Purdue University North Central College Portrait
Purdue University North Central1401 S. US 421 Westville, IN 46391
219.785.5505
Purdue University North Central
At PNC, one of four campuses within Indiana’s prestigious Purdue University, you’ll find the personal attention and hands-on education you need to achieve your goals. Our dedicated faculty and nationally respected academic programs will help you complete your education right here in north central Indiana on a beautiful campus, close to home, in a small campus environment, and at a fraction of the cost of a residential campus. You can choose from 20 academic programs that lead to a baccalaureate degree or one of two master’s degrees to help you prepare for or advance your career.
Purdue University North Central is known throughout Northwest Indiana for its outstanding degree programs. Classes are offered at its primary Westville campus and at PNC - Porter County in Valparaiso.
Students will find challenging academic programs at PNC, and outside of class they have the opportunity to join clubs and organizations, do volunteer work, pursue internships and perform service learning projects.
They are encouraged to develop their leadership skills and to get involved in some of the more than 25 clubs and organizations, student government and intercollegiate sports.
Students who have earned an Ivy Tech associate degree are able to make a seamless transition to a PNC bachelor's degree program.
PNC - Porter County, located at 600 Vale Park Road, Valparaiso, offers undergraduate and graduate classes. Complete enrollment services are available onsite. A Master of Business Administration (MBA) is offered on Saturdays.
Living in the PNC Community
Panther Community
PNC students, faculty, and staff enjoy a park-like campus conveniently located to serve Northern Indiana communities. PNC is only minutes from Michigan City, Valparaiso, and LaPorte.
The campus offers a variety of activities for both traditional and adult students.
The Big Picture: How many students were on campus in Fall 2011?
More Information
| Total Students | 5,279 | |
|---|---|---|
Undergraduate Snapshot
| Total Undergraduate Students | 5,201 | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | ||
| Women | 2,112 | 41% |
| Men | 3,089 | 59% |
| Race/Ethnicity | ||
| American Indian / Alaskan Native | 28 | 1% |
| Asian | 59 | 1% |
| African American / Black | 355 | 7% |
| Hispanic | 420 | 8% |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 4 | <1% |
| White | 4,261 | 82% |
| Two or More Races | 68 | 1% |
| International | 6 | <1% |
| Where do PNC undergraduates call home? | |
|---|---|
| Indiana | 98% |
| Other US States & Territories | 2% |
| Other Countries | <1% |
| How old are PNC undergraduates? | |
| Average Age | 23 |
| Percent of Undergraduates Age 25 or Older | 34% |
New Student Applications (Fall 2011)
New Freshmen High School Background and Test Scores
Test(s) Required for Admission: SAT or ACT recommended
| Test Scores of Enrolled New Freshmen | ACT | SAT |
|---|---|---|
| Composite | 18 - 23 | |
| Math | 17 - 23 | 440 - 540 |
| English | 16 - 22 | |
| Critical Reading | 430 - 540 |
50% of admitted students have test scores within the ranges listed, 25% have scores above, and 25% have scores below.
| High School Background of Enrolled New Freshmen | ||
|---|---|---|
| Percent in top 25% of High School Graduating Class | 25% | |
| Percent in top 50% of High School Graduating Class | 60% | |
| Percent of New Freshmen who submitted HS GPA | 80% | |
| Average High School GPA (4-point scale) | 2.94 | |
| Percent who submitted High School GPA | 95% | |
Sticker Price: How much does it cost on average?
Typical Undergraduate Costs for 2010-11 without Financial Aid (Full-Time, In-State Students)
Total Typical Cost of Attendance: $12,855.00
Purdue University North Central does not offer on campus housing.
Estimate Room/Board living with parent is $3,657.
Estimate Room/Board not living with parent is $7,765.
Out-of-State & Other Costs
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The cost to attend Purdue University North Central varies based on the individual circumstances of students and may be reduced through grants and scholarships.
How much would I pay?
Financial Aid: How much help is there to pay?
Scholarships & Grants
- 53% of 2010-11 full-time undergraduates received need-based grants or scholarships; the average award for the year was $5,930.00. Scholarships and grants are financial aid that does not need to be repaid and is sometimes referred to as gift aid.
Annual Need-Based Loans
- 51% of 2010-11 full-time undergraduates received need-based work-study and/or loans (not including parent loans); the average loan for the year was $3,723.00. Loans need to be repaid. Typically, repayment starts once you are no longer enrolled full-time. Please refer to page 12 of the Funding Education Beyond High School guide on the US Department of Education's Federal Student Aid website for more information about Financial Need.
Percent of 2010 Full-time Beginning Students Receiving Each Type of Financial Aid
NOTE: Students may receive aid from more than one source.
PNC Classes & Instructors
| Classroom Environment | |
|---|---|
| Students per Faculty | 15 to 1 |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 30 students | 84% |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 50 students | 97% |
| Total Full-Time Instructional Faculty | 119 |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Female | 43% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Persons of Color | 18% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Have the Highest Academic Degree Offered in Their Field of Study | 61% |
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Campus-based Housing
<1% of new freshmen live in campus-based housing or residence halls.
