In a Nutshell
pros
- Free three-week trial
- Over 175 online degrees to choose from
- Save up to 48% on bachelor’s degree tuition
cons
- Longer time to complete a degree compared to bootcamps
- Tuition can be more expensive than other similar options
Purdue Global in a Nutshell
Years operating
7 as Purdue Global (Purdue University was founded in 1869)
Tuition
$315-$317/quarter credit hour for undergraduate courses
$420-$700/quarter credit hour for graduate courses
Variety of courses/programs
175+
Suitable for
Working adults seeking undergraduate and graduate online degrees
Online experience
- 24/7 access to coursework and student support services
- New start dates every month
- Courses are 100% online
- Programs are divided in 10-week quarters
- No undergraduate or graduate application fees
- Free 3-week trial
Overview
Purdue Global offers more than 175 online degrees from 15 areas of study, including accounting and business, health sciences, nursing, information technology, and legal studies.
Global offers a new start date every month. Programs are divided into 10-week quarters.
Classes and live seminar courses take place entirely online through your student portal. Global Purdue’s online classes have no set class times, so you have the flexibility of studying and working on assignments at your own pace and on your own schedule. Many courses include weekly live seminars, but these can be accessed via a recording if you’re able to attend live.
Purdue Global also offers a three-week trial at no cost, during which you can take classes to see if the program’s right for you. If you decide to enroll, you’re charged tuition for those three weeks.

What is Purdue Global?
Purdue University is an accredited academic institution founded in 1869 in Indiana. In 2018, Purdue Global began offering online courses and degrees. You can choose from more than 175 online degrees, including certificate, undergraduate, and graduate degrees.
Purdue Global has multiple programs in 15 areas of study:
Aviation
Business
Communication
Criminal Justice
Education
Fire and Emergency Management
Health Sciences
Human Services
Information Technology
Legal Studies
Nursing
Professional Studies
Psychology and ABA
Public Policy
Special Military Programs
In Information Technology alone, Purdue Global offers 11 different degrees in a wide variety of fields, including cybersecurity management, cloud computing, information technology, and analytics.
If you started your degree at another accredited institution or have work or military training experience, you can get up to 75% of the credit for a bachelor’s degree and save an average of 48% on tuition at Global Purdue.
Is Purdue Global Safe and Reliable?
Purdue Global is an academic institution accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, which is an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, so it’s a reliable online degree provider. Global Purdue was named the 16th most innovative company in the world by Fast Company in 2023 and the seventh best value school by The Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education in 2022.
How Purdue Global’s Online Degree Programs Work
Most Global Purdue courses have two components – an online classroom and a live seminar. You can access both from any computer, laptop or mobile device from anywhere. Online classrooms are available 24/7, so you can fit them comfortably into your schedule.
Each classroom includes all the activities you need to complete the course, including discussion boards, readings, quizzes, and assignments. Some activities are completed on your own, like readings, while for others, like discussions and group projects, you’ll work alongside your classmates.
Many courses also include one live seminar per week. This is usually a graded activity. In the seminar, you’ll meet with your instructor and classmates to review and discuss course material. If you can’t attend a live seminar, you’ll have access to a recording.
Your instructor is also available to help with any questions or issues you may have with your course. They’ll also provide feedback on your work.
Programs are divided into 10-week quarters and there are new start dates essentially every month.
You also have access to an academic success center, where you can meet with a tutor, have a paper or project reviewed for feedback, or attend a webinar. It also provides access to video and course resources to help you develop the skills you need to successfully complete your courses.
How to apply to Purdue Global
The first step is to connect with an admissions advisor through a request information form, the application portal, or by phone. The admissions advisor will walk you through the admission process and provide guidance through each step.
You’ll also have to complete an interview, during which you will discuss your goals and objectives and determine when you would like to start the program.
As part of your application, you’ll have to provide an unofficial transcript, a resume, and a copy of your RN license if you’re applying for a nursing degree. You’ll also have to complete the electronic identity and document verification process by providing a copy of a valid, government-issued ID, such as a driver’s license or passport.
Prerequisites
If you’re applying for an undergraduate degree, you need to have graduated from high school or received a GED. Purdue Global doesn’t require SAT or ACT scores for admission to their undergraduate programs.
For graduate admission, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree if you’re enrolling in a doctoral or postgraduate certificate program.
Cost
Global Purdue has the following tuition rates.
