Admission & test scores

Purdue University SAT scores and acceptance rate

Admitted students scored 1200–1480 on the SAT, with an ACT midpoint of 30. Purdue University admits 50% of applicants — moderately selective. 93% of first-year students return for a second year.

SAT range1200–1480middle half of admits
ACT midpoint30admitted students
Acceptance rate50%moderately selective
First-year retention93%return for year two

Reading the score band These are the scores admitted students had — not a cut-off.

25th percentile
1200
Average
1364
75th percentile
1480

A quarter of admitted students scored below 1200 and a quarter above 1480. Being under the lower figure does not rule you out — it means the rest of the application has to carry more weight — and being above the upper one does not secure a place at a selective university. This intake sits inside a student body of about 44,503.

Universities with similar scores Useful for building a realistic application list.

UniversityAvg SATACTAcceptanceIn-state tuition
Bennington College Bennington, Vermont 1364 — 45% $66,262
Colorado College Colorado Springs, Colorado 1365 — 18% $70,734
Sarah Lawrence College Bronxville, New York 1366 31 62% $66,862
Rhodes College Memphis, Tennessee 1362 30 50% $57,110
Florida State University Tallahassee, Florida 1361 28 24% $5,656
Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles, California 1359 30 45% $62,357

Getting in is the first question, not the last

Admission data says nothing about what the degree costs or returns. Before accepting an offer, read the net price for your family's income and the earnings of previous graduates — a place at a selective university financed with heavy borrowing can be a worse outcome than a place at a less selective one that costs little.

Purdue University admission: common questions

What SAT score do you need for Purdue University?
The middle half of admitted students scored between 1200 and 1480 on the SAT, with an average of 1364. A score inside that band is competitive; below it you would be relying on the rest of the application.
What ACT score does Purdue University require?
The ACT midpoint of admitted students is 30.
How hard is it to get into Purdue University?
Purdue University admits 50% of applicants, which is moderately selective. Of those who enrol, 93% return for a second year.
Does Purdue University require SAT or ACT scores?
This page reports what admitted students scored, not what the university requires. Many US universities went test-optional and have not returned to a requirement — always check the admissions page before deciding to skip a test.
What it costs Student loan record Debt vs graduate salary Highest SAT universities Highest acceptance rates SAT & ACT preparation

Source: US Department of Education College Scorecard — SAT/ACT scores of admitted students, acceptance rate and first-year retention as most recently published. Scores describe past intakes and are not an entry requirement.