Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, Purdue University is organized into academic colleges and schools. The Purdue Polytechnic Institute is one of these colleges. The School of Engineering Technology (SoET) is organized within the Purdue Polytechnic Institute.

In the end, SoET graduate students have access to all applicable and appropriate Purdue University courses, faculty, libraries, computing, and laboratories.

The School of Engineering Technology (SoET) is one of several graduate degree programs offered in the Polytechnic Institute. For the latest listing of all of these programs see the web page for Purdue Polytechnic Institute Graduate Degrees.

Additionally, many Purdue graduate programs are offered through other schools and colleges. For a complete list of these programs, see The Graduate School’s Degree and Academic Programs web page.

This option is for graduate students who cannot complete a thesis or directed project, for whatever reason. With the coursework-only option, the plan of study has less flexibility (more required courses), and requires more total credit hours than either the thesis or directed project options. Additionally, the student will be disqualified for any teaching or research assistantships that are funded by the School of Engineering Technology (SoET). 

The School of Engineering Technology (SoET) offers a 3+2 (5 year) plan of study that simultaneously earns both the bachelor and masters degrees. If you are part of the 3+2 program you will want to apply to our graduate program during your third semester of your undergraduate program. 

Yes, the School of Engineering Technology (SoET) program does offer an online M.S degree. For more information, see the Masters in Science of Engineering Technology webpage.

At this time, the School of Engineering Technology (SoET) graduate program does not offer its own Ph.D. degree. However, many SoET faculty participate in the Purdue Polytechnic Institute’s Ph.D. program which offers a Ph.D. in Technology with a Engineering Technology specialization. For information, see the Ph.D. in Technology program web page.

Yes, exceptional applicants for graduate study can be directly admitted to the above Ph.D. program based on their baccalaureate degree credentials, experience, and test scores. The admission requirements are more stringent. For prospective students who know they want to pursue the doctorate, this direct-to-Ph.D. program can make them eligible for financial fellowships that are not available to M.S. degree seeking students.

Tuition differs for Indiana residents, U.S. non-Indiana residents, and international students. The current tuition and fees can be found at the Bursar’s Office web site.

You can estimate your tuition, fees and total living expenses using the Bursar’s Office web-based Tuition Calculator. After opening the fill-in form, select “Technology – Graduate” as your SCHOOL. You can compare costs with and without an assistantship (defined below) by selecting either “Graduate Appointment” (with) or “General Purdue Student” (without) in the “STATUS” drop-down field. The other fields should be self-explanatory.

Yes, but financial support is limited by available funding. Most financial assistance for SoET graduate students is in the form of graduate assistantships and fellowships.

Graduate assistantships typically involve approximately 20 hours of work per week to assist a professor in his/her work. In return, you receive a remission of most tuition, plus a monthly stipend (i.e., salary). You may also purchase medical insurance if you work at least 20 hours per week. In SoET, a specific professor generally awards assistantships based on available funds and the qualifications of applicants. However you may also be able to secure an assistantship outside of your academic program.

The two most common types of assistantships are teaching and research. In SoET, teaching assistantships are limited and usually allocated to the highest enrollment undergraduate courses. The supervising course instructor establishes responsibilities and expectations. SoET research assistantships are also limited since they are usually funded through faculty research grants. The supervising faculty researcher sets responsibilities and expectations.

Graduate fellowships are similar to undergraduate scholarships. They are typically awarded by competition and generally do not require work in return for the award. Fellowships usually provide tuition waivers or scholarships, monthly stipends, and possibly a supplement for purchasing medical insurance. Most internally funded fellowships (meaning, funded by Purdue) are limited to Ph.D. students.

For SoET graduate students, fellowships are usually obtained from the Graduate School, or an outside entity, such as a government agency or philanthropic foundation. The funding source establishes eligibility requirements. Most SoET graduate students must apply for fellowships by completing a separate application.

Assistantship benefits generally include tuition remission, although there is a small graduate staff fee to be paid by the student. There may also be supplemental fees assessed by the university that are not paid for by assistantships (e.g., technology, parking, co-recreational gymnasium use, etc.)

Fellowships generally include tuition waivers or scholarships. Tuition waivers scholarships are in addition to the monthly stipend and other benefits. Again, there may be supplemental fees assessed by the university that are not covered by fellowships.

To be considered for reserach assistantships offered by the SoET program, you must apply directly to the faculty member who is funding the opportunity. You should submit a detailed resume’ or vita. You cannot apply before you have been admitted to the graduate program.

To be considered for a teaching assistantships offered by SoET, you will need to send detailed resume' or vita to nmclelan@purdue.edu 

To be considered for fellowships offered by the Graduate School, you must first be admitted to Purdue. The Graduate School’s Funding Database provides information regarding specific fellowships. In most cases, you must apply for the fellowships.

You must possess a minimum of a 3.00/4.00 GPA (where A = 4.00) in order to be admitted without conditions. The graduate faculty will consider conditional admission with a GPA below 3.00; however, an admission is very rare in cases where the GPA is below 2.75.

