Enrollment Deferral Policy and Request

Purdue University’s Enrollment Deferral policy allows students to delay enrollment for up to two years from their original entry term depending on their application type.  Some schools may refer to this request as a “Gap Year”.

If your enrollment deferral request is approved, you do not need to apply for admission to enroll the following year. If information provided in your admission application changes during your deferral period (e.g., coursework at another college or university, choosing to no longer attend Purdue, etc.), you must contact the Office of Admissions to update your information. Students who have such changes to their original admission application or who submit transcripts with a C- or below may be reevaluated for admission. Students with an approved enrollment deferral must remain in their current academic college to retain their admission, merit scholarship and John Martinson Honors College admission (if applicable).

Eligibility

Applicants who are admitted and have accepted their offer of admission by the deadline may request an enrollment deferral. If your enrollment deferral is approved, you must enroll at Purdue in the semester for which your deferral was approved. The deadline to request an enrollment deferral is 4 weeks prior to your original enrollment term.

A first-year applicant who enrolls full-time at another college or university after their high school graduation must reapply for admission to Purdue as a transfer student. Students cannot have 12 or more college credits post-high school graduation to be eligible for an enrollment deferral.

A first-year applicant may request up to six semesters of enrollment deferral. All other application types may request one term of enrollment deferral.

Reasons to Defer Enrollment

You may request an enrollment deferral for the following reasons:

Military or public service
Extraordinary full-time travel, volunteer service or work opportunity
Illness validated by a doctor’s written confirmation
Cultural enrichment opportunity
Visa processing delays

How to Request an Enrollment Deferral

Accept your offer of admission by the deadline (including payment of the required, nonrefundable $500 deposit).
Complete the enrollment deferral year request form prior to your original enrollment term. The form is available through the Purdue application portal for students who have accepted their admission offer.
Provide documentation supporting your request.
If you applied as a first-year student, send your official, final high school transcript to Purdue University at the conclusion of your senior year.
If you have completed college coursework, including dual credit, please ensure that your most recent official transcripts are sent to Purdue University.

Once your enrollment deferral request has been submitted and reviewed, you will be notified by email whether or not it has been approved. The deadline to request an enrollment deferral is 4 weeks prior to your original enrollment term.

Enrolling After Your Deferral Period

If your request is approved, your admission offer will be deferred to the designated semester, and you will be reinstated as an admitted student when decisions are released. You will receive information from Purdue as if you were a newly admitted student, in addition to any information specifically for enrollment deferral year students. You will be asked to confirm enrollment in before your enrollment term.

The following information outlines what will “carry over” from your original admission term to your enrollment term . This applies as long as you maintain your status as a first-year college student, remain in the academic college to which you were originally admitted, and enroll in the fall term immediately following your deferral period.

For First-Year Applicants Only

Honors College — If you were offered admission to the John Martinson Honors College and you accepted the offer by the May 5 deadline of your original application year, the Honors College opportunity will be extended to your enrollment year.
University-wide Scholarships — If you receive any of the following Purdue scholarships, you will retain the award at its original value: Presidential, Trustees, Emerging Leaders, Beering or Stamps