$371 per quarter credit hour for undergraduate programs
$315 per quarter credit hour for undergraduate nursing programs
$420-$485 per quarter credit hour for graduate and doctorate programs
$700 per quarter credit hour for certain health science and nursing doctorate programs
No undergraduate or graduate application fees
Many Global Purdue bachelor’s degrees require 180 quarter credit hours to graduate
Many associate degrees require 90 quarter credit hours
Global Purdue offers several ways to reduce the cost of your degree, especially if you have prior work or academic experience:
If you have a bachelor’s degree and have prior learning credits, you can save an average of 48% on tuition.
If you have work experience and submit an experiential learning portfolio, you can save nearly $11,000 on tuition for undergraduate programs.
Financial aid and military tuition assistance are also available.
Purdue Global Student Resources
Pre-application support
Purdue Global’s website offers information about its online degree programs. You can also request additional information via an online form or by calling 844-787-3834.
E-learning platform
Purdue Global’s student portal gives you access to all the materials you need to complete courses, participate in group discussions, submit assignments, receive grades and feedback from your instructors, and engage in discussions with other students.
Community and tutor support
Before starting your classes, you’ll participate in Global Purdue’s orientation, which will help you make a smooth transition into your courses by providing hands-on practice and information on all the resources available to you.
In addition to orientation, you have a dedicated team of student advisors, which will be available to support you throughout the program with any issues you may have. They can help you understand your degree plan, submit important documents, learn how to use your student portal, and how to stay on track with your studies. Your student advisor will also make sure that everything runs smoothly in your program and will connect with you on a regular basis.
As a Purdue Global student, you’ll be able to join a number of student clubs and organizations based on your interests and connect with other students. You also have access to the career services team, which can help you review your resume and prepare for job interviews. Additionally, you can also join the Purdue Alumni Association and connect with over 630,000 alumni – even while you’re in the program.
Purdue Global Alternatives
How Purdue Global compares with other tech bootcamps
Purdue Global
SNHU
DeVry University
Years operating
7
30
92
Tuition
Starting at $56,700 for BA
Starting at $28,350 for AS
$39,600 for BA
$19,800 for AS
$11,308-$22,102
Variety of courses/programs
175+
200+
10
Student resources
- Student portal
- Orientation
- Student advisors
- Ongoing feedback and check-ins from instructors
- Academic success center
- Student portal
- 24/7 academic, tech and student services support
- Admission counselor
- Regular feedback from instructors
- 24/7 e-tutoring
- Career services
- E-learning platform
- E-library
- Portal and phone support
Online experience
- 24/7 access to coursework and student support services
- Multiple term starts
- Courses are 100% online
- Quarters are 10 weeks long
- No undergraduate or graduate application fees
- 24/7 access to coursework and student support services
- Multiple term starts
- Courses are 100% online, divided by modules
- Undergraduate courses are 8 weeks
- Graduate courses are 10 weeks
- No undergraduate or graduate application fees
- Quick application process
- In-depth FAQs
- Transparent pricing
- Live chat
- Extensive course info, but hard to navigate on website
Global Purdue vs SNHU
Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) is an accredited institution founded in 1932 in New Hampshire. It began offering online courses and degrees in 1995. You can choose from more than 200 degrees, including undergraduate and graduate degrees in multiple areas of study, like technology. SNHU’s tuition starts at $19,800 for an associate degree and $39,600 for a bachelor’s degree. Purdue Global is also an accredited academic institution that was officially created in 2018, although Purdue University was founded in 1869. It offers over 175 online degrees, including undergraduate and graduate programs in a wide array of areas of study, like information technology. Purdue Global’s tuition starts at $28,350 for an associate degree and $56,700 for a bachelor’s degree.
Global Purdue vs DeVry University
DeVry offers entry-level tech course certificates that are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and include transferable credits. DeVry offers a variety of tech programs, including cybersecurity and Internet of Things (IoT), which can take eight to 16 months. Global Purdue is an academic institution accredited by the HLC that offers multiple undergraduate and graduate degrees in information technology, including analytics, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and more. You’ll need 90 credits to complete an associate degree and 180 to complete a bachelor’s degree.
Bottom Line
Global Purdue is a highly recognized accredited academic institution that offers more than 175 online degrees and plenty of flexibility to fit working adults’ busy schedules. Its courses include online classes and live seminars that can be accessed from anywhere through your computer, tablet, or mobile device.
Global Purdue allows you to reduce the cost of your tuition by using prior learning credits and work experience. You can reduce the cost of your bachelor’s degree tuition by up to 48% on average and complete a bachelor’s degree in as few as two years.