Purdue University Global

About Purdue University Global

Purdue Global is a distinct degree-granting institution within the wider Purdue system. Official ownership information identifies it as an Indiana public-benefit corporation, a public postsecondary institution affiliate, and a nonprofit entity controlled by the Trustees of Purdue University. It is therefore different from Purdue University’s residential flagship campus, even though both belong to the same system. The institution officially began operating as Purdue Global in 2018 after Purdue acquired Kaplan University’s institutional operations and assets. Its earlier educational lineage extends to the American Institute of Commerce, but 2018 is the appropriate founding year for the university under its current identity. Purdue Global remains operational and institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission; the commission’s 2023 action continued accreditation and scheduled the next comprehensive reaffirmation for 2032–33. The university’s defining feature is online delivery aimed at students balancing education with other responsibilities. Courses, library resources, advising, tutoring, technical assistance, student organizations, and career support are accessible remotely. This model can broaden geographic access and reduce the need to relocate, but it also requires comfort with technology, independent scheduling, written online interaction, and sustained self-management. Some degrees are not completely location-independent because professional programs may include clinical placements, practicums, internships, externships, or licensure-related requirements. Applicants should verify program availability and authorization for the state or country where they will study before committing.

Purdue Global uses an application process built around program eligibility rather than a single institution-wide selective-admissions profile. The online application has applicants create an account, provide prior-education information, select a program, identify funding plans, review the information, and submit a signed application. There is no application fee on the current application page. After submission, an Admissions Advisor reviews the file and provides the relevant next steps. Undergraduate applicants generally must document high school graduation, a GED, or another recognized secondary-school equivalency. Admission to a master’s degree or graduate certificate normally requires a bachelor’s degree, while doctoral and postgraduate certificate study requires a master’s degree. Official transcripts are required to confirm qualifying prior degrees, and individual programs may impose additional academic, professional, background-check, health, or state-specific conditions. Applicants should consult the precise catalog page for their intended program rather than relying only on the general rules. International applicants must satisfy the general standards and additional international requirements. English proficiency may be established through qualifying English-medium education or approved evidence. For applicants using tests, the official international admissions page currently lists undergraduate minimums including TOEFL iBT 71 and IELTS 6.0 with no band below 5.5; graduate minimums include TOEFL iBT 80 and IELTS 6.5 with no band below 5.5. Tests must have been taken within two years of application. Not every program is available internationally, particularly in regulated fields, and applicants affected by sanctions or placement requirements face additional restrictions.

The 2025–26 academic catalog lists undergraduate and graduate offerings across the School of Business and Information Technology, School of Health Sciences, School of Multidisciplinary and Professional Studies, School of Nursing, and College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. Available credentials include bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees, alongside associate degrees, certificates, and Purdue Global Law School programs. Examples in the current catalog include bachelor’s study in analytics, applied computer science, health science, human services, information technology, nursing, psychology, professional flight, and sustainability; graduate options include business administration, health care administration, health informatics, nursing, professional studies, public health, and psychology. Doctoral offerings listed in current tuition material include education, business administration, health science, and nursing programs. Most programs use an online, term-based format. Online classes can include seminars, discussion boards, quizzes, instructor feedback, and access to digital library collections. Selected programs also use ExcelTrack, a self-paced, competency-oriented format with flat per-term tuition. Because format availability varies by subject, students should confirm whether their intended program is offered through traditional online courses, ExcelTrack, or another structure. Prior learning and transfer credit may shorten some programs, but credit recognition is evaluated under university policy and should not be assumed before an official review. Some bachelor’s students can pursue graduate program pathways that apply eligible graduate coursework toward undergraduate requirements. Professional and licensure-oriented degrees deserve particular scrutiny: clinical, practicum, externship, flight, and other experiential components may require an approved placement, and completing a program does not by itself establish eligibility for professional licensure in every jurisdiction.

Key Highlights

• Public, nonprofit institution controlled by the Trustees of Purdue University
• Operating under the Purdue Global name since 2018
• Institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
• Designed primarily around online study for working adults

Student Life & Environment

Student life is organized for a geographically dispersed online population. Rather than relying on residence halls or a physical student center, Purdue Global provides virtual professional learning communities, clubs, honor societies, and other student organizations. These groups give students ways to meet peers and faculty, discuss shared academic or professional interests, practice leadership, and build networks beyond individual courses. Academic support is also delivered remotely. Students can use online library collections and research assistance, technical support, advising, and Academic Success Centers offering no-cost help in mathematics, science, and writing. Student Accessibility Services coordinates access for students with disabilities. The university’s catalog also describes a confidential third-party Student Assistance Program for active students and their dependents. This environment may suit students who prefer flexible, digitally mediated participation, but it is materially different from residential university life. Community depends on choosing to join online groups, attend virtual activities, and communicate consistently. Students seeking athletics, residence-based social life, or daily in-person campus activity should not assume that the West Lafayette address provides access to the experience of Purdue University’s flagship campus.

Location & Surroundings

Purdue Global lists its main university address at 2550 Northwestern Avenue, Suite 1100, West Lafayette, Indiana. That address is important for accreditation and administration, but it should not be interpreted as a conventional residential campus for Purdue Global students. The institution serves students primarily online, allowing many learners to participate without moving to Indiana or commuting to West Lafayette. For an online applicant, the practical study location is usually the student’s own home or workplace. A reliable computer, suitable software, dependable internet access, and a quiet schedule therefore matter more than proximity to the administrative office. Students should also account for their local time zone when attending scheduled online activities. Geographic flexibility is not unlimited. Programs involving clinical education, practicums, internships, externships, professional flight, or other hands-on work can require approved experiences in a student’s area. State authorization, professional licensing rules, and international availability can also restrict enrollment. Applicants should have the university confirm that their exact program is available where they reside and determine who is responsible for arranging any local placement.

Costs & Career Outcomes

Tuition varies substantially by level, program, delivery format, and eligibility for a reduced rate. The official schedule published July 1, 2026 lists standard online undergraduate tuition at $371 per quarter credit hour. Most master’s programs and graduate certificates cost $420 per quarter credit hour, while specified business and health-administration programs cost $485. Doctoral tuition ranges by program and, for the Doctor of Health Science, by course type. Students should use the university’s program-specific tuition finder because total price depends on required credits, transfer or prior-learning credit, pace, prerequisites, and repeated courses. Additional charges can be important. Standard undergraduate students generally pay a $345 resource fee per term, while standard graduate students generally pay $295, subject to stated exemptions or reductions. Undergraduate textbooks are included in tuition, but graduate books, program-specific fees, technology, and indirect living costs may add to the budget. ExcelTrack uses flat per-term pricing for eligible programs, and separate reductions exist for qualifying Indiana residents and military groups. Financial aid eligibility and special-rate rules vary, so comparisons should use net cost rather than the advertised base rate alone. Career support is available to current degree-seeking students and eligible graduates. Services include career planning, résumé review, interview preparation, job-search resources, employer events, and access to an online CareerNetwork. These resources can assist a search, but the university does not guarantee employment, promotion, licensure, or salary outcomes. Prospective students should compare the curriculum and jurisdictional licensing rules with the requirements of specific roles before enrolling.