Indianapolis is home to 365 first-year students in the mechanical engineering program, with 259 majoring in ME and 106 majoring in motorsports engineering

Capital city boasts access to employers, direct admission for popular course of study

INDIANAPOLIS — Since its founding 143 years ago, Purdue University’s School of Mechanical Engineering has taken a giant leap. What started with one student in 1882 is now the largest mechanical engineering school in the nation, enrolling over 4,000 undergraduate and graduate students. It has been ranked in the top 10 by U.S. News & World Report for more than 30 years, with both the graduate and undergraduate programs currently ranked seventh in the nation.

In addition to the reputation of excellence earned by Purdue’s mechanical engineering curriculum, faculty and students, several factors are contributing to the growth of the program in Indianapolis.

“People are interested in vehicle-related topics,” said Carl Wassgren, associate head for mechanical engineering in Indianapolis. “We have strong faculty in that area in West Lafayette and Indianapolis.”

Indianapolis is home to 365 first-year students in the mechanical engineering program, with 259 majoring in ME and 106 majoring in motorsports engineering, the only ABET-accredited degree of its type in the country. The motorsports engineering program in Indianapolis is currently less than 6 miles from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and will move soon to the Dallara IndyCar Factory on Main Street in Speedway, just blocks away from the track. The program has built a strong reputation in the racing community, drawing out-of-state and local students who grew up fascinated by Indy cars.

One student building on his lifelong passion for motorsports is Cavan Cameron, a junior in the program who grew up in Westfield, Indiana.

“The motorsports program here is really good because it ties a lot of knowledge of engineering concepts and the math to actual applications,” he said. “You come out of this program fully prepared for the industry.”

Zach Lear, a New Jersey native who is majoring in both mechanical and motorsports engineering, said he was drawn to Purdue because of its urban setting. It also provided him with the opportunity to learn about mechanical engineering as well as aerodynamics and vehicle dynamics so he can work toward becoming an automotive engineer.

“I basically fell in love with the program,” the second-year student said. “I fell in love with the campus, the city it’s in, the vibes. It’s going to open a lot more doors.”

At the Indianapolis location, new students are admitted directly into their major instead of entering First-Year Engineering like they do in West Lafayette, Wassgren said.

For Hailey Holstein, a first-year student from California who’s interested in robotics and space exploration, being able to directly apply to her mechanical engineering major sold her on joining Purdue’s program in Indianapolis.

“It allowed me to go directly into my specialty,” she said. “I already knew what I wanted.”

Purdue University’s commitment to connect students in Indianapolis with hands-on industry experience has also been an incentive for the program.

Another benefit of the capital city? Proximity to various tech startups and Fortune 500 companies headquartered in Indianapolis.

“We have a lot of alumni in different companies,” Wassgren said. “Employers like our graduates. Our students are technically and professionally competent, and they excel out in the workforce.”

By introducing students to industry experiences and facilitating professional development courses during their first year, “we’re seeing dividends pay off earlier,” said Patrick Francis, associate director of industry engagement and partnerships in the Office of Professional Practice. With major companies close to Indianapolis, students can engage with part-time co-op opportunities and internships during the fall and spring semesters while also taking classes.

“They are not given out — they’re earned,” Francis said. Students are “educated on how to discover and prepare their résumés and coached on interviewing skills. Are we bringing more unique industry opportunities? Most certainly.”

Since the 2015 founding of Glassboard, a hardware product development firm, CEO Grant Chapman (BSME ’14) said Purdue has provided a steady and highly skilled pipeline of students who have started careers there. The company has hired three Purdue interns over the last three years, including a student who will graduate in May.

As Purdue’s programs in Indianapolis grow, Lear said he’s enjoyed witnessing the transformation. “It’s definitely very exciting to see.”

About Purdue University in Indianapolis

Purdue University in Indianapolis is a fully integrated expansion of West Lafayette, extending to central Indiana the academic rigor and accessible excellence for which Purdue is known. As the state’s only top 10 public university, most trusted university and most innovative university, Purdue is focused and committed to strengthening its presence in Indiana’s industrial and technological center. Purdue University in Indianapolis is creating an innovative, STEM-based collegiate experience by connecting future-ready Purdue students and faculty in Indianapolis to local businesses to accelerate Indiana’s STEM pipeline and tech ecosystem, fueling impact for our region and the world. Learn more at https://www.purdue.edu/indianapolis.

Media contact: Derek Schultz, dcschultz@purdue.edu