Purdue University Rankings 2025

Purdue University continues to earn strong recognition across major global and national ranking platforms in 2025-26. It is ranked #88 in the QS World University Rankings and #79 in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings. It holds the #46 spot in the U.S. News & World Report's list of top US universities. These rankings reflect Purdue's sustained excellence in academics, research, and innovation nationally and internationally, as well as guide candidates wishing to study in the US.

Let's take a closer look at Purdue University ranking in this blog.

Purdue University Rankings 2025-26

Purdue University continues strengthening its global academic reputation, as reflected in its rising performance across major international rankings from 2024 to 2025. In the QS World University Rankings, Purdue climbed from #99 in 2024 to #88 in 2025, signaling growing recognition for its academic quality and research output. 

Likewise, the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings moved Purdue up from #86 to #79, highlighting its momentum as a globally respected institution.

Let's take a look at Purdue University's rankings:

Here's a graphical representation of all the Purdue University rankings:

The university has steadily improved in the QS World University Rankings, rising from 99 in 2024 to 88 in 2026, reflecting a stronger global reputation, research impact, and international appeal.

In the U.S. News rankings, the university debuted at 46 in 2025 but dropped sharply to 173 in 2026, possibly due to changes in methodology, data shifts, or increased global competition.

The Times Higher Education rankings improved from 86 in 2024 to 79 in 2025, suggesting progress in teaching, research quality, and global engagement; 2026 data is unavailable.

Overall, QS and THE rankings show upward momentum, while the U.S. News drop in 2026 highlights the need to assess ranking criteria and performance metrics more closely.

Let's explore the details to see how your field of study, which you want to choose for admission to Purdue University, ranks.

Subject-wise Rankings of Purdue University

Purdue University continues to earn top positions in subject-specific rankings, particularly in engineering. In the QS World University Rankings by Subject, Purdue is ranked 19th globally for Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing Engineering. The U.S. News & World Report places Purdue's Agricultural Sciences at #34 (tie) nationally. 

At the same time, the Times Higher Education (THE) ranks Purdue 30th globally for Engineering, demonstrating the university's consistent excellence and global impact in the field.

Let's discuss Purdue University rankings for subjects in detail:

QS World Rankings

Purdue University has earned an impressive position in the QS World University's subject rankings, showcasing its academic strength across key disciplines. 

Notably, Purdue ranks 6th globally in Agriculture & Forestry, reaffirming its leadership in agricultural research and education, reflecting its innovation in agricultural education.

Here's the ranking of various Purdue University courses based on the QS World ranking:

Now, let's look at Purdue University's Times Higher Education Rankings

THE (Times Higher Education) Rankings

Purdue University ranks 71st globally in Business and Economics and falls within the 176–200 range in Arts and Humanities in the THE World University Rankings by Subject. This reflects its academic strength across both professional and liberal arts disciplines.

Here's how different courses at Purdue University rank based on THE rankings:

Next, let's discuss the US news rankings for Purdue University

U.S. News Rankings

Purdue University continues to earn national recognition across various disciplines in the U.S. News rankings. It ranks #160 (tie) in Artificial Intelligence, reflecting its growing contributions to cutting-edge tech research, and #96 in Arts and Humanities, showcasing strength in interdisciplinary education and cultural studies. These rankings highlight Purdue’s balanced excellence in STEM and liberal arts fields. 

Here's a look at Purdue University rankings for popular programs:

Now, let's take a look at how Purdue University performs in other diversified rankings.

Miscellaneous Ranking 2025

Purdue University is recognized for both research impact and sustainability. It ranks among the top 10% globally for most cited publications in the CWTS Leiden Ranking. It falls within the 201–300 band in the THE Impact Rankings, reflecting its global research strength and commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and education system in the US.

Here are some of the Purdue University rankings in miscellaneous areas: 

Let's explore the academic and extracurricular achievements that demonstrate the academic standing of Purdue University.

Purdue University: Excellence and Achievements

Purdue University is renowned for its strong focus on science, technology, and agriculture. Purdue is a proud member of the Association of American Universities. Its legacy of excellence is reflected in the remarkable achievements of its alumni, including 13 Nobel laureates, a Turing Award winner, and 27 astronauts, highlighting its global impact in innovation and discovery.

