Purdue University Global

West Lafayette, IN

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Quick Facts

2018

Founded

Public online university

Type

31,502

Total Students

33,192

Undergrad

10,735

Graduate

$10K

Tuition (In-State)

$14K

Tuition (Out-State)

$12K

Avg Net Price

48%

Graduation Rate

6-year

25%

Retention Rate

Doctoral/Professional Universities

Classification

Data from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0) & U.S. Dept. of Education

About Purdue University Global

Purdue Global: A leading public online university empowering adult and non-traditional learners.

Purdue University Global stands as a distinct public online university within the prestigious Purdue University system, uniquely catering to the needs of adult learners and non-traditional students. Born from an innovative acquisition, it blends the accessibility of online education with the academic rigor and public service mission of a top-tier institution. Its model is designed for individuals seeking flexible, career-focused degree programs who might not otherwise have access to higher education.

The institution's history is rooted in a significant transformation. What began as the for-profit Kaplan University was acquired by Purdue University for a symbolic one dollar in March 2018, subsequently rebranding as Purdue University Global. This pioneering move allowed Purdue to expand its reach and serve a vital, often underserved, demographic of students through an established online platform. The acquisition was a strategic choice, aiming to provide high-quality, flexible education to a broader population, reflecting Purdue's commitment to innovation in higher learning.

Purdue Global is defined by its student body: a majority of its learners are over 30 years old, and a significant percentage are first-generation college students, underscoring its role in fostering educational mobility. After an initial period of investment and strategic development, the university successfully reversed enrollment declines and achieved financial stability by fiscal year 2021, demonstrating its impact and the effectiveness of its specialized approach to online learning. It offers a unique opportunity for adult professionals to pursue degrees from a public university, fitting education into their busy lives.

Key Highlights

✦Part of the esteemed Purdue University system, offering flexible online education.
✦Serves a large student body of 45,125 individuals.
✦Pioneering model: Acquired from Kaplan University for $1 in 2018, expanding public university access.
✦Dedicated to adult learners, with 60% of students over age 30.
✦Empowering first-generation students, as 55% reported neither parent attended college.
✦Achieved a significant 5% enrollment growth in 2020, reversing previous declines.
✦Became financially positive by fiscal year 2021, reporting a $5.25 million gain.

Timeline

1937

Established as the American Institute of Commerce, the earliest root of its lineage.

2004

Renamed Kaplan University, marking its era as an online institution.

2017

Purdue University President Mitch Daniels announces intent to acquire Kaplan University (April).

2018

Kaplan University is sold to the Purdue University system for one dollar (March).

2018

Rebranded as Purdue University Global, officially beginning its new chapter (April).

2020

Successfully reverses enrollment decline, growing by 5% to over 31,000 students.

2021

Achieves its first financially positive year of operation, reporting a $5.25 million gain (FY 2021).

🏛️

8 Years

of Excellence

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