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Engineering Transfer Criteria

Use this page to understand the requirements for admission into any of Purdue's engineering disciplines (degree programs).

  1. Prior to applying, review the closed programs page to confirm that your desired engineering program is available to transfer students.

  2. Carefully review the admission requirements below. There are specific course requirements to transfer into any Purdue engineering discipline.

  3. Applications from our transfer pathway programs and regional campuses will be given priority in the admissions process. We will evaluate and admit students from outside these pathway programs on a space-available basis.

  4. Applying to a primary and alternate major will provide the best opportunity for success in transferring to Purdue University.

  5. Purdue regional campuses and some other Indiana universities offer courses that meet the course requirements necessary for admission to specific engineering disciplines. If you're enrolled at one of these institutions, use this list of equivalencies to plan your curriculum.

First-Year Engineering 

  Admission to First-Year Engineering is closed to transfer students. 

Transfer into an Engineering Degree Program

To be considered for admission to a Purdue engineering degree program, you must meet the minimum criteria. Following are the criteria and other important information:

  • Prior to applying, you must have completed a minimum of 24 credits of college coursework equivalent to those listed on the Coursework tab. These are courses taken by Purdue engineering students during their freshman year. 

  • You must meet the minimum 3.0 GPA requirement.

  • Because of capacity, some engineering programs are space-constrained. These programs are noted in the Additional Notes tab.

  • When a Purdue course number is listed, the transfer coursework must be equivalent. Use the online transfer credit course equivalency guide to check equivalencies.

  • If you're transferring from a public university in Indiana, you may use this list of equivalencies to identify courses that may be available at your institution. Courses equivalent to ENGR 10000 and ENGR 12600 may be substituted for ENGR 13100 and ENGR 13200.

  • Descriptions of Purdue courses are available on the University Catalog website.

Required Coursework

The following course must be completed prior to submitting a transfer application. Courses cannot be in progress during the time of application.

  1. Calculus I: (MA 16100 or MA 16500)

  2. Calculus II: (MA 16200 or MA 16600)

  3. Calculus-based Chemistry: (CHM 11500)

  4. Calculus-based Physics: (PHYS 17200)

  5. Advanced course in math, chemistry or physics (Note: some programs have more specific requirements, which are listed among the GPA requirements on the Additional Notes tab.)

  6. English Composition or Speech 

Recommended Coursework

The following coursework is recommended (in addition to the required coursework listed above) to complete the minimum 24 credits required to transfer to an Engineering degree program.

  1. English Composition: 1 semester (a course that satisfies Purdue's Core Curriculum requirement for written communication)

  2. Speech: 1 semester (a course that satisfies Purdue's Core Curriculum requirement for oral communication)

  3. Humanities: 1 semester

  4. Transforming Ideas to Innovations I: (ENGR 13100)*

  5. Transforming Ideas to Innovations II: (ENGR 13200)*

*Courses equivalent to ENGR 10000 and ENGR 12600 may be substituted for ENGR 13100 and ENGR 13200.

Minimum GPA Requirements for Engineering Degree Programs

All Engineering programs in both the College of Agriculture and College of Engineering require a minimum 3.0 GPA. 

  • Aeronautical and Astronautical: Admission is very selective.  The most qualified students will be selected from the pool of applicants.

  • Agricultural: Apply through the College of Agriculture.

  • Biological: Apply through the College of Agriculture.

  • Biomedical: Must have completed classes equivalent to at least one of: CHEM 11600, CS 15900, CS 18000 or CS 176000. Admission is very selective. The most qualified students will be selected from the pool of applicants.

  • Chemical: The advanced course, No. 5 in Required Coursework list above, must be Chemistry II and equivalent to CHM 11600.

  • Civil: No additional notes.

  • Computer: Another physics or math course may be substituted for Chemistry I, No. 3 in the Required Coursework list above.

  • Construction Engineering and Management (CEM): As part of our curriculum, CEM requires 3 summer internships (or equivalent); please contact the CEM office for assistance in determining what previous opportunities may qualify. Email cem@purdue.edu or call 765-494-2243.

  • Electrical: Another physics or math course may be substituted for Chemistry I, No. 3 in the Required Coursework list above.

  • Environmental and Ecological: The advanced course, No. 5 in Required Coursework list above, must be Chemistry II and equivalent to CHM 11600; summer entry is not recommended for most because of limited course options.

  • Environmental and Natural Resources: Apply through the College of Agriculture.

  • Industrial: No additional notes.

  • Interdisciplinary (IDES): In addition, all required coursework listed above must be met, AND students must have completed items No. 4 and 5 from the recommended coursework listed above (ENGR 13100 and 13200). Admission is very selective. The most qualified students will be selected from the pool of applicants. 

  • Materials: No additional notes.

  • Mechanical: Admission is very selective. The most qualified students will be selected from the pool of applicants. 

  • Multidisciplinary (MDE):  In addition, all required coursework listed above must be met, AND students must have completed items No. 4 and 5 from the recommended coursework listed above (ENGR 13100 and 13200). Also, MDE applicants must include a student statement of interests (no more than one page), explaining why MDE is their chosen pathway and which MDE concentration they are interested in. Admission is very selective. The most qualified students will be selected from the pool of applicants. 

  • Nuclear: No additional notes.

  • Undecided within Engineering (First-Year Engineering): No transfer admission.
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