Purdue Engineering has emerged as the national leader among engineering colleges by two key measures: degrees awarded and market demand.

“I am thrilled that we’ve reached one of our Vision 2030 goals – becoming the country’s largest producer of high-quality engineering talent in the nation – and that our programs are in highest demand,” said Arvind Raman, the John A. Edwardson Dean of Purdue’s College of Engineering. “These achievements represent monumental success on our way to becoming the most consequential engineering college in the nation.”

Degrees awarded

Purdue is the nation’s No. 1 producer of total engineering degrees, undergraduate and graduate combined, according to the latest Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) data (for academic year 2022-23).

What’s more, Purdue is very well placed to become the largest producer of BS degrees in engineering in the 2024-25 academic year, pending final data reported by peer engineering colleges:

• Based on data reported to ASEE, in 2023-24, Purdue tied Texas A&M in engineering BS degrees conferred.
• In 2024-25, Purdue awarded a historic number of bachelor’s degrees (3,100) – up nearly 30% from the previous year.

Indicating the value of a Purdue degree, Purdue-trained engineers are being swooped up to fill critical workforce needs.

“Our graduates are in strong demand,” Raman said. “As a result of our strategic focus and extensive industry partnerships, our co-op and internship programs are booming and every top tech company in the country is pushing to hire Boilermaker Engineers. Thanks to our diligent and talented faculty, staff and students and our growing achievements, Purdue Engineering is on a powerful trajectory to concluding our 150th year on very high notes.”

Market demand

Market demand for Purdue Engineering is at its record-high level, topping the charts among peer institutions across the nation starting in 2024.

For admission in Fall 2024, Purdue University received 29,119 applications to its undergraduate Engineering program – surpassing any other U.S. institution with an engineering program, based on a Purdue Engineering data study of peer application trends. Then for admission in Fall 2025, Purdue University received nearly 35,000 applications to its undergraduate Engineering program, marking a 20% jump from last year.

In the Purdue Engineering study, the peer data were sourced from the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) and, where available, public dashboards and websites. Where peer college data include Computer Science (CS) applications, counts were adjusted to estimate engineering-specific counts. Read more about the study.

“When students apply to engineering programs across the country, they and their families are voting with their feet for the most desirable programs,” Raman said. “I am proud and delighted that Purdue Engineering is the national leader in market demand among all engineering colleges in the country.”

He added that Purdue Engineering’s market demand is even higher than shown as numbers don’t include the 100-plus students who start their journey at Purdue through the Exploratory Studies program and wind up in Engineering at the end of their first year.

“We are excited to see our innovative educational efforts, combined with robust reputational rankings, elevating the college to the top tier – ahead of many elite institutions – when it comes to drawing students,” Raman said.

Why the rising desire for a Purdue Engineering education?

• The college emphasizes high-impact practices cited by U.S. News & World Report in its Best Colleges rankings, including first-year experiences, co-ops and internships, senior capstone, service learning, study abroad, and undergraduate research projects.
• The college continues to climb toward the pinnacle of engineering excellence at scale, extending its reach to serve additional student populations in new and meaningful ways. Highly recognized online master’s programs and a new doctoral program, as well as a record upturn in credential and degree programs, exemplify this ascent.
• Pathways for transfers to Purdue Engineering are being enhanced through joint and dual-degree programs. For example, the Green2Gold initiative, available since Fall 2024, eases the transition for Ivy Tech Community College students.
• Purdue Engineering is leveraging its national leadership in preparing exceptionally trained engineers, particularly in crucial areas including semiconductors, aerospace, and pharmaceutical engineering. The college’s first-of-its-kind Semiconductor Degrees Program and participation in the William D. and Sherry L. Institute for Advanced Manufacturing of Pharmaceuticals represent such unique student opportunities.