Standards on the rise at Purdue

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - High school seniors applying to Purdue University may find it much more difficult to get accepted.

Purdue says academic standards for freshmen are becoming more strict.

The average high school grade point average for an incoming freshman is 3.67.

That's up from 3.57 two years ago.

SAT and ACT average scores are also higher.

Undergraduate Vice-Provost Dale Whittaker says the University is not setting standards higher.

It's the quality of students applying that is raising the bar.

"What's interesting is we have a record-high number of applications,” Whittaker said. “So we've had more applications. More students wanting to be at Purdue West-Lafayette than we've ever had before. And we have, basically, the same number of openings in the freshman class to seat those students."

Whittaker advises high school students planning on becoming Boilermakers to take as many advanced placement math and science courses as they can.

He says that will prepare first-year students for success on the West Lafayette campus.