For low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions
Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Purdue University Northwest #198 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $73,337, placing Purdue University Northwest in the 74.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and Purdue University Northwest sits in the 92.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Purdue University Northwest #89 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Purdue University Northwest delivers earnings outcomes that outpace what similar students achieve at comparable institutions, a pattern anchored by the university's health-focused program mix and its regional workforce alignment in northwest Indiana. The institution's affordability standing reinforces that picture — graduates enter careers with a cost structure that holds up well relative to peers across nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Purdue University Northwest #198 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Hammond, IN, Purdue University Northwest enrolls roughly 5,671 undergraduates. Retention stands at 65.7% and the six-year graduation rate is 42.9%, figures that reflect the realities of a regional institution serving a commuter-heavy, working-adult student population. What anchors Purdue University Northwest in the composite is mobility. The university sits in the 57.6 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions, driven by a student body where 28.1% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 43.0% are first-generation college students. Health is the dominant program family, and the institution channels many of its graduates into stable, locally rooted career paths. Access reinforces that story — Purdue University Northwest sits in the 61.7 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions, with an admission rate of 72.4% signaling broad entry for students across northwest Indiana. Return on investment is the weaker pillar. Purdue University Northwest sits in the 85.1 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $73,337, and graduates earn about $15,457 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Purdue University Northwest in the 92.9 percentile for among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those earnings figures reflect IN's regional labor market and a student population whose post-graduation outcomes represent meaningful returns relative to the no-degree-equivalent baseline of $32,990, even where they fall below selective-peer averages. Affordability sits in the 93.8 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, a moderate position shaped by public-tuition pricing and the debt loads students carry at graduation.
Purdue University Northwest prices access to a four-year degree at a level that works across a wide range of family incomes. Low-income families pay approximately $1,432 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $7,026, and higher-income families pay approximately $13,645. Azimuth ranks Purdue University Northwest #89 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. That standing reflects the university's public-tuition structure and the meaningful spread between what families pay at different income levels. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Need-based aid plays a meaningful role in shaping what students actually pay. As a public institution anchored in the Hammond, Indiana region, Purdue University Northwest draws heavily from working- and middle-class families who depend on grant aid and federal loan programs to close the gap between the published cost of attendance and what they can afford. The net price illusion is real here — the sticker price of $15,571 tells a different story than what most students pay after aid is applied. Families are encouraged to use the net price calculator and compare aid award letters carefully before drawing conclusions about affordability. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,229, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $14,984; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $73,337, median federal debt of $21,229 projects to a monthly payment of about $240 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Purdue University Northwest is a strong fit for students in northwestern Indiana who want a practical, career-oriented education in health, applied sciences, or related fields — particularly those from working-class or first-generation backgrounds who need an accessible, affordable path to stable employment. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $73,337, placing Purdue University Northwest in the 74.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and Purdue University Northwest sits in the 92.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — graduates earn about $15,457 more than similar students at comparable institutions. With 28.1% of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants and 43.0% identifying as first-generation students, Purdue University Northwest serves a broad population of cost-sensitive families. Median student debt at graduation is $21,229, and the net price for higher-income families is $13,645 — a structure that keeps borrowing manageable for students who stay close to the region's labor market. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program portfolio is concentrated in Health and applied fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes, while those seeking a broad liberal arts or research-intensive environment may find a better match elsewhere. Purdue University Northwest is also a regional institution — students who plan to build careers in the Chicago–Northwest Indiana corridor will benefit most from its employer relationships and local network.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Purdue University Northwest hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Purdue University Northwest prices access to a four-year degree at a level that works across a wide range of family incomes. Low-income families pay approximately $1,432 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $7,026, and higher-income families pay approximately $13,645.
Azimuth ranks Purdue University Northwest #89 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. That standing reflects the university's public-tuition structure and the meaningful spread between what families pay at different income levels.
Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Need-based aid plays a meaningful role in shaping what students actually pay.
As a public institution anchored in the Hammond, Indiana region, Purdue University Northwest draws heavily from working- and middle-class families who depend on grant aid and federal loan programs to close the gap between the published cost of attendance and what they can afford. The [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) is real here — the sticker price of $15,571 tells a different story than what most students pay after aid is applied.
Families are encouraged to use the net price calculator and compare aid award letters carefully before drawing conclusions about affordability. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,229, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $14,984; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $73,337, median federal debt of $21,229 projects to a monthly payment of about $240 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Purdue University Northwest earn median earnings of $73,337 four years after enrollment, placing Purdue University Northwest in the 74.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure sits below the $56,249 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).
Graduates earn about $15,457 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 92.9 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures still represent lifetime returns relative to IN's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $32,990 — the state median earnings of working adults with only a high school credential.
The program mix at Purdue University Northwest is anchored in Health, which accounts for 17% of degrees, followed by Engineering at 7% and Education at 4%. Nursing combines meaningful cohort scale with solid earnings, making it a notable contributor to the institution's overall return profile.
Azimuth ranks Nursing #55 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), with 603 graduates earning median earnings of $88,935. The Teacher Education program graduates 59 students with median earnings of $49,224, and Azimuth ranks Communication and Media Studies #143 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 57 graduates earning median earnings of $49,326.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Texas Southern University Similar quality tier (#5466 ranked) | TX | 97% | $38,924 | #5466 | Compare |
Ferris State University Similar quality tier in Midwest (#5461 ranked) | MI | 91% | $54,735 | #5461 | Compare |
University Of Louisville Similar quality tier (#5467 ranked) | KY | 79% | $53,899 | #5467 | Compare |
Cleveland State University Similar quality tier in Midwest (#5468 ranked) | OH | 91% | $52,131 | #5468 | Compare |
University Of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Similar quality tier in Midwest (#5471 ranked) | WI | 91% | $54,990 | #5471 | Compare |
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
25 graduates
Mechanical Engineering
48 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
603 graduates
Computer Science
21 graduates
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians
41 graduates
Purdue University Northwest's program mix is anchored in Health, with meaningful enrollment in business, education, and liberal arts fields. Business accounts for 17% of graduates, Engineering represents 7%, and Education makes up 4% — a distribution that reflects the university's regional mission serving northwest Indiana's healthcare and professional workforce needs.
Across 37 programs serving roughly 1,564 students annually, 23 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold. Nursing is the program combining the largest cohort scale with strong earnings, graduating 603 students with median earnings of $88,935 four years after enrollment.
Azimuth ranks Nursing #55 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The highest four-year earnings at Purdue University Northwest come from Mechanical Engineering, where 48 graduates earn $91,229; Azimuth ranks that program #150 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Other sizable programs include Teacher Education (59 graduates, $49,224) and Communication and Media Studies (57 graduates, $49,326). Several of Purdue University Northwest's strongest-earning programs — particularly nursing and health fields — are high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the workforce directly into roles with steady regional demand.
Programs like Biology, General and Accounting serve students who may be oriented toward grad-school-dependent or locally anchored career tracks where four-year earnings undercount longer-term trajectory. The [supply-demand map](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these program families align with national labor-market demand, and the [program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) explains how Azimuth evaluates programs across cohort scale, earnings, and benchmark performance.
