Purdue SAT & ACT Score Requirements: What You Need to Get In (2026)

Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana is one of the country's most selective public engineering and computer science schools, with a Boilermaker reputation built on hands-on STEM education and a distinguished alumni list that includes 30 NASA astronauts. If you are aiming for Purdue, your test score is doing real work in the application: Purdue ended its short test-optional experiment and now requires SAT or ACT scores for first-year applicants again, with hardship exceptions only.

This guide walks you through the SAT and ACT ranges for admitted Boilermakers, the deadlines that matter, the merit scholarships you are auto-considered for, and where your score realistically needs to land if engineering or computer science is on your application.

Purdue SAT Score Requirements

Purdue's most recent admitted class profile shows a middle 50 percent SAT range of 1210 to 1470, with an average composite of roughly 1350. That puts a 1350 in the comfortable middle of admitted students, while a 1470 lands you in the top quartile. Purdue super-scores the SAT, meaning if you take the test more than once, the school combines your highest section scores across testing dates.

If you are applying to engineering, computer science, or another competitive major, treat the upper half of the range as the practical target. Purdue's College of Engineering and Department of Computer Science draw far more qualified applicants than they can admit, and a 1400+ keeps your file out of the borderline pile.

Working on Math is usually the highest-leverage move for engineering applicants. Our SAT Math practice section drills the algebra and advanced math content that Purdue's admit pool tends to score well on, and our SAT score calculator lets you see how many additional questions you need to hit a target like 1400 or 1500.

Purdue ACT Score Requirements

The ACT range tells the same story. The middle 50 percent of admitted Boilermakers scored between 27 and 34, with an average composite of roughly 31. A 31 puts you near the median; a 34 lands you in the top quartile. Like the SAT, Purdue super-scores the ACT, so taking the test more than once and reporting the best section scores from each sitting works in your favor.

For engineering, computer science, and other competitive majors, aim for 32 or higher. The ACT Math and Science sections matter most for these applicants, and our ACT Math prep and ACT Science prep sections target exactly that content.

If you are still deciding which test to take, our SAT vs ACT comparison walks through how the two tests differ in pacing, content emphasis, and which one tends to favor different student profiles.

Test Required Again at Purdue

For the 2025 to 2026 admissions cycle (Fall 2026 entry), Purdue requires SAT or ACT scores from all first-year applicants. The university dropped its pandemic-era test-optional policy and rejoined the growing list of selective schools that have reinstated testing. Purdue lists hardship exceptions for applicants who genuinely could not take a test, but those are evaluated case by case and should not be your default plan.

Practical takeaways:

• Plan to test by the fall of senior year so your scores are in well before the November 1 priority deadline.
• Take the test at least twice if your first score is below the 75th percentile. Purdue super-scores, so a second sitting can only help.
• If you are deciding between SAT and ACT, take a real practice test of each. Some students score noticeably higher on one over the other, and that gap can be worth a lot of admissions weight.

Purdue Acceptance Rate and Major Selectivity

Purdue's overall acceptance rate has hovered around 50 percent in recent cycles, but that headline number hides huge variation by major. Engineering, computer science, aviation flight, and nursing run far more selective than the all-school number suggests. Liberal arts and some agricultural majors are easier to break into than the headline rate makes them sound.

Purdue admits to a specific major rather than the university at large, and switching into engineering or CS after enrollment is competitive. Apply directly to the major you actually want.

Purdue Application Deadlines

Purdue uses Early Action and Regular Decision, both non-binding. Either deadline puts your file in the same admitted class, but the November 1 deadline carries weight beyond convenience.

Why November 1 matters even if you do not need an early answer:

• Merit scholarship consideration. The Trustees and Presidential Scholarships only consider applicants who finish their file by November 1.
• John Martinson Honors College. Honors review uses the early-action pool.
• Competitive majors. Engineering, computer science, aviation flight, and nursing all treat November 1 as a priority deadline. Applying RD to these majors leaves you fighting for fewer remaining seats.

Purdue accepts both the Common Application and the institution's own application; either is fine and there is no admissions advantage to one over the other.

Merit Scholarships at Purdue

Purdue automatically considers every November 1 applicant for its two flagship merit awards. There is no separate scholarship application for these.

Both awards are renewable for four years if you maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA. Decisions go out after January 15. To stay in the running, applicants generally need scores in or above the 75th percentile range (1470+ SAT or 34+ ACT) plus a strong GPA in a rigorous high school course load.

Cost of Attendance

For 2025 to 2026, in-state Indiana tuition and fees come out to about $9,992 per year, with room and board adding roughly $13,720. That is among the lowest sticker prices for any top-50 ranked university in the country, and Purdue has held in-state tuition flat for over a decade. Out-of-state tuition runs significantly higher (about $28,000), which is where merit scholarships like the $16,000 Trustees award genuinely move the needle.

How to Hit Your Target Score

If your current score is 100 or more points below the 75th percentile, the gap is closeable with a focused 8 to 12 weeks of prep, but only if your practice is targeted, not random.

• Diagnose first. A full-length practice SAT or ACT under real timing tells you exactly which question types are losing you the most points. Most students discover that two or three categories are responsible for the majority of their wrong answers.
• Drill the high-yield categories. For engineering or CS applicants, that almost always means SAT Math's advanced math section or ACT Math's pre-algebra and algebra questions. Our SAT Math drills and ACT Math drills let you grind through hundreds of these by category.
• Review your wrong answers more than you do new questions. The reason a question was hard is the lesson; finding new questions just reveals more of the same hard reasons.
• Take a second sitting. Because Purdue super-scores, retesting is a low-risk way to improve your composite. Most students see their best score on attempt two or three.

If you want a sense of how realistic your target is, our SAT score calculator shows how many raw points stand between your current performance and a 1400 or 1500.

Should You Apply to Purdue If Your Score Is Below the 25th Percentile?

If your composite is below 1210 SAT or 27 ACT, applying is still worth it, but be honest about what your application needs to overcome. The students admitted with scores below the 25th percentile typically have at least one of: a stand-out GPA in the most rigorous courses your school offers, deep technical or research experience (Olympiad placement, published research, USACO Gold or higher), recruited athletics, or significant first-generation or socioeconomic context.

For comparison with other selective Big Ten and engineering programs, see our guides on the Ohio State SAT and ACT requirements and University of Michigan SAT and ACT requirements. Different selectivity, similar Boilermaker-vs-Wolverine-vs-Buckeye decision space.

Frequently Asked Questions About Purdue SAT and ACT Requirements

What is the minimum SAT score for Purdue?

Purdue does not publish a minimum SAT score, but the 25th percentile of admitted students is 1210. Scoring below that range is possible to overcome only with very strong other parts of the application. For competitive majors like engineering or computer science, aim for 1400 or higher.

What is the minimum ACT score for Purdue?

The 25th percentile ACT for admitted students is 27, with the average around 31. For engineering and computer science applicants, 32 or higher is the practical target.

Does Purdue require the SAT or ACT?

Yes, for the 2025 to 2026 admissions cycle (Fall 2026 entry) Purdue requires SAT or ACT scores from all first-year applicants. Hardship exceptions exist but are evaluated case by case.

Does Purdue super-score the SAT and ACT?

Yes. Purdue super-scores both tests, combining your highest section scores across multiple testing dates. Taking the test more than once can only help your reported composite.

What GPA do I need for Purdue?

Purdue does not publish an official cutoff, but admitted students typically have unweighted GPAs in the 3.7 to 4.0 range, taken in a rigorous course load that includes honors and AP work in math and science.

When are Purdue's application deadlines?

Early Action is November 1, with decisions released by January 15. Regular Decision is January 15, with decisions released by March 31. November 1 is also the priority deadline for merit scholarships, the Honors College, and competitive majors like engineering and computer science.

How do I qualify for the Trustees or Presidential Scholarship at Purdue?

Submit your application by November 1. There is no separate application. Awards go out after January 15. To stay competitive for these scholarships, scores in the 75th percentile range (1470+ SAT or 34+ ACT) and a strong GPA in a rigorous high school program are typically expected.

Is Purdue a good school for engineering?

Yes. Purdue's College of Engineering is consistently ranked in the top 10 for undergraduate engineering by U.S. News, with particularly strong programs in aerospace, mechanical, and industrial engineering. The school has graduated 30 astronauts, including Neil Armstrong and Gene Cernan.

Should I apply to Purdue Early Action?

Yes if you can. Early Action is non-binding, gives you a January 15 decision, and is required for merit scholarship and Honors College consideration. The only reason to wait for Regular Decision is if you genuinely need the extra time to raise your test score or grades.