Purdue University Northwest recently reported thriving graduate programs and stable undergraduate enrollment.
The university welcomed 1,700 new undergraduate students in fall 2024 and the highest number of graduate students since before the pandemic.
Total enrollment grew to 9,051, up 4.3% from 2023-24. That number includes students in undergraduate, graduate and online programs, and high school students pursuing dual credit courses. Core student enrollment, the number of students attending classes on the PNW campuses, was steady at 6,049 students.
“At a time when many higher education institutions across the country are being affected by fluctuating college-going rates among recent high school graduates, students and their families trust PNW to help them earn their degrees accessibly and affordably to gain a competitive edge in their future careers,” PNW Chancellor Kenneth Holford said in a press release.
This fall, PNW welcomed 585 international students, up 20% from the previous year. Graduate student enrollment increased by 9%. Indiana high school dual credit partnership enrollments are up 21% from last year.
“PNW’s healthy enrollment picture reflects the institution’s mission to support the Northwest Indiana area’s quality of life as well as community and economic development,” Holford said. “Most of our students live in the Region and choose to stay after earning their degrees to make important impacts in their home communities.”
PNW’s core undergraduate student population includes over 27% of students who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino. In 2024, the university earned official designation from the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution.
PNW’s core undergraduate students also include nearly 12% who self-identify as Black or African American. Over 50% of PNW’s undergraduate students identify as first-generation, being the first in their families to pursue a four-year college degree.
Purdue University Northwest has campuses in Hammond and Westville. Purdue University started offering technical courses at extension centers in La Porte and Michigan City after World War II. Purdue University established the permanent regional campus in the early 1960s.
