Purdue University Northwest
Purdue University Northwest — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Purdue University Northwest at a Glance
Purdue University Northwest (PNW) is a public university with two campuses in Northwest Indiana; its main campus is in Hammond with a branch campus in Westville. It is part of the Purdue University system and offers more than 70 undergraduate and graduate degree programs to approximately 6,200 students with more than 64,000 alumni.
2016
10 years old
9,051
8,201 undergrad · 850 grad
Identity
How to Apply to Purdue University Northwest
Official admissions page$25
Fee waiver available
Testing policy
Fee waiver
Is Purdue University Northwest Worth It?
Purdue University Northwest is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $6,079/year net price and $48,318 median earnings, graduates earn 7.9× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.5 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 43% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 4 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
Bottom line: Purdue University Northwest delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How Purdue University Northwest compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in IN
Ranked #10 of 145 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Skyline College | 100 | $1,738 | $55,702 |
| #2 | Brazosport College | 100 | $4,732 | $45,910 |
| #3 | College of the Mainland | 100 | $1,342 | $39,639 |
| #4 | Florida Gateway College | 97 | $5,364 | $37,894 |
| #5 | Taft College | 96 | $2,823 | $38,861 |
| #6 | Pensacola State College | 91 | $3,957 | $36,739 |
| #10 | Purdue University Northwest | 86 | $6,079 | $48,318 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Purdue University Northwest's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 4 in IN.
Best Programs at Purdue University Northwest
The highest-earning program at Purdue University Northwest is Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians at $64,700/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at $21,300/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians graduate from Purdue University Northwest earns $64,700, while a Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities graduate earns $21,300. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians graduates carry $25,000 in median debt vs. $23,359 for Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $6,079/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | $64,700 | $64,700 | $25,000 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $64,300 | $64,300 | $18,750 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $61,800 | $61,800 | $26,060 |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | $52,900 | $52,900 | $27,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $37,900 | $37,900 | $22,438 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $37,300 | $37,300 | $28,250 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $36,000 | $36,000 | $22,674 |
| Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other | $33,500 | $33,500 | $19,000 |
| Sociology | $29,400 | $29,400 | $28,000 |
| Political Science and Government | $27,200 | $27,200 | $26,308 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $26,200 | $26,200 | $27,921 |
| Psychology, General | $26,200 | $26,200 | $22,997 |
| Biology, General | $25,200 | $25,200 | $21,662 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $25,200 | $25,200 | $22,250 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $24,600 | $24,600 | $27,000 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $22,600 | $22,600 | $25,000 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $21,300 | $21,300 | $23,359 |
Similar Colleges in IN
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Hammond, IN
- Student Body
- 5,671 students
- Admission Rate
- 72%
- Graduation Rate
- 43%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $6,079
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $48,318
- Median Student Debt
- $21,229