Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six campuses within the Purdue University System, one of the largest university systems in the United States.

Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869 as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and money from Lafayette businessman John Purdue to establish a college of science, technology, and agriculture in his name. The first classes were held on September 16, 1874, with three buildings, six instructors, and 39 students. Today, Purdue enrolls the largest student body of any university in Indiana and the largest international student population of any public university in the United States. The Discovery Park and Purdue Research Park surrounding campus are home to hundreds of medical, biotechnology, and nanotechnology laboratories and companies.

Purdue offers both undergraduate and graduate programs in over 200 major areas of study. The university has been influential in America's history of aviation, having established the first college credit offered in flight training, the first four-year bachelor's degree in aviation, and the first university airport (Purdue University Airport). In the mid-20th century, Purdue's aviation program expanded to encompass advanced spaceflight technology giving rise to Purdue's nickname, Cradle of Astronauts. Twenty-two alumni are astronauts, including Neil Armstrong, Eugene Cernan, and Gus Grissom.

Founding and early years

Classes first began at Purdue on September 16, 1874 with three buildings, six instructors, and 39 students. Purdue issued its first degree, a Bachelor of Science in chemistry, in 1875. The first female students were admitted to the university in the fall of the same year. In his inaugural address Purdue's third President Emerson E. White set forth his vision that within its field Purdue must lead, not follow.

The 20th century - Aviation and Aeronautics

One of the most interesting and unique things Purdue has to offer, as well as being well known for, is its diverse majors in aerospace. Purdue University is one of the highest rated aeronautical universities in the world, even ranking up with the United States Air Force Academy, a military-backed institution. It was the first university in America to award a four-year bachelor's degree in aviation. Purdue is also recognized today as one of the top ranked flight schools in the nation.

J. Clifford Turpin, from the class of 1908, was the first Purdue graduate to become an aviator, and received flight instruction from Orville Wright himself. In 1919 George W. Haskins became the first alumnus to land an aircraft on campus.