Marketing at Purdue University-Main Campus

Purdue's marketing program punches above its weight nationally but faces stiff competition closer to home. Graduates earn $56,668 in their first year—ranking in the 95th percentile nationwide and well above the national median of $44,728. However, within Indiana, this same outcome lands in the 60th percentile, with Notre Dame and Butler marketing grads earning notably more. For an anxious parent, this matters: your child is likely comparing Purdue to other Indiana options, where the advantage isn't as dramatic.

The financial fundamentals are solid. At $19,264 in median debt, graduates owe substantially less than both the national median ($24,267) and Indiana median ($25,344), while earning more than typical marketing majors. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.34 means graduates should be able to manage payments comfortably—they're borrowing roughly a third of their first-year salary. With Purdue's strong brand recognition and relatively moderate admission standards (50% acceptance rate), this represents an accessible path into a program that performs well.

The value proposition is straightforward: if your child is choosing between Purdue and lower-tier Indiana schools, this is an excellent choice. If they're deciding between Purdue and Notre Dame or Butler, the earnings gap is real but so is the likely difference in total cost of attendance. Purdue delivers strong outcomes at manageable debt levels—a combination that makes it a smart, lower-risk option for most families.