Purdue First-Year Scholarships for Domestic Students
Purdue University offers first-year scholarships based on academic merit and financial need. Domestic students who complete their admission application by the relevant deadlines can receive automatic consideration for university-wide merit scholarships. Additional opportunities may be available through Purdue colleges and Scholarship Universe.
Quick Overview
Programme: Purdue First-Year Scholarships
Institution: Purdue University
Opportunity Type: Merit-based and need-based scholarships
Eligible Applicants: Domestic first-year students
University-Wide Merit Deadline: 1 November
Departmental Scholarship Priority Deadline: 15 December
Priority FAFSA Filing Date: 15 April
About Purdue First-Year Scholarships
Purdue University awards first-year scholarships based on academic merit and financial need. The university-wide merit scholarships use a holistic review of the information submitted with the admission application.
Students who complete all required admission application items by the 1 November Early Action deadline are automatically considered for university-wide merit scholarships.
The total value of a merit scholarship may vary according to residency. Scholarship amounts may also be adjusted if the student’s total financial aid package exceeds Purdue’s cost of attendance.
University-Wide Scholarship Options
Trustees Scholarship
The Trustees Scholarship provides:
✓ USD 16,000 per year for nonresidents
✓ USD 10,000 per year for Indiana residents
The deadline is 1 November. The scholarship is awarded through holistic review and can be renewed with a Purdue GPA of 3.00 or higher.
Presidential Scholarship
The Presidential Scholarship provides:
✓ USD 10,000 per year for nonresidents
✓ USD 4,000 per year for Indiana residents
Applicants must meet the firm 1 November deadline. The scholarship is renewable with a Purdue GPA of at least 3.00.
Indy Scholars
The Indy Scholars award provides:
✓ At least USD 10,000 per year
Applicants must complete their admission application by 1 November. Recipients must accept their admission offer and enroll as full-time students in Indianapolis. The scholarship can be renewed with a Purdue GPA of 3.00 or higher.
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Lilly Scholars at Purdue Program
The Lilly Scholars at Purdue Program provides:
✓ Full tuition
The programme encourages applications from students from under-resourced urban and rural populations. This includes students who have overcome socioeconomic or educational disadvantages and first-generation college students.
The application deadline is 1 November. Scholars must maintain a Purdue GPA of at least 3.00 for renewal.
National Recognition Programs Scholarship
The National Recognition Programs Scholarship provides:
✓ USD 1,000 per year
The priority deadline is 1 November. Applicants must hold a National Recognition Programs distinction. The scholarship is renewable with good academic standing and is available only to domestic students.
How Purdue Reviews Merit Scholarship Candidates
Purdue uses a holistic review process for university-wide merit scholarships. Factors may include:
• Information submitted by the applicant’s high school
• Grades in core academic subjects
• The strength of the high school curriculum
• Grades in courses relevant to the intended major
• The admission essay and Purdue-specific questions
• SAT or ACT scores, if submitted
• A recommendation, if submitted
• Commitment to the selected academic programme
• Leadership, service, activities, accomplishments, and awards
• Personal background and experiences
Scholarships are competitive. Purdue states that approximately 15 percent of applicants receive a merit award each year.
College-Based Scholarships
Many Purdue colleges award scholarships based on merit, financial need, or a combination of both.
Some colleges use the Departmental Scholarship Application to identify eligible students. This application is available through Scholarship Universe and has a 15 December priority deadline.
New incoming students can log in to Scholarship Universe using the Admissions Application Portal Login option. Access may become available two to three business days after submitting the admissions application.
FAFSA Deadlines
Students seeking scholarships with a financial need component should submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
• Submit the FAFSA by 15 December for consideration for need-based scholarships awarded by specific academic departments.
• Submit the FAFSA by Purdue’s 15 April priority filing date for federal aid, state aid for Indiana residents, and university-wide need-based scholarships and grants.
The FAFSA opens on or before 1 October.
Eligibility for Domestic Students
The scholarships described on the Purdue page are available only to domestic students.
Domestic students include:
• United States citizens
• United States nationals
• Permanent resident aliens
• Aliens lawfully present in the United States who can establish domicile under federal immigration laws
International students holding F, J, and certain other visa types are not eligible. Purdue also states that international undergraduate students are generally not eligible for financial aid, including scholarships.
Scholarship Renewal
University-wide scholarships can provide up to four years, or eight semesters, of eligibility while a student pursues a first undergraduate degree.
To receive and maintain a Purdue scholarship, recipients must:
• Enroll in the academic year for which the scholarship was awarded.
• Remain continuously enrolled at Purdue.
• Meet or exceed the renewal requirements for the individual scholarship.
