98.5%
- Indiana median 22.6 pp above median (75.8%)
- Great Lakes median 40.4 pp above median (58.1%)
- U.S. median 40.5 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $9,864
- Indiana median 1.3× the median ($7,744)
- Great Lakes median 1.2× the median ($8,046)
- U.S. median 1.3× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $10,005
- Indiana median 1.4× the median ($7,011)
- Great Lakes median 1.3× the median ($7,690)
- U.S. median 1.4× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Purdue University Northwest at a glance
Purdue University Northwest
Purdue University Northwest is a public institution in Hammond, IN, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Registered Nursing/Registered NurseRegistered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, OtherComputer Science
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian48.2%Hispanic or Latino27.0%Black or African American11.5%
Schools near Purdue University Northwest
Other campuses in Hammond, IN when available, plus nearby institutions in Indiana.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade C-) within Indiana, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Purdue University Northwest located?
Purdue University Northwest is located in Hammond, IN.
What is Purdue University Northwest's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Purdue University Northwest is 72.4% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 6,394 applicants and 4,516 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Purdue University Northwest's tuition?
Purdue University Northwest tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $8,675 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $6,079 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Purdue University Northwest cost?
Reported tuition is $8,675 and average net price is $6,079 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $8,907 annually.
Why is Purdue University Northwest's net price so much lower than tuition?
At Purdue University Northwest, published tuition is $8,675 while average net price is $6,079—about 30% lower. Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid (College Scorecard). Institutional aid therefore compresses sticker price into a lower typical undergraduate cost signal. The campus average still masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average. EDsmart Data treats the sticker–net gap as an analytical finding, not advice about individual aid offers.
What explains Purdue University Northwest's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($6,079), completion (42.9% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($48,318). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Purdue University Northwest?
Purdue University Northwest reports undergraduate enrollment of about 9,211 students, White (48.2%), Hispanic or Latino (27.0%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Purdue University Northwest?
About 43.0% of students at Purdue University Northwest are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Purdue University Northwest?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Purdue University Northwest reports midpoint SAT about 1024 and midpoint ACT about 23.
What do graduates of Purdue University Northwest earn?
Median earnings are $48,439 six years after entry and $48,318 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Purdue University Northwest?
The 150%-time completion rate is 42.9% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Purdue University Northwest students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $21,229.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.