Freshman Scholarships
Purdue awards freshman scholarships based on academic merit as well as financial need. For maximum consideration, students must meet admission and financial aid deadlines. See important steps for maximum scholarship consideration.
Financial-Need-Based University-Wide Scholarships
The Purdue Division of Financial Aid administers need-based aid from federal, state and Purdue funding sources. To be considered for these scholarships and grants, you must submit a FAFSA by the University’s priority filing date, April 15. The FAFSA is available beginning October 1.
See Important Notes below.
College-Based Scholarships
Many Purdue colleges have need- and merit-based scholarships they award to students admitted to their programs. To be considered:
- Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to Purdue West Lafayette by December 15.
- In addition, some Purdue colleges use the Supplemental Scholarship Application to identify recipients for awards with very specific criteria. Colleges include Education, Health and Human Sciences, and the Polytechnic Institute. This application is available via the Purdue application portal now and must be completed by December 15.
University-Wide Merit Scholarships
Freshman merit scholarships are awarded based on a holistic review of all information provided via the admission application. Factors considered include:
- Grades in core academic coursework and strength of your high school curriculum (in the context of courses available at your school)
- Grades in coursework that is critical to success in your intended major
- Application essay and Purdue-specific questions
- SAT or ACT score
- Recommendation (if provided)
- Evidence of commitment to the academic program to which you applied
- Evidence of leadership, service, and other accomplishments; activities, and awards
- Personal background and experiences
- Information provided by your high school
Descriptions of University-Wide Scholarships
| Key: | Value 1 | Deadline 2 | Criteria | Notification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trustees Scholarship |
$16,000 per year (nonresidents) $10,000 per year (Indiana residents) |
November 1 (firm) |
Holistic review3 – Exceptional academic achievement; leadership and service in school/community Renewable4 with Purdue GPA of 3.00 or higher |
Included with Admission Decision |
| PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLARSHIP |
$10,000 per year (nonresidents) $4,000 per year (Indiana residents) |
November 1 (firm) |
Holistic review3 – High academic achievement; leadership and service in school/community Renewable4 with Purdue GPA of 3.00 or higher |
Included with Admission Decision |
| Lilly Scholars at Purdue Program | Full tuition. Learn more about Lilly Scholars at Purdue. | November 1 (firm). |
Holistic review3 – priority access is given to students who are underrepresented in Purdue’s student population, have overcome socioeconomic or educational disadvantages, or are among the first generation in their family to attend college.
Renewable4 with Purdue GPA of 3.00 or higher |
Included with Admission Decision |
| PURDUE PROMISE (INDIANA 21ST CENTURY SCHOLARS ONLY) | Financial aid package that includes gift aid and work-study to meet the student's full financial need | November 1 (priority) |
Income-eligible 21st Century Scholars (family income of $50,000 or less – student and parent) FAFSA filed by March 1 Renewable4 with continued eligibility for 21st Century Scholars and participation in Purdue Promise support programs |
In financial aid package (notifications sent beginning mid March) |
| NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP | $500 per year | November 1 (priority) |
College Sponsored National Merit Finalist; list Purdue as first-choice institution Renewable4 with good academic standing Only domestic students are eligible |
|
| NATIONAL RECOGNITION PROGRAMS SCHOLARSHIP | $1,000 per year | November 1 (priority) |
National Recognition Programs recognition Renewable4 with good academic standing Only domestic students are eligible |
|
1 The value of merit scholarships may be adjusted if a student's overall financial aid package exceeds the standard cost of education at Purdue. The value of need-based scholarships may be adjusted to prevent award packages that exceed financial need.
2 To meet a scholarship deadline, a student's admission application must be complete.
3 Holistic review includes consideration of all information provided with the admission application – academic information, essay, recommendations, additional personal information, etc.
4 Students may receive renewable scholarships for up to four academic years of continuous, full-time enrollment.
Purdue scholarships are highly competitive - each year about 15% of applicants receive a merit award. Awards are based on credentials and information presented at the time of application for admission and are nonnegotiable. Purdue does not match offers from other institutions and does not consider appeals for merit aid.
Only domestic students are eligible for the scholarships described above. Domestic students include U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, permanent resident aliens, and aliens lawfully present in and able to establish domicile in the United States per federal immigration laws. International students who hold F, J, and some other visa types are not eligible.
Scholarship criteria are nonnegotiable and subject to change without notice.
To receive and maintain their Purdue scholarship, recipients must:
- enroll in the academic year for which the scholarship was awarded
- remain continuously enrolled at Purdue
- meet or exceed individual scholarship renewability requirements
- remain in the Purdue college or school to which they were originally admitted until the end of the third week of the fall semester.