Purdue University-Calumet Campus

Purdue University-Calumet Campus Academics

Purdue University Calumet opened in Hammond, Indiana in 1946. Since 1951 Purdue University Calumet in Calumet, Indiana has been offering classes at its current site, and by 1967 Purdue University Calumet (PUC) had awarded its first two-year degree. Set just 25 miles southeast of downtown Chicago, and three miles east of the Illinois border, this public university awards its more than 10,000 students Purdue baccalaureate degrees, master’s degrees, and professional certificates. Students elect from just short of 100 different fields of study, and many elect to enter traditionally strong Purdue programs like engineering technologies, professional programs of nursing, management/business & education, natural, behavioral & social sciences, communications, and liberal arts. There is an emphasis on combining classroom and applied learning to give students an experiential learning experience. Internship, cooperative education, research study abroad, service learning, practica, and design projects are all encouraged for undergraduate students. PUC makes a point of emphasizing current research amongst its professors, and maintains a 23-to-1 student to faculty ratio.

Purdue University Calumet celebrates its ethnic diversity and international student body, with more than 600 international students enrolled per academic year. This goes hand in hand with its community involvement, giving both international and local students the opportunity to get involved with area partner organizations like the Energy Efficiency & Reliability Center, the Indiana Center for Evidence-Based Nursing Practice, the Center for Global Studies, the Institute for Social and Policy Research, the Center for Innovation through Visualization and Simulation, and the Northwest Indiana Small Business Development Center.

At the graduate level, the Graduate School at Purdue University Calumet offers programs which cater to not only graduate students but their employers. PUC graduate courses target a wide variety of career paths and ages. Masters degrees and programs of graduate student are offered in accountancy, biology, communication, education, engineering, English, history, Masters of business administration, mathematics, nursing and the new technology program.

Purdue University-Calumet Campus Admissions

Students wishing to apply to Purdue University Calumet may fill out an application online, download a paper application, or request that a paper application be sent in the mail. Next, students should complete the financial aid process, and wait to receive a letter of acceptance. After meeting with the student’s academic advisor, he or she should register for classes, and elect a payment option.

Degree-seeking applicants to Graduate School master’s degree or educational specialist degree programs must apply online for months before the start of the semester for which they wish to enroll and pay the application fee. Applicants must then send their specific department three letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, two official transcripts for all college and university work completed, any further departmental requirements, and GRE or GMAT results as required by department.

Basic criteria for admissions into any graduate program are a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, a graduation index of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, academic ability for graduate work, and completion of any additional departmental requirements.

Purdue University-Calumet Campus Financial Aid

When undergraduate students submit their applications to Purdue University Calumet, they may already qualify for certain academic scholarships, especially high achieving high school students from the state of Illinois. Such students may earn up to $30,000 by meeting certain standards through a Chancellor’s Scholarship, a Best & Brightest Scholarship, or an Honors Scholarship including funding to study abroad.

Scholarships that do require separate application include, but are not limited to the Strack & VanTil Scholarship, the Christenson Chevrolet Scholarship, the Legends Scholarship, the Paul Danko Memorial Scholarship and the School of Management Merit Scholarship Application.

Students wishing to apply for financial aid should request a PIN and completed and submit the FAFSA. This will give the student the opportunity to earn federal, state, and institutional financial aid, like grants, loans, need-based scholarships, work-study opportunities, and partial fee remissions. Students may also qualify for aid under the State Student Assistance Commission of Indiana, and should contact a financial aid counselor directly to determine eligibility.

Purdue University-Calumet Campus Students

Students at Purdue University Calumet enjoy a wide range of student activities and participate in many student clubs and organizations like the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the Amateur Radio Society, the Fine Arts Student Association, Los Latinos, the Nursing Club, Psi Chi, the Student Employee Organization, and the Secular Student Alliance. Students read and/or contribute to the PUC student newspaper The Chronicle. To just get together, relax and hang out, PUC students head to the Game Room inside the Student Union & Library Building’s TV Lounge.

To get some much needed studying done, students take advantage of the library’s Study Central space featuring special facilities and extended hours. Study Central amenities include Wi-Fi internet, computer labs, a dining area with group study spaces, small group meeting spaces, open classrooms, copy machines, vending machines and an ATM machine.

For other types of support, students turn to Student Support Services, offering tutoring, academic counseling, financial literacy resources, referrals, workshops, reading & writing assistance, study skills & test anxiety assistance, and computer readiness training.

As a residential campus, Purdue University Calumet offers apartment-style, private bedroom housing for nearly 400 students. Students should contact the Housing & Residential Education Office if wishing to stay in the University Village. Housing is fully furnished, offers high-speed internet connectivity, satellite TV, laundry rooms, quiet study areas, utilities, and organized social activities. The Director of Housing and Residential Education also maintains a list of nearby off-campus housing which students may access upon request, or via the off-campus housing webpage.

Purdue University-Calumet Campus Athletics

Students are provided a campus fitness center which holds regular hours, and offers specialty fitness classes. Additionally, students may elect to participate in a wide range of traditional and wacky intramural sports and activities like volleyball, flag football, baking, eating competitions, Frisbee golf, texting, 8-ball, floor hockey, home run derby, dodgeball, bocce ball, badminton, bean bag tossing, field goal kicking and more.

The gold & black Peregrines field NAIA Division II intercollegiate sports teams in men’s and women’s basketball, and play in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference.

Carnegie Foundation Classification

Master's Colleges and Universities (medium programs)

Undergraduate	Professions plus arts & sciences, some graduate coexistence
Graduate	Postbaccalaureate with arts & sciences (business dominant)
Undergraduate Population	Medium full-time four-year, inclusive
Enrollment	Very high undergraduate
Size & Setting	Medium four-year, primarily nonresidential

General Characteristics

Highest offering	Master's degree
Calendar System	Semester
Years of college work required	N/A
Variable Tuition

Special Learning Opportunities

Distance Learning
ROTC — Army / Navy / Air Force	— / /
Study Abroad
Weekend College
Teacher Certification