Admission Requirements and Deadlines

*Prospective online students, please visit this page

Thank you for your interest in the Purdue University Edwardson School of Industrial Engineering graduate program. It offers advanced courses and conducts research in human factors and ergonomics, optimization and simulation, manufacturing and materials, and production and service systems. (Read more about Purdue Industrial Engineering)

Before you continue with the electronic application for admission, please ensure that you understand the minimum requirements for admission to the Industrial Engineering graduate degree program. Please note that although satisfaction of these basic requirements does not guarantee admission, failure to satisfy these requirements may lead to automatic denial of admission.

Statement of Equality

Purdue's Edwardson School of Industrial Engineering reaffirms its policy of equal opportunity, regardless of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, genetic information, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or status as a veteran. We encourage applicants from all individuals.

Preparing for Grad School

If you are considering graduate school, researching the continuation of your education may feel like an overwhelming task. If you are not sure how to get started or what you need to consider, check out the information and resources provided on this page.

 

Index 

Application Deadlines, Funding, and Application Fee

Supporting Documentation

GPA Requirements, Degree Requirements, and Application Completion Tips

Contact & Additional Information

IE Graduate Program FAQ (Issues, Timeline, Funding, Decisions, & more)

 


Application Deadlines

Applications and all supporting documents must be received on or before the deadlines. Kindly refrain from sending requests for a preliminary review of your supporting documentation. To initiate the review process and receive an admission decision, you must complete an application.

  • Residential

  • Fall Spring Summer  
    December 1* September 1 No Entry PhD and Master's Thesis
    January 5 September 1 No Entry Master's Non Thesis
    June 1 October 1 No Entry Professional Masters - International
    July 5 November 5 No Entry Professional master's - U.S. Citizen & Permanent Residents
  •  

Application Fee

The Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Students and Postdoctural Scholars (OGSPS) application fee is $60 (U.S. dollars) for domestic applicants and $75 (U.S. dollars) for international applicants. For more information, visit OGSPS.

Application Fee, Payment, and Waiver. Industrial Engineering does not have the authority to waive fees.

 

  • December 1 is the PhD applicants' deadline for priority consideration for financial support.
  • January 5 is the final fall admission deadline for PhD, master's thesis, and master's non-thesis. June 1 is the final date we will consider PMP - International applications; you may or may not secure a Visa appointment in time, so be aware.
  • Professional Master’s Program is available for on campus students only and ineligible for Purdue University funded assistantships or other appointments that grant waivers of tuition and/or academic fees anywhere on campus. 
  • You are able to defer your admission up to one year, if needed. Request a deferral from the IE Graduate Office, iego@purdue.edu.

Funding

There is no separate application. Competitive multi-year fellowships, teaching assistantships, and research assistantships are available, with priority given to top PhD and MSIE-Thesis applicants who have demonstrated research ability.Funding reviews for the fall and spring semesters occur on December 1 and September 1 respectively.Graduate student funding primarily includes fellowships, research projects, and teaching assistantships.Detailed information about the funding process can be found here .Prospective Industrial Engineering students should expect funding decisions during the application process, and alternative funding options should be explored if not awarded funding.

 

Supporting Documentation

The following documents are required to support the application and must be uploaded to the online application.  If you are an international applicant, you must provide original language and English translations for transcripts and diplomas.Documents Required by Each Country

  • Transcripts - Original language transcripts and English translations required from every institution of higher education attended regardless of degree completion. WES evaluations are not accepted.
  • Diploma - Original language diploma (degree certificate)/graduate certification and English translation of both documents
  • Three Recommendation Letters - Your references should be persons who can assess your academic potential such as faculty members, academic staff, supervisors, industry leaders, employers, or advisors.
  • Academic Statement of Purpose - Be sure your academic statement of purpose is all-inclusive, and supports your suitability for your enrollment in all the graduate programs listed on your application.
  • Personal History Statement - Information in the Personal History Statement should complement but not duplicate information in the Academic Statement of Purpose.
  • Resumé (Resume Guide and Samples)
  • Test Scores
    • Graduate Record Examination, GRE, is optional, but strongly recommend. (General GRE). Recently admitted students typically have had average scores of GRE in the following sections:
      • Verbal Reasoning – 154
      • Quantitative Reasoning – 165
      • Analytical Writing - 3.5
        • Submit official GRE Scores; Purdue University West Lafayette's code is 1631.
        • Upload your unofficial GRE Score Sheet into "Upload Materials as a Miscellaneous Supporting Document".

    • English Proficiency scores, if applicable. (TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo English Test, or test exemption/waiver)

      • Submit official English proficiency scores; Purdue University West Lafayette's code is 1631;  
      • Upload your unofficial score report into "Upload Materials as a Miscellaneous Supporting Document".

GPA Requirements

  • Undergraduate Cumulative Grade Point Average (recommended): 3.2/4.0 or equivalent
  • Graduate Cumulative Grade Point Average (recommended): 3.5/4.0 or equivalent

Degree Requirements 

Application Completion Tips

  • A degree in Industrial Engineering is not a prerequisite.
  • Having a master's degree is not a requirement for applying to the PhD program. 
  • English Proficiency waivers are not marked as "waived" until reviewed manually; please expect a delay for this status to update in your application.
  • If IE is your secondary option, ensure that your academic statement of purpose and personal history statement clearly articulate your interest in applying to IE. Additionally, you must provide your GRE scores, even if your primary program choice does not mandate them. Failure to do so will render your application incomplete.
  • Admission eligibility for IE is not determined by a single criterion; your application will be evaluated comprehensively.
  • You can upload additional relevant supporting documents using the "Upload Materials as a Miscellaneous Supporting Document" option.
  • The typical review timeline is 4-12 weeks, depending on the overall volume. We recognize that you may be eager for a decision or have received multiple offers; nevertheless, kindly avoid submitting duplicate inquiries as this further delays the review process.An admission decision will be sent to the email address associated with your application account.

Faculty Preferences

  • PhD and Master’s with thesis applicants should fill out the faculty preferences information on their application.
  • MS Non-thesis and PMP applicants do not complete the faculty preferences section.

Area of Interest

  • Your Academic Statement of Purpose must match the IE area of interest:
  • Select the appropriate Area of Interest
    • ​PhD or MS Thesis only
      • Human Factors (PhD or MS Thesis only)
      • Manufacturing (PhD or MS Thesis only)
      • Production Systems (PhD or MS Thesis only)
      • Operational Research (PhD or MS Thesis only)
    • MS Non-Thesis
      • Master's Non-thesis (Residential)
      • Master's Non-thesis (Distance)
    • Professional Master's Program (PMP)
      • Professional Masters - Industrial Engineering

Test Scores

  • The timing of linking official scores to your application is dependent upon the OGSPS  timeline. The OGSPS receives all official test scores and links to the application. Your application must be submitted, not in an awaiting submission status.
  • New test submissions will be received; your highest overall will be considered. Combining multiple test scores to meet the minimum score requirements is not permitted.
  • Industrial Engineering requires higher English proficiency minimum scores than the OGSPS English Proficiency Requirement. Scores below the OGSPS minimum will not be evaluated for admission; you will need to submit new test scores.
  • The OGSPS will routinely waive the English Proficiency requirement for applicants who have received a baccalaureate degree or graduate or professional degree, within the last 36 months prior to the time of recommendation for admission from a school where English is the primary language of instruction in a country/location where English is the native language.
  • Your application must be submitted and paid for ETS computer-based official scores to match to your application. Score reports are sent to Purdue University electronically, approximately 10 to 15 days after your test date. Once ETS has sent your score report, it may take an additional 2 to 3 weeks or longer for your application checklist to update and show received
  • GRE Scores are received and linked to your application by the Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Students and Postdoctural Scholars (OGSPS), gradinfo@purdue.edu, not the Edwardson School of Industrial Engineering.

Additional Information

Apply

  1. Create an account to start a new application.

  2. Choose up to 2 campuses and/or graduate majors in priority order.  
  3. Pay the Nonrefundable Application Fee.

Check Application Status

Log in to continue an application or check the status of your application.
If applying to a 2nd graduate program, Check Your Application Status for each graduate program.
Use the "Forgot Your Password" link if you have trouble loggin into your account.

Questions?

For inquiries regarding applications and admissions, reach out to the Edwardson School of Industrial Engineering at iego@purdue.edu or refer to the IE Graduate Program FAQ covering topics such as Issues, Timeline, Funding, Decisions, and more.

Technical Questions? Visit theTechnical Help Page or contact gradinfo@purdue.edu.