It is impossible to predict or guess how likely you are to be admitted to our program. Many factors impact admission decisions, such as the number of applicants, qualifications of other applicants, the number of new students that can be accommodated, and the number of professors that share your research and scholarly interests. All components of the application package, including the application, letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, academic record (i.e., transcripts), test scores, resume/curriculum vitae (CV), and other items required by the graduate program are considered.

No, we cannot predict your chances of admission based on GPA or test scores. Other factors impact admission decisions, such as the number of applicants, qualifications of other applicants, the number of new students that can be accommodated, and the number of professors that share your research and scholarly interests.

No, satisfaction of the minimum criteria does not guarantee graduate admission. Other factors impact admission decisions, such as the number of applicants, qualifications of other applicants, the number of new students that can be accommodated, and the number of professors that share your research and scholarly interests.

It should be noted that failure to satisfy the minimum criteria might lead to automatic denial of admission. Also, failure to submit all required application materials will lead to denial of admission.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Yes, the GRE is required – there are no exceptions. If you have previously taken the GRE, those scores are valid for five years after the year in which you took the test.

No, we currently do not accept GMAT scores as a substitute for GRE scores.

No, you can submit your electronic admission application before you take the GRE test; however, we cannot admit any applicant until we have reviewed the GRE scores

The institutional code for Purdue University at the West Lafayette (main) campus is 1631. The institutional codes for other Purdue campuses are different. See the GRE Requirements web page for the full listing of Purdue campus codes.

The SoET graduate program does not have a minimum required score for the GRE. As a general guideline, GRE scores are expected to be in the upper 50th percentile for unconditional admission.

The overall selection process also considers various information such as prior academic performance, prior work experience, the statement of purpose (for graduate study), letters of recommendation, writing samples, pre-admission test scores, and other relevant information provided as part of a complete admission package as submitted by the applicant.

International degree-seeking applicants whose native language is not English are required to submit scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) unless they have graduated from a university or college that used English as the primary language of instruction.

TOEFL is preferred; however, alternatives include the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), and the Pearson Test of English (PTE).

No, you can submit your electronic admission application before you take the TOEFL exam; however, we cannot admit any international applicant until we have reviewed the TOEFL scores – unless that applicant has earned a degree from an English-speaking university or college.

In summary, the minimum paper-based score required for admission is 550. The minimum Internet-based scores required for admission are:

• Writing 18
• Speaking 18
• Listening 14
• Reading 19
• Total 77

Applicants must exceed each of the five scores listed above. For more information on minimum scores for TOEFL or alternative tests, see the Graduate School’s English Proficiency Requirements web page.

The institutional code for Purdue University at the West Lafayette (main) campus is 1631.

Purdue does NOT accept photocopies of any TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE score reports.

TOEFL, IELTS, and PTE scores are valid for only two years.

The Graduate School routinely waives the English proficiency examination requirement for applicants who have received a baccalaureate, graduate, or professional degree from a U.S. institution within the past 24 months. Applicants who qualify for this waiver of the English proficiency examination should bring this to the attention of the program to which they are applying.

All applicants to our graduate program must complete the Graduate School's online application and pay the non-refundable application fee of $60 (U.S. dollars) for domestic applicants and $75 (U.S. dollars) for international applicants. Detailed instructions and requirements are available on the application and on the Graduate Program Requirements Web page.

It is extremely important to apply to the correct program. If you are interested in our graduate programs, you must specify Engineering Technology on your electronic application form. 

In general, it is suggested that you apply. Applying early has its advantages: more funding opportunities are typically available and more spaces may be available for admission, particularly in competitive programs such as ours.

For maximum consideration, applications and all supporting documentation must be received on or before the deadlines listed below.

We do accept applications for all our graduate programs for spring semester admission.

We only accept applications for our on-campus programs for summer admission, but usually only if the initial faculty advisor works during the summer.

Yes. If you are interested in applying to two or more graduate programs separately, you will be required to create a new application and pay an application fee for each application submitted. If you apply to graduate programs separately, you will have the opportunity to customize your supporting documentation (for example, statement of purpose, recommendations, resume, and fellowship essay) for each program.

You must pay your application fee online with your credit card. Visa and MasterCard cards are accepted and processed using a secured online payment system. Your application will not be processed until your nonrefundable application fee has been paid. Our application fee is $60 (U.S. dollars) for domestic applicants and $75 (U.S. dollars) for international applicants.

For admission to our graduate program, you must submit the following supporting documentation. We will not process your application with all documentation listed as required.