Below is an overview of the Purdue University ranking and recognitions across key areas:

Academic Excellence and National Recognition

Purdue University is nationally recognized as a Top Producing Institution for the Fulbright Program, with 14 students and 7 faculty recipients. It also supports advanced research through one of the largest cycle recovery systems in academia, serving campus and national users.

Here are the significant academic and national recognitions: 

Next, let's see how Purdue University has been developing its student community as an inclusive one.

Community and Lifestyle Recognitions

Purdue University has created a strong campus culture grounded in ethics, innovation, and community engagement. The university celebrates ethical leadership through its Walk the Talk Awards, recognizing integrity and compliance across the campus. 

Purdue's commitment to quality digital learning is also honored through the Online Excellence Awards, acknowledging innovation in online education and technology use.

Purdue scholarships are offered to about 15% of applicants, who receive a merit-based yearly award.

Here are some of Purdue University's community development initiatives:

Now, let's explore how Purdue University promotes creative and cultural initiatives for international students.

Cultural and Creative Excellence

Purdue University stands out as one of the top public universities in the US for its cultural and creative excellence. 

In the 2025 MUSE Creative Awards, Purdue Marketing and Communications was ranked #6 globally and #2 in the U.S. as a top agency. Its official podcast, "This Is Purdue," also gained national acclaim, ranking #2 in Education on Apple Podcasts in 2022.

Some notable creative initiatives of Purdue University include:

Now that you've explored Purdue University's ranking and achievements in academics, culture, and community development, let's discuss the relationship between ranking and acceptance rates.

Purdue University: Ranking V/S Acceptance Rate

Purdue University strikes a balance between academic excellence and accessibility. The US News Rankings by Subject ranks Agricultural Sciences at 34th position and 160th for Artificial Intelligence. Despite its strong global standing, Purdue maintains a relatively moderate acceptance rate of 50%, offering high-quality education to a diverse pool of students.

Below is a table showcasing the overall acceptance rate for Purdue University for the top programs:

Students should consider Purdue University's academic strength and accessibility a potential choice.

Now, let's discuss the methodologies used to evaluate universities for rankings.

Ranking Methodologies

Global university ranking systems offer standardized methods to assess higher education institutions worldwide, using quantitative and qualitative metrics. Prominent organizations such as QS, Times Higher Education (THE), and U.S. News & World Report each use unique methodologies to evaluate universities across various aspects of academic performance.

Let's explore ranking methodologies for ranking agencies such as QS, THE, and US News:

QS World University Rankings

The QS World University Rankings is among the most prominent global university evaluation systems, assessing over 1,500 institutions each year. Its research methodology for rankings blends academic and employer reputation surveys with objective indicators such as faculty-to-student ratios and research impact.

Here are the indicators used in QS World University rankings.

Now, let's take a look at the ranking methodology for THE

Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings

The Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings is one of the most authoritative global assessment systems for research-intensive institutions. 

THE evaluates universities across five key areas: Teaching, Research Environment, Research Quality, International Outlook, and Industry Engagement, providing a comprehensive measure of institutional excellence.

Here are the criteria used by THE university rankings.

Now, let's explore the ranking methodology for THE

U.S. News and World Report Rankings

U.S. News & World Report is a trusted source for evaluating higher education, employing a detailed methodology that highlights student outcomes, social mobility, and academic quality. The 2025 rankings focus on tangible success indicators like graduation rates and post-graduate accomplishments, offering a well-rounded view of institutional performance.

Here are the criteria used in U.S. News and World Report rankings:

These rankings showcase Purdue University's ability to provide high-quality education and strong real-world outcomes, such as employability. Its 2025 results emphasize the university's academic and research excellence. 

Next, let's explore Purdue's position within the global higher education field.

Conclusion

The blog provides a well-structured overview of Purdue University's rising global and national rankings. It highlights improvements in the QS Rankings from #99 to #88 and in THE Rankings from #86 to #79, while U.S. News places Purdue at #173 globally in 2026, underscoring its academic and research strength.

Subject-specific rankings further emphasize Purdue's excellence, with Mechanical Engineering at #19 (QS), Agriculture at #6, and Undergraduate Engineering at #8 (U.S. News). These rankings affirm Purdue's reputation in STEM and applied sciences.

Purdue's 50% acceptance rate demonstrates a balance of accessibility and top-tier education. Overall, it effectively presents Purdue's comprehensive strengths in academics, research, culture, and innovation.