Is Purdue test optional?

No. Purdue requires an SAT or ACT score from every applicant.

What is Purdue's acceptance rate?

50% of applicants were admitted in 2025–26, according to the college's Common Data Set or, where that's missing, IPEDS, the federal college survey. In fall 2024, 39,272 of 78,745 applicants were admitted. Applications rose 74%, from 45,264 in 2015 to 78,745 in 2024, and Purdue's admit rate went from 59% to 50%.

What ACT score do you need for Purdue?

23% of first-year students sent an ACT, and they scored 28–34, with a median of 32. On the official ACT–SAT concordance, their SAT range of 1220–1470 works out to about 25–33.

What GPA do you need for Purdue?

There's no published cutoff. First-year students averaged a 3.81 high school GPA, per the Common Data Set 2025–26. Colleges compute GPA differently, so compare it loosely.

How many students get off the waitlist at Purdue?

3,916 of the 4,047 students who stayed on the waitlist were admitted, or 97%, per the Common Data Set 2025–26.

All colleges

What SAT score do you need for Purdue? (Middle 50%: 1220–1470)

First-year students at Purdue who sent an SAT scored 1220–1470, with a median of 1360 (Common Data Set 2025–26). Purdue admits 50% of applicants and requires the SAT or ACT.

Purdue University-Main Campus · West Lafayette, IN

Where your score lands at Purdue

First-year students who sent an SAT: 1220–1470, median 1360

Your score

Middle 50% of admitted students Median

Enter your SAT or ACT to see which tier Purdue is for you and whether to send your score.

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Purdue by the numbers

Admit rate: 50%
Middle 50% SAT: 1220–1470
Median SAT: 1360
About on the ACT: 25–33
Sent an SAT: 84%

Test required · checked Nov 9, 2026 · Purdue admissions · SAT range from the Common Data Set, 2025–26; admit rate from it or IPEDS

Purdue admit rate over 10 years

Applications rose 74%, from 45,264 in 2015 to 78,745 in 2024, and Purdue's admit rate went from 59% to 50%.

Show the numbers

Fall	Applied	Admitted	Admit rate
2024	78,745	39,272	50%
2023	73,083	36,763	50%
2022	68,582	36,146	53%
2021	59,436	40,898	69%
2020	57,510	38,619	67%
2019	55,311	33,093	60%
2018	53,722	31,146	58%
2017	49,354	28,363	57%
2016	49,007	27,427	56%
2015	45,264	26,692	59%

In fall 2024, 11,467 of the 39,272 admitted students enrolled. Applicants and admits from IPEDS, the federal college survey, by fall of entry.

What each SAT score means at Purdue

Which tier your score puts them in, and whether it's worth sending.

Your SATTierSend it?

Under 1170Far reachRequired
1170–1210ReachRequired
1220 and upTargetRequired

1000110012001300140015001600

Tiers here use only your SAT and their admit rate. Essays, activities and recommendations still decide most admissions at selective colleges.

Purdue SAT sections, ACT and GPA

Scores of enrolled first-year students who sent one, by percentile.

Test	25th	Median	75th
SAT Math	600	680	760
SAT Reading and Writing	610	670	730
SAT total	1220	1360	1470
ACT composite	28	32	34

Of enrolled first-year students, 84% sent an SAT and 23% sent an ACT. Common Data Set 2025–26.

Average high school GPA: 3.81; 93% of new students reported one

Purdue waitlist

Waitlist

8,981 applicants were offered a spot, 4,047 took it, and 3,916 were admitted from it.

97%of students who stayed on the waitlist got in

Common Data Set 2025–26.

Purdue cost and outcomes

What students pay after grants, how many finish, and what they earn.

Average net price: $14,600; per year, after grants
Graduate in 6 years: 83%
Median earnings: $72,424; 10 years after starting
Undergraduates: 47,246

College Scorecard, 2022–23, from the US Department of Education. Net price averages federal-aid students across family incomes.

Colleges like Purdue

Similar SAT ranges and admit rates.

More colleges in Indiana

Every college for an SAT of1220 1360 1470

Sources

Purdue Common Data Set 2025–26
SAT and ACT ranges, early decision, waitlist, GPA and class rank, as the college reported them.
College Navigator (IPEDS)
Applications, admissions and enrollment by year, from the federal college survey.
College Scorecard
Net price, graduation rate and earnings, from the US Department of Education.
Purdue admissions
Test policy for 2026–27, checked Nov 9, 2026.
Purdue website
Purdue University-Main Campus

Updated Nov 9, 2026. Spot a number that's off? Email support@tryashore.com and we'll check it against the source.

Questions

Still have a question? support@tryashore.com

There's no cutoff. The middle 50% of first-year students who sent an SAT scored 1220–1470, and the median was 1360. At 1360 or higher you're above half of them. Purdue admits 50% of applicants.

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SAT Math · 1 of 5

Calculator allowed

A jacket's price is increased by 20% and then the new price is decreased by 20%. The final price is what percent of the original price?

A $96\%$
B $100\%$
C $104\%$
D $80\%$