<1% of all undergraduates live on campus
Campus Safety
Providing a safe environment is a top priority at Purdue University North Central. With the support of other departments, Campus Police work to keep our University safe and secure.
On November 15, 2007, PNC became a tobacco-free campus, the first Purdue campus to completely ban smoking.
Campus Crime Statistics
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Carnegie Classification of Institutional Characteristics
The Carnegie Classification's were created "to reference the great diversity of colleges and universities in the United States, and ... enable [people] to identify groups of roughly comparable institutions." For information on the Carnegie Classifications system, please visit their website: http://classifications.carnegiefoundation.org/
- Basic Type
- Baccalaureate Colleges--Diverse Fields
- Size and Setting
- Medium four-year, primarily nonresidential
- Enrollment Profile
- Very high undergraduate
- Undergraduate Profile
- Medium full-time four-year, inclusive
- Undergraduate Instructional Program
- Professions plus arts & sciences, some graduate coexistence
- Graduate Instructional Program
- Single postbaccalaureate (business)
NOTE: Institutional classifications based on the Carnegie 2005 edition.
Student Activities and Involvement at PNC
During the spring of 2010, freshmen and seniors at PNC were invited to participate in the annual National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) which measures student participation in highly effective educational practices such as active and service learning.
Institutions participating in the VSA program measure student involvement on campus using one of four national surveys. Results from the one survey are reported for a common set of questions selected as part of VSA. Following are the selected results from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). The questions have been grouped together in categories that are known to contribute to student learning and development. The results reported below are based on the responses of seniors who participated in the survey.
Group Learning Experiences
- 86% percent of seniors worked with classmates on assignments outside of class.
- 48% of seniors tutored or taught other students
- 13% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week participating in co-curricular activities such as student organizations and intramural sports
Active Learning Experiences
- 84% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week preparing for class
- 15% of seniors worked on a research project with a faculty member
- 40% of seniors participated in an internship, practicum, or field experience
- 43% of seniors participated in community service or volunteer work
- 3% of seniors participated in study abroad
- 92% of seniors made at least one class presentation last year
Institutional Commitment to Student Learning and Success
- 91% of seniors believe this institution provides support for student success
- 66% of seniors rated the quality of academic advising at this institution as good or excellent
- 56% of seniors reported that this institution provided help in coping with work, family and other non-academic responsibilities
- 96% of seniors reported working harder than they thought they could to meet an instructor's standards or expectations
Student Interaction with Campus Faculty and Staff
- 56% of seniors believed that the campus staff were helpful, considerate, or flexible
- 81% of seniors believed that faculty are available, helpful, or sympathetic
- 90% of seniors reported that faculty members provided prompt feedback on their academic performance
- 72% of seniors discussed readings or ideas with faculty members outside of class
Experiences with Diverse Groups of People and Ideas
- 66% of seniors reported that they often tried to understand someone else's point of view
- 81% of seniors reported their experience at this institution contributed to their understanding people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds
- 34% of seniors often had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity
Student Satisfaction
- 78% of seniors would attend this institution if they started over again
- 83% of seniors rated their entire educational experience as good or excellent
- 80% of seniors reported that other students were friendly or supportive
Evaluation of Experiences
Survey Administration Process
Survey Information
Majors and Degrees
| Degrees awarded at Purdue University North Central in 2010-11 | |
|---|---|
| Associate's | 196 |
| Bachelor's | 387 |
| Master's | 31 |
| Total | 614 |
More Information
| Areas of Study with the largest number of bachelor's degrees awarded in 2010-11 | |
|---|---|
| BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT, MARKETING, AND RELATED SUPPORT SERVICES | 30% |
| LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES, GENERAL STUDIES AND HUMANITIES | 27% |
| ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGIES AND ENGINEERING-RELATED FIELDS | 12% |
| EDUCATION | 7% |
| MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES | 6% |
| Links to degree programs at Purdue University North Central |
|---|
Associate'sBachelor'sMaster's |
Student Success & Progress Rate
A 64% four-year success and progress rate means that 64% of students starting in Fall 2005 either graduated or are still enrolled at a higher education institution four years later.
Counts for the Fall 2005 entering class shown in the graph above.
- 537 First-Time, Full-Time Students
- 117 Full-Time Transfer Students
Success & Progress Rate Table
Retention of Freshman Class
First-time students in Fall 2010 that returned for their second year: 51%
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Student Learning at Purdue University North Central
All colleges and universities use multiple approaches to measure student learning. Many of these are specific to particular disciplines, many are coordinated with accrediting agencies, and many are based on outcomes after students have graduated.
PNC measures student outcomes related to both general and program specific goals. PNC was one of the early adopters of the AAC&U Essential Learning Outcomes in 2010. For more information about assessment activities at PNC, please visit: http://pnc.edu/assessment
Learning Assessment Examples
Pilot Project to Measure Core Learning Outcomes
Colleges and universities participating in the College Portrait measure the typical improvement in students' abilities to think, reason, and write using one of three tests. This is part of a pilot project to better understand and compare what students learn between their freshman and senior years at different colleges and universities.
Members of the PNC community are investigating the most appropriate measure of student learning outcomes for our students.