Scholarships for Purdue University students

The good news is that scholarships can make a meaningful difference. Sallie’s “How America Pays for College 2026” study found that 61% of families used scholarships to help pay for college, with an average of $8,291 received among scholarship users. Even more encouraging, 76% of families using scholarships said the funding made college attendance possible.

At Purdue, students may find scholarships through university merit programs, need-based aid, academic colleges and departments, and outside organizations.

This guide explains how Purdue scholarships work, how to apply, and where to find additional scholarship opportunities that can help lower college costs over time.

If you’re still comparing schools, Purdue University’s profile on Scout College Search can help you explore tuition and cost information, admissions details, majors, and more.

What scholarships are available for Purdue students?

Purdue students can find scholarships from several sources. Some are awarded through the admissions process, while others may come from an academic college or department, Scholarship Universe, or an outside organization.

Merit scholarships

Purdue’s university-wide merit scholarships recognize strong academic achievement and other accomplishments. First-year students who complete their admission application by Purdue’s November 1 Early Action deadline are automatically considered for university-wide merit scholarships.

Purdue uses a holistic review that can include academic performance, course rigor, essays, recommendations, leadership, service, activities, awards, personal experiences, and commitment to the student’s intended academic program.

Need-based aid

Need-based aid is based on a student’s financial circumstances and may include scholarships, grants, Federal Work-Study, and other aid.

Purdue encourages students to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA^®) to be considered for financial aid and scholarship opportunities. Purdue’s FAFSA priority filing date is April 15.

College and departmental scholarships

Some Purdue colleges and departments offer scholarships for students in particular majors or academic programs. Depending on the opportunity, awards may consider academic performance, financial need, leadership, career goals, donor criteria, or other factors.

Application processes and deadlines can vary by college, so students should review the current scholarship instructions for their academic program.

Athletic scholarships

Student-athletes may be eligible for athletic aid based on their sport, eligibility, roster needs, NCAA rules, and coaching decisions. Students should work directly with Purdue Athletics and their coaching staff for current athletic scholarship information.

Private scholarships

Private scholarships can come from employers, nonprofits, community foundations, civic groups, professional associations, religious organizations, and national scholarship programs.

These awards can supplement Purdue financial aid and may help cover education-related expenses, depending on the scholarship’s rules. Tools like Scholly^® Scholarships can help students find private scholarships based on their major, background, interests, and goals.

Purdue merit scholarships

Purdue offers several university-wide merit scholarships for incoming first-year students. These awards are competitive, and requirements can vary.

For the major university-wide merit awards, students should complete all required admission materials by the November 1 Early Action deadline.

Trustees Scholarship

The Trustees Scholarship is one of Purdue’s university-wide merit awards for incoming first-year students. Purdue considers applicants through a holistic review of the admission application.

Recipients must meet Purdue’s academic requirements to remain eligible for renewal.

Presidential Scholarship

The Presidential Scholarship is another competitive university-wide merit award for first-year students.

Students who complete their admission application by November 1 are considered as part of Purdue’s holistic scholarship review.

Indy Scholars

Indy Scholars is available to eligible students who enroll full time at Purdue University in Indianapolis.

Students are considered through Purdue’s first-year scholarship process and must meet the program’s enrollment and renewal requirements.

Lilly Scholars at Purdue Program

The Lilly Scholars at Purdue Program provides full-tuition support to selected eligible students.

The program encourages applications from students from under-resourced urban and rural communities, students who have overcome socioeconomic or educational disadvantages, and students who may be among the first generation in their family to attend college.

National Recognition Programs Scholarship

Eligible domestic students with a National Recognition Programs distinction may be considered for Purdue’s National Recognition Programs Scholarship.

The November 1 date is a priority deadline for this award, and recipients must remain in good academic standing for renewal.

Eligibility requirements

Purdue merit scholarship eligibility can depend on the scholarship, residency, admission application, academic profile, and other program requirements.

• Complete the admission application by November 1 for automatic consideration for university-wide merit scholarships.
• Purdue uses holistic review rather than one GPA or test-score cutoff for its main merit awards.
• Some scholarships have additional eligibility requirements.
• Purdue says about 15% of applicants receive a merit award each year.
• In general, international undergraduate students aren’t eligible for Purdue’s university-wide first-year scholarships.
• Scholarship requirements and availability can change, so review Purdue’s current scholarship information before applying.

Private scholarships for Purdue students

One common scholarship mistake is assuming Purdue scholarships are your only option. Private scholarships can help fill funding gaps and may reduce what you need to borrow or pay out of pocket.

Sallie’s “How America Pays for College 2026” found that 67% of families who didn’t use scholarships said the student never applied. That means many students may miss out on funding simply because they don’t start.

National scholarships

National scholarships may be competitive, but they’re still worth considering if you’re a strong fit. Look for awards connected to your academics, leadership, service, background, interests, identity, career goals, or other experiences.

Indiana scholarships

Purdue students should also look for scholarships from Indiana community foundations, local businesses, civic organizations, nonprofits, employers, and professional groups.

Local and regional awards may have smaller applicant pools than large national scholarships.

Major-specific scholarships

Purdue students may find scholarships connected to engineering, computer science, data science, agriculture, business, nursing, aviation, technology, education, health sciences, and other majors.

If you already know what you want to study, Sallie’s scholarships by major resource can help you narrow your search.

Engineering and STEM scholarships

Purdue students in engineering and other technical fields can also search for outside scholarships tied to engineering, computer science, data science, cybersecurity, mathematics, aviation, and other STEM disciplines.

Professional associations, employers, foundations, and industry organizations can all be good places to look.