FAQs - Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering | West Lafayette & Indianapolis - Purdue University

At Purdue, students don't have to choose between engineering excellence and healthcare impact. They can pursue a Purdue Biomedical Engineering degree in either West Lafayette or Indianapolis, selecting the environment that best matches their goals. Whether students are drawn to the flagship engineering experience of West Lafayette or the healthcare-immersive, pre-med-aligned opportunities available in Indianapolis, they join a community of innovators working to improve human health through engineering.

As an admitted student, I selected Biomedical Engineering on my Purdue application; what does it mean to be granted “admission to Engineering (First-Year) in the College of Engineering”?

In West Lafayette there is no direct entry into the Biomedical Engineering program. Engineering students all start out in the First-Year (freshman) Engineering Program. The First-Year Engineering (FYE) curriculum encourages and provides opportunities for students to explore which discipline of engineering will best match their interests. After their first year, they are eligible for admission to professional schools, such as BME, by the following process: Transition to Major - School of Engineering Education - Purdue University 'Area of Interest - First Choice', while a required field on the Common App used by Purdue,doesnot impact your application. This is where you can indicate what engineering major you are interested in. All students are considered equally for First-Year Engineering regardless of the specific engineering major they are considering, meaning a student who indicates an interest in Biomedical Engineering, for example, is not considered any differently than a student who indicates they are undecided. Purdue uses the Area of Interest field to gauge interest in majors for statistical and historical purposes, and not for admissions purposes.

As a Purdue engineering student in Indianapolis, you will be enrolled — day one — into BME. Only Purdue in Indianapolis offers this opportunity.

Please see the College of Engineering website for more details about transferring into Biomedical Engineering.

Admissions Daily Visits

Daily Visits are designed for students at any stage of the college search journey. Hosted by the Office of Admissions, these sessions provide an excellent opportunity to learn about Purdue's academic programs, campus resources, student life, and the admissions process. As part of your visit, a current Purdue student will guide you on a campus tour, sharing personal experiences, offering insights into life at Purdue, and answering your questions along the way. Visits begin at 10:00 am and conclude at approximately 12:00 pm. Use the calendar to select a date that works best for you.

Engineering Information Sessions

The College of Engineering also offers Engineering Information Sessions for prospective students interested in exploring engineering at Purdue University in Indianapolis and West Lafayette. These sessions, which last approximately one hour, begin at 1:15 pm in Indianapolis and 11:30 am – 12:30 pm EST in West Lafayette and provide an overview of the College of Engineering's academic programs, as well as the resources, support services, and experiential learning opportunities available to students at the Indianapolis location. Led by current engineering students from a variety of disciplines, these sessions offer valuable firsthand insight into the student experience. Following the general presentation, a current Biomedical Engineering (BME) student is typically available to answer questions and share additional perspectives on the BME program.

To register for an Engineering Information Session, please visit the Office of Future Engineers website.

Biomedical Engineering Tour

In West Lafayette, we provide daily tours of the Martin Jischke Hall of Biomedical Engineering building Monday through Friday at 1:30 PM while school is in session, except during finals weeks. No appointment is necessary for this tour; simply show up and meet us at MJIS 1021 (closed-toe shoes are required if you'd like to step into our teaching labs). Tours last approximately 20-30 minutes. While everyone is welcome, tours are geared for future students and their families. Your guide will be a current student who will give you a student's perspective of our program; questions are welcome. Summer tours are by appointment. Please feel free to contact us at WeldonBMEUndergrad@purdue.edu to confirm availability.

In Indianapolis, we provide tours of the key BME academic buildings and of laboratories right after the engineering information sessions, typically on Mondays and Fridays at 2:00 pm while school is in session, except during finals week, fall break and spring break. Tours last approximately 40-50 minutes. While everyone is welcome, tours are geared for future students and their families. Your guide will be a current student who will give you a student's perspective of our program; questions are welcome. Summer tours are by appointment only. Please feel free to contact us at WeldonBMEUndergrad@purdue.edu to confirm availability.

Students interested in Biomedical Engineering should pursue a rigorous college-preparatory curriculum that includes mathematics, laboratory sciences, and strong communication skills. Recommended coursework includes:

• Four years of mathematics, including algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and calculus when available.
• Biology, chemistry, and physics.
• English and composition courses that develop written and verbal communication skills.
• Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), dual-credit, or other advanced coursework when available. 

Students admitted to Purdue's Biomedical Engineering program will build upon this foundation through engineering, biology, and design coursework.

Students who choose the Indianapolis location are directly admitted to Biomedical Engineering and begin engaging with BME-focused learning experiences from their first year. Indianapolis students may also pursue a pre-med concentration that helps align coursework with medical school prerequisites while earning a Purdue Biomedical Engineering degree. Clinical immersion, research experiences, and connections with healthcare organizations further support students interested in the engineer-physician pathway and other health professions.

When you apply is an extremely important part of the application process. To maximize consideration of your application, you will need to make sure you apply by Purdue's Early Action Deadline of November 1.

For the Indianapolis campus, students who apply by the Early Action Application Deadline on November 1 receive priority consideration for our most competitive majors and benefit from an early admissions decision on January 15, as well as automatic consideration for our full range of merit-based scholarships (U.S. Citizens & U.S. Permanent Residents only). Learn more at https://www.commonapp.org/explore/purdue-university.

November 1 is the priority deadline for First-Year Engineering on the West Lafayette campus (listed as "Engineering (First-Year)" on the Common App), meaning that the highest likelihood for admission is for those who apply by the priority deadline.