Community Information – The Graduate School

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Purdue University is proud of its hometown of West Lafayette, Indiana. West Lafayette and the neighboring city of Lafayette, also known as Greater Lafayette, combine big city arts and entertainment with small town charm, convenience, and affordability. Purdue University is located near several major metropolitan cities:

One hour from Indianapolis, the capital of Indiana.

Two hours from Chicago, Illinois.

Three hours from Cincinnati, Ohio.

Four hours from St. Louis, Missouri and Detroit, Michigan.

Lafayette and West Lafayette

Lafayette and West Lafayette - Two great cities one great university!

Home to four distinct seasons, the climate of Greater Lafayette includes a gorgeous summer, colorful fall, white winter, and vibrant spring. Residents enjoy year-round cultural events as well as many other activities. This combination of big city activity and small-town charm is one of the reasons Greater Lafayette is consistently ranked nationally as a great place to live, work, and raise a family.

The area is filled with beautiful turn of the century architecture. Lafayette's historic downtown is filled with antique, art, and other eclectic shops. During the summer, the Historic Lafayette Farmers Market fills the streets. The dining scene is as varied as a big city's with Arabic, Cajun, French, Greek, Hawaiian, Indian, Irish, Italian, Mexican, and Russian cuisine. The nightlife is fun and inviting with pubs, clubs, and even a local brewery. Whether you are looking for local music, a place to hang out with friends, or a place to dance, the nightlife offers excitement and variety.

Farmers Market visitors browse items for sale from local vendors. Throughout the summer, both West Lafayette and Lafayette host Farmers Markets.

Many Purdue students take advantage of the free CityBus system.

You can also fill your calendar with a variety of festivals and sporting events. As a member of the Big Ten Conference, Purdue University's numerous athletic teams provide exciting sporting events throughout the year. Purdue also offers a number of plays and shows each year, from Shakespeare to STOMP, for the whole family.

The community provides one of the best bus systems in the country, offering free local transportation to Purdue faculty, staff, and students. For bus schedules and maps, visit the Greater Lafayette CityBus Web site.

The Greater Lafayette area also offers a cost-of-living below the national average, an advantage for graduate students on a limited budget. This means you may purchase more for your money, and enjoy a better standard of living compared to other areas. Visit the cost of living Web page to compare Greater Lafayette's cost-of-living to other university locations in the United States.

Learn more about Indiana and Indianapolis and Chicago.

Housing

There are a variety of affordable housing options available both on campus and off-campus. Visit our Graduate Student Housing Web page for more information.