Purdue University A commitment to serving the people was Purdue University s founding principle more than 125 years ago. The University, which opened its doors with a student body of 39 and a staff of six, has grown into a world-class institution of nearly 64,000 students and 3,500 faculty members. Purdue graduates have been to the moon, to the highest levels of business and government, and to Sweden to receive the Nobel prize. Other alumni are noted agriculturalists, scientists, teachers, engineers, pharmacists, journalists, and veterinarians who have contributed to the well-being of our society.
Purdue people come from different backgrounds.
Making higher education available to the people was the plan in 1862 when President Lincoln signed the Morrill Act, which gave public lands to any state that would use proceeds from the sale of the land to support a college that would teach agriculture and the mechanic arts. Three years after passage of the land-grant act, the Indiana General Assembly voted to take advantage of the provisions. In appreciation, the institution was named Purdue University and was established in West Lafayette. The University officially opened for classes September 16, 1874. The University quickly established prominence in agriculture and engineering, answering the immediate needs of the people.