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Admissions Criteria & Costs

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Paying for Courses

At Purdue, we understand that financial assistance is an essential part of starting and completing a degree. We work with our students to make the payment process as easy as possible. Explore the following options to see if they are right for you.

  • FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

    There are financial assistance options to help defray the costs of enrolling in a graduate professional program.  These include Stafford loans, graduate PLUS loans, military programs, and loans from private lenders. Through myPurdue, you can monitor your financial aid funding and make sure the proper payments are made in a timely fashion.

MS in Communication Costs

INDIANA RESIDENTS

OUT-OF-STATE RESIDENTS

Cost per Credit Hour $520 $820
Total Credit Hours 30 30
Total Degree Cost $15,600 $24,600
Learning Objectives

Admission Requirements

The following information will assist you in completing your graduate school application and preparing documents that support your application.

GET STARTED

Create an application account to start your graduate school application.

Login to the Graduate School application using your account credentials.

CAMPUS AND PROGRAM

CAMPUS AND PROGRAM

  • CAMPUS: Select Purdue West Lafayette (PWL)
  • PROPOSED GRADUATE MAJOR: Select Communication
  • AREA OF INTEREST: Select (not required)
  • DEGREE OBJECTIVE: Select one (1) of the following:
    • Master of Science (MS)
    • Strategic Communication Management Graduate Certificate
    • Communication and Leadership Graduate Certificate
  • COURSE DELIVERY METHOD: Select Distance (online or off-campus location)
EDUCATION/EMPLOYMENT BACKGROUND
  • SUPPLEMENTAL FORM (not required)
  • EMPLOYMENT & OTHER HISTORY (most current first)
  • Academic Statement of Purpose An essay is required for all applicants. Your statement is an opportunity for you to share information that will help reviewers understand your academic interests and objectives, assess your academic background, preparation, and training, and determine if you are a good match for the program to which you are applying.

 

  • Personal History Statement An essay is required for all applicants. Your statement is an opportunity to help reviewers learn more about you as a whole person and as a potential graduate student. This may include relevant details on community service, leadership roles, participation in diverse teams, and significant barriers that you overcame to attend graduate school.
RESUME UPLOAD

Your resume should provide the admissions committee with more information than what’s included in the application and focus on what they need to know to better evaluate your admission. The graduate resume is different than a job search resume.

Job search resumes are designed to get you an interview; graduate school resumes are designed to enhance your application and provide yet another opportunity to sell yourself.

The resume is not limited to one-page in length (two pages is fine, though contact info must be on both pages). Separate your work and non-work experiences into different sections.  Include all your experiences – not just the ones targeting a specific job.

 Some of the most commonly included categories in a graduate school resume are:

Objective, Education, Academic Experience/Highlights, Employment, Volunteer, Community, and/or Extra-Curricular Involvement, Certifications/Professional Development

INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING

RECOMMENDATIONS (two (2) required)

ENGLISH PROFICIENCY REQUIREMENTS (international only)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

SIGNATURE

REVIEW (correct any errors prior to submitting)

SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

PAY APPLICATION FEE: $60 domestic/$75 international

Pay the nonrefundable application fee by credit card.

APPLICATION FEE WAIVERS

To see the Graduate School application waivers criteria, visit https://www.purdue.edu/gradschool/admissions/how-to-apply/apply-fee.html.

TRANSCRIPTS

 Submit an official transcript for every institution of higher education attended. You must submit either a hard-copy to the address listed below or an e-transcript (sent by the University’s Registrar department services) to gradadm@purdue.edu.

 

You may also opt in on your application for the Parchment transcript retrieval service at no extra charge. Note: Not all institutions participate in this service.

 

Transcripts not written in English must be submitted with their original language and a certified English translation from your institution along with your diploma in the original and English translation.

 

Uploaded documents must be in the original version of the academic

record/transcript: unofficial transcripts are not accepted. Social Security numbers must be marked out before uploading.

 

If the degree/date awarded is not listed on the transcript, a copy of the original diploma must be made and verified by one of the following: the institution that issued the diploma, the employer, an official such as a lawyer (notarized), or an upper-level financial institution employee (notarized). The verifier must write “This is a true original copy of the diploma for (applicant’s full name)” on the copy, and include their name, title, phone, and email address on the copy.

 

The copy cannot be faxed or sent over email, it must be mailed to the graduate program.

Postal mail your transcripts directly from your institution to

Office of Graduate Admissions

Purdue University Graduate School

155 South Grant Street, Young 170

West Lafayette, IN 47907

APPLICATION STATUS

You may check the status of your submitted application by logging in to your online application. The graduate program to which you applied will post updates your application status. If you have additional questions regarding your application status, you should contact the graduate program directly.

QUESTIONS? Please contact, POapply@purdue.edu.

Important Admissions Dates

Semester Application Deadline Start of Classes
Summer 2024 April 5, 2024 April 29 , 2024
Fall 2024 July 26, 2024 August 19, 2024