Purdue University sees record freshman enrollment numbers, survey points to pandemic response as a key driving factor

The incoming Freshman class at Purdue University's main campus in West Lafayette is 10,191 students, a record breaking number. The increase is in part attributable to the number of out-of-state students enrolling, which grew by three percent from the previous year, the university stated. Purdue surveyed new students to get a clearer understanding of why they chose the university over other options. The survey results found that the university's pandemic response was a leading factor, along with tuition costs and academic prestige. The incoming freshman class is also the most diverse in university history.

The survey conducted by Purdue showed that almost half of respondents said that the approach to the pandemic influenced their decision to accept admission offers. Jay Akridge, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs and diversity, said in a news release, "Through the hard work and persistence of our faculty and staff, and exceptional cooperation of our students, we were able to stay open and deliver a safe residential learning experience despite COVID-19. We continually hear from families and students about our ability to keep tuition affordable and the exceptional quality of our academic programs. Families and students also have shared with us that the success of the Protect Purdue Plan and the way we navigated the first year of the pandemic made their decision to come to Purdue that much easier."

Purdue University has had a tuition freeze in place for a decade. In addition to affordability, Purdue says that incoming students cited academic excellence and the opportunity for hands-on learning as factors in their decision to attend. Graduation rates have also steadily increased, with a record 65 percent of students who started in 2017 graduating with four-year degrees. 

The incoming freshman class is the largest in Purdue's history, and according to Kristina Wong Davis, vice provost for enrollment management, it is also the most diverse. "This year's incoming class is phenomenal. In addition to being the largest, this class is the most diverse and prepared for success in our history. While our application numbers have been high for several years, we were fortunate to have a high yield rate – those students who wanted to make their giant leaps by accepting their Purdue offers," Wong Davis said.

Purdue said in the news release that 12.3% of undergraduates are from minority demographics, with the number of underrepresented minority students increasing by almost 1,600 since 2012.