Engineering Transfer Criteria
Use this page to understand the requirements for admission into any of Purdue’s engineering disciplines.
- Prior to applying, review the Closed Programs page to confirm that your desired engineering program is available to transfer students.
- Carefully review the admission requirements below. There are specific course requirements to transfer into any Purdue engineering discipline.
- 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.
- Applying to a primary and alternate major will provide the best opportunity for success in transferring to Purdue University.
- 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 our 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 and adhere to the other important information listed below.
- 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 first year.
- All engineering programs in both the College of Agriculture and College of Engineering require a minimum 3.0 GPA.
- 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 in the University Catalog.
Required Coursework
The following courses must be completed prior to submitting a transfer application. Courses cannot be in progress during the time of application.
- Calculus I: MA 16100 or MA 16500
- Calculus II: MA 16200 or MA 16600
- Calculus-based chemistry: CHEM 11510/20/30
- Calculus-based physics: PHYS 17200
- Advanced course in math, chemistry or physics (Note: Some programs have specific course requirements, please refer to the Additional Notes tab.)
- 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.
- English composition: 1 semester of a course that satisfies Purdue’s Core Curriculum requirement for written communication
- Speech: 1 semester of a course that satisfies Purdue’s Core Curriculum requirement for oral communication
- Humanities: 1 semester
- Transforming Ideas to Innovations I: ENGR 13100*
- Transforming Ideas to Innovations II: ENGR 13200*
*Courses equivalent to ENGR 10000 and ENGR 12600 may be substituted for ENGR 13100 and ENGR 13200.
Additional Information for Engineering Degree Programs
For availability by major, please refer to the closed programs page. Keep in mind that some majors are only offered at certain Purdue locations. Be sure to look at your specific major of interest on the Engineering majors pages to see where it’s available. Generally, admission is very selective. The most qualified students will be chosen from the pool of applicants.
- Aeronautical and Astronautical: Available to articulation pathway programs and regional transfers only.
- 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 11610/11620/11630, CS 15900, CS 18000 or CS 176000. Additionally, in Indianapolis, student coursework must match the available cohort.
- Chemical: The required advanced course in math, chemistry or physics (see Coursework tab), must be Chemistry II and equivalent to CHM 11610/11620/11630.
- Computer: Another physics or math course may be substituted for Chemistry I (see Coursework tab).
- Construction Engineering and Management (CEM): CEM requires three 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 (see Coursework tab).
- Environmental and Ecological: The required advanced course in math, chemistry or physics (see Coursework tab), must be Chemistry II and equivalent to CHM 11610/11620/11630.
- Environmental and Natural Resources: Apply through the College of Agriculture.
- Interdisciplinary (IDES): Students must have taken ENGR 13100 and 13200.
- Mechanical: Available to articulation pathway programs and regional transfers only.
- Motorsports: Available to articulation pathway programs and regional transfers only.
- Multidisciplinary (MDE): Students must have taken ENGR 13100 and 13200 and must include a one-page statement of interest explaining why MDE is their chosen pathway and which MDE concentration they are interested in.
- Undecided within Engineering (First-Year Engineering): No transfer admission