• Required: Official GRE scores, submitted electronically to Purdue University. Use the institution code, 1631.
NOTE: You can apply for admission without the GRE scores; however, the GRE scores must be submitted prior to formal application consideration.
• Required: Original transcripts of all universities and post-secondary institutions attended.
• Required: A detailed, reflective Statement of Purpose highlighting career goals, capabilities to be developed, and a self assessment highlighting both strengths and weaknesses. You may also reflect on any irregularities or special circumstances applicable to your background, or elaborate on your special abilities, awards, achievements, publications, and/or professional history.
• Required: At least three letters of recommendation from faculty or individuals with an earned masters or doctoral degree. These letters should attest to the applicant’s potential for successful graduate study.
• Required: A detailed resume’ or vita that describes your education, work history, significant skills, etc.
• Required: Official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores; only required for international applicants whose first language is not English, or who have not graduated from a university or college using English as the primary language of instruction.
• Recommended: A writing sample that documents a high level of competence in written communication such as a prior thesis, research paper or report, or other significant personally written product.

The Statement of Purpose is extremely important. It is used to match your professional and graduate study interests with those of the graduate faculty. It is also an opportunity to demonstrate your writing skills, both organization of thought and appropriate style and grammar.

For our graduate program, the Graduate School's online application will require you to upload the Statement of Purpose, resume/CV (optional but recommended), and the names of your letters of recommendation providers.

Test scores will be sent to Purdue from the testing agencies, but you must specify the Purdue University West Lafayette campus code, 1631, to make this happen.

Additional supporting documents, such as official transcripts, should be mailed from a registrar's office directly to our office at the following address:

Knoy Hall of Technology
Purdue University

Room 150
 Attention: Niedra McLeland
401 North Grant Street

West Lafayette, IN 47907-2021

USA


You may choose to send the transcript to our office yourself, but such transcripts must be in an envelope sealed by the registrar. Transcripts will not be returned.

Once you submit official transcripts to Purdue University, they become property of the University and will not be returned. We recognize, in very rare instances, that students may have access to only one transcript (or an extremely limited number of transcripts) or other academic credentials. In this instance, you may submit a request (at the time you apply) to preserve your original documents to the graduate program. Requests forwarded to the Graduate School will be considered on a case-by-case basis. For contact information, please visit Graduate Program Requirements web pages.

You may submit your application only once. You will not be able to make changes to your application information using the online application system after submission. The application should be submitted and all required materials should arrive by the appropriate deadline.

Once your application is submitted, you do not have the ability to return and make revisions to your recommendation provider list.

It is preferred that most or all of your letters come from faculty; however, all of your letters must come from individuals who have earned at least the same degree you plan to pursue (e.g., masters or doctorate).

If a complete application has been submitted (meaning, you have completed and submitted the Graduate School's application, paid the application fee, and submitted letters of recommendation, official transcripts, test scores, and any other items required by the program), no additional action is required. Your application status is available through the Graduate School's online application system.

You may check the status of your submitted application by visiting the Graduate School's online application system. We update your application status on that system.

If you have additional questions regarding your application status, please contact our graduate program secretary, Niedra McLeland at: Phone: (765) 494-7484 | Email: nmclelan@purdue.edu

If you have questions regarding receipt of your supporting documentation, please contact our graduate program secretary, Niedra McLeland at: Phone: (765) 494-7484 | Email: nmclelan@purdue.edu

If you have questions regarding receipt of your test scores please contact our graduate program secretary, Niedra McLeland at: Phone: (765) 494-7484 | Email: nmclelan@purdue.edu

You can defer your start date for up to one year. If you want to enroll more than one year later, you must reapply and pay another application fee. Contact our graduate program secretary, Niedra McLeland, to defer your start date: Phone: (765) 494-7484 | Email: nmclelan@purdue.edu

You are classified as an international student if you are not a permanent resident or citizen of the United States.

The current tuition and fees can be found at the Bursar’s Office web site.

Additionally, international students pay a $60 fee each semester to help fund the unique services the University offers to international students, such as immigration regulation advising, cultural/educational programming, SEVIS reporting (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System), and compliance with the United States' government.

Yes, although specific fellowship, assistantship, and other award eligibility may vary, funding is generally available for both domestic and international students.

Purdue University's first and largest campus is located in West Lafayette, Indiana. West Lafayette and its neighboring city, Lafayette, are often referred to as Greater Lafayette. Both cities boast a competitive cost of living that is below the national average, giving graduate students more purchasing power. For more information on Greater Lafayette, visit the Community Information Web page.

Indiana enjoys four distinct seasons each year: winter, spring, summer, and fall. January is typically the coldest month of the year with normal daily maximum temperatures ranging from 31 to 38F. July is the warmest month with daily maximums averaging 80 to 83F. Average annual precipitation ranges from 37-47 inches. For more Indiana climate information, visit the National Climate Data Center web page.

There are a variety of affordable housing options available both on campus and off-campus. Visit our Graduate Student Housing Web page for more information.

The Graduate School provides a walking tour of Purdue's campus at 2:00 pm on the first Friday of every month.  The tour begins at the Purdue Graduate Student Center located at 504 Northwestern Ave.Contact the Graduate School, to sign up for your campus tour.