In a Nutshell
Purdue Global is Purdue University’s public, nonprofit online university for working adults. It offers 175+ online degree and certificate programs at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels, with frequent start dates and support services for students balancing work, family, and study.
Eligible students may be able to apply prior coursework, military training, professional certifications, credit-by-exam, or portfolio-based prior learning toward undergraduate degree requirements. Credit awards, financial aid, program availability, and licensure outcomes vary by student, program, and state.
Pros
- 175+ online degree and certificate programs
- Prior-learning and transfer-credit options for eligible undergraduate students
- Federal financial aid, military benefits, and reduced tuition options for eligible students
- Career services, tutoring, advising, and student communities available
Cons
Purdue Global at a Glance:
Best for | Working adults, transfer students, military-affiliated students, and learners who need flexible online study. |
Financial aid available | FAFSA, federal grants, federal student loans, selected state grants, military/veteran funding, employer funding, and scholarships may be available to eligible students and programs. |
Available degrees | Certificates, associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and doctoral degrees. |
Number of majors/programs available | 175+ online degree and certificate programs. |
Outstanding features | Prior-learning evaluation, eligible transfer-credit options, frequent term starts, online classroom tools, HLC institutional accreditation, selected programmatic accreditations, tutoring, advising, student communities, alumni resources, and career services. |
Why Purdue Global?
● Backed by the Purdue University System
Purdue Global is Purdue University’s public, nonprofit online university for working adults. It is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, and selected programs hold additional programmatic accreditations or approvals.
● Your Experience May Count as Credit
Eligible undergraduate students may be able to satisfy up to 75% of a degree with approved prior coursework, work or life learning, military training, industry certifications, exams, assessments, or portfolio-based prior learning. Credit is reviewed case by case and is not guaranteed.
● Built for Working Adults
Purdue Global’s online format is designed for adults who need to study around work and personal commitments. Courses may include online seminars and interaction with instructors and classmates. Some programs require hands-on, clinical, practicum, flight, field, or other real-world experience.
● Frequent Start Dates
Purdue Global offers frequent start dates, with terms generally starting monthly. Students should confirm the exact start date and academic calendar for their chosen program before applying.
● Student and Alumni Communities
Students can access online student communities, clubs, honor societies, career resources, and alumni connections. Participation, eligibility, and any fees may vary by organisation or activity.
● Try Before You Owe Tuition
Qualifying first-time undergraduate students may try classes for 3 weeks with no financial obligation if they opt out during the introductory period. Students who continue after the trial are responsible for tuition and fees for the full first term. Graduate, returning, nondegree, and some other students are not eligible.
Get Credit for the Life You’ve Lived
Purdue Global offers several ways for eligible students to have prior learning evaluated for college credit. Options may include transfer credits, military training, industry certifications, credit-by-exam, course assessments, and portfolio review. Credit awards depend on documentation, program requirements, and university review.
- Transfer credits: Eligible prior college coursework may be evaluated for transfer credit. Undergraduate courses generally need to meet Purdue Global’s transfer-credit requirements, including minimum grade and documentation standards.
- Work and life experience: Eligible undergraduate students may submit a portfolio for evaluation. Purdue Global’s official experiential-learning data is historical and based on 2021–2022 students who completed EL206 and submitted a portfolio; individual results and savings vary.
- Military benefits: Servicemembers, veterans, and eligible military-affiliated students may qualify for reduced tuition rates and may be able to have military training evaluated for credit.
- Financial aid: Federal financial aid is available for many degree programs to those who qualify. Students should complete the FAFSA and review grants, loans, scholarships, employer funding, military benefits, and payment options with Student Finance.
Programs and Majors
Purdue Global offers 175+ online degree and certificate programs across areas including aviation, business, communication, criminal justice, education, fire and emergency management, health sciences, human services, information technology, law programs, legal studies, nursing, professional studies, psychology and applied behavior analysis, public policy, and special military programs.
Credentials are available from certificates through doctoral degrees. Program availability, online format, admissions requirements, fieldwork, clinical or practicum requirements, and licensure outcomes vary by program and location. Purdue Global’s education programs do not lead to teacher licensure, endorsements, or certification.
Purdue Global also offers selected nondegree and professional-development options. Credit status, cost, and eligibility vary by offering.
Purdue Global Accreditation & Certification
Purdue Global is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, an institutional accreditor recognised by the U.S. Department of Education.
Selected Purdue Global programs also have programmatic accreditation, approval, recognition, or professional alignment from relevant bodies. These apply only to specific programs. Students should check the accreditation, state licensure, and certification details for their exact program before enrolling, especially in fields such as nursing, education, law, public safety, health sciences, and financial planning.
Purdue Global Additional Support
Purdue Global provides support services for online students, including educational advising, an online classroom, library access, no-cost tutoring in math, science, and writing, student communities, and career resources.
The Center for Career Advancement offers career planning, resume and interview support, networking resources, job-search tools, and one-on-one career conversations. Career services can support students and graduates, but Purdue Global does not guarantee employment placement, salary, or career advancement.
Bottom Line
Purdue Global may be a suitable option for working adults who want online study, frequent start dates, and the ability to have eligible prior learning evaluated for undergraduate credit. It may also appeal to transfer students and military-affiliated students who want to compare reduced tuition, credit-transfer, and support options.
Before applying, students should review the exact program page, tuition and fees, transfer-credit evaluation, state availability, licensure requirements, and any clinical, practicum, field, flight, or hands-on requirements. Career services are available, but employment and advancement outcomes are not guaranteed.
Disclaimers
Online learning: Some Purdue Global programs are not 100% online. Some programs require hands-on experience in a real-world work environment. Contact an Admissions Advisor and review the program page for details.
Financial aid: Financial aid is available to those who qualify. Awards vary by student eligibility, program, need, and funding source. Loans must be repaid.
Three-week trial: The Purdue Global Commitment applies to qualifying first-time undergraduate students. Students who withdraw during the introductory period owe no tuition for that period and earn no credits. Students who continue are responsible for tuition and fees for the full first term. Graduate programs and some other students are not eligible.
Prior-learning credit: Prior-learning and transfer-credit awards are reviewed case by case and are not guaranteed. Eligible undergraduate students may be able to apply approved prior coursework, military training, certifications, exams, assessments, or portfolio-based learning toward degree requirements. Graduate programs are not eligible for credit for work and life experience.
Experiential-learning savings: Purdue Global’s experiential-learning savings figure is based on 2021–2022 incoming students who passed EL206 and submitted a portfolio for review. Individual credit awards and savings vary.
Tuition and fees: Tuition, fees, and program-specific costs are subject to change. Some programs may have additional costs that are not covered by federal financial aid.
State availability and licensure: Program availability and professional licensure outcomes vary by state and program. Students pursuing licensed professions should review Purdue Global’s state licensure and certification information before enrolling.
Education programs: Purdue Global’s education programs do not lead to teacher licensure, endorsements, or certification and are not teacher-preparation programs.
Testimonials: Testimonials were obtained by Purdue Global. Views are those of individual students, and experiences may vary.
Employment and career advancement: Purdue Global does not guarantee employment placement, salary level, or career advancement. Outcomes vary by program, location, prior experience, and job market conditions.
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