Purdue Fast Start
and the Klinsky Scholars Program
At Purdue University, we are empowering students to direct their own futures through the free Purdue Fast Start program. Many promising Indiana students will be able to make their own giant leaps a reality by earning access to affordable, high-quality education at Purdue.
WHAT
The Fast Start program was created in partnership with Modern States, a philanthropy and online learning program for earning college credit, provides free courses and textbooks online plus vouchers to pay for credit bearing CLEP exams.
HOW
“I view coming to Purdue through Fast Start as a way to say ‘thank you’ to my parents for raising me and supporting me all these years. I’ve learned that college debt is important not to have, and Fast Start will be a way to potentially avoid that as I study at Purdue.” - William Herrell
Indiana students can earn assured admission to Purdue and designation as a Klinsky Scholar by passing five Modern States courses, the corresponding CLEP College Board exams, and meeting Purdue's standard admissions requirements.
Make a Purdue University education even more affordable:
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Free online courses and corresponding CLEP exams through Modern States, covering the entire cost of the Fast Start program
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Complete 5 courses + pass the CLEP exams (paid for by ModernStates.org) = 15 credits, a full semester's worth of credit at Purdue, WHICH CAN SAVE A STUDENT $11,000
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Complete 10 courses + pass the CLEP exams (paid for by ModernStates.org) = 30 credits, freshman year for free at Purdue, WHICH CAN SAVE A STUDENT UPWARDS OF $21,000
Get Started
- Create an account at modernstates.org.
- Connect with the Office of Admissions to ask questions and map out your courses!
- Enroll in a course(s)
- Express your interest in being a part of the Purdue Fast Start Program for Klinsky Scholars
- Complete the course(s)
- Request a CLEP voucher code from Modern States
- Schedule an exam at a CLEP Test Center and use your voucher code as payment
- Request a Test Center Reimbursement once you sit for the exam
- Send your completed and passed CLEP exam scores from the testing agency to Purdue before applying for admission for best chance to assure admission
- Apply to Purdue University West Lafayette by November 1 of your senior year in high school.
FAQs
Which Modern States courses and CLEP exams offer the best chance to count towards a wide range of Purdue majorsWhile Purdue does not guarantee these courses will meet plan of study needs across all Purdue majors, this list is a recommendation of those that meet the greatest potential:
How do I know what courses I should take
- Algebra, College
- American Government
- American Literature
- Analyzing and Interpreting Literature
- Biology, General
- Calculus, General
- Chemistry, General
- Financial Accounting
- French
- German
- History of the United States I
- History of the United States II
- Human Growth and Development
- Pre-calculus
- Psychology, Introductory
- Sociology, Introduction to
- Spanish
- Spanish with Writing
- Spanish with Writing
- Western Civilization I
- Western Civilization II
The Office of Admissions is happy to assist you as you explore the various course offerings and how they might impact your future plan of study. Contact the Office of Admissions at admissions@purdue.edu.
If I've taken an AP or dual enrollment course in one of the Modern States topics. Should I take the Modern States course instead
Purdue has no preference between AP, dual enrollment and CLEP. They are viewed as equally helpful in preparing students for coursework at Purdue. If a student has already completed an AP exam or college course and received a score high enough to get Purdue credit for the course, there would be no benefit to taking a CLEP exam in the same subject.
You can see how AP exam scores and dual enrollment correlate to Purdue coursework on the Admissions website.
When should I take my courses
You can see how AP exam scores and dual enrollment correlate to Purdue coursework on the Admissions website.
All courses are self-paced and you can choose to take the CLEP exam after all online coursework is completed. Modern States courses and CLEP exams can be taken throughout a student's high school career. Exams should be completed prior to submission of an application to Purdue University. November 1 is Purdue's Early Action deadline and the application deadline for Purdue's full range of scholarships and Honors College.
I live outside of Indiana. Can I participate in the Purdue Fast Start program
While you can take courses through Modern States and complete CLEP exams (costs not covered), the Purdue Fast Start Program is designed for students attending high school and living in Indiana.
What is a CLEP exam
CLEP is an examination program provided by the College Board. It is similar to AP; however, it was originally developed for the military. Many institutions, including Purdue, offer college credit based upon the CLEP score received on the exam. See what CLEP exams and scores transfer to Purdue.
If I participate, will my freshman year really be free
It depends on the plan of study for the major you enroll in at Purdue. How CLEP credit applies will depend on the student's chosen major and the corresponding plan of study.
Where can I see how CLEP exam credit transfers to Purdue
What does assured admission mean
In order to be admissible to Purdue, you would need to complete and pass 5 CLEP exams, meet general admissions requirements (core academic requirements, test scores, application, and all supporting documents), and submit all application documents along with CLEP exam results. Failure to submit a complete application, including items listed above, by the November 1 Early Action deadline could lower your chances of being admitted. Assured admission is to Purdue University — West Lafayette Main Campus, a Purdue regional campus, or one of the Purdue Statewide locations around the state of Indiana - but exact major selection is not guaranteed
Who should I contact if I have questions about this program
For more information or questions regarding this program, please reach out to the Office of Admissions at admissions@purdue.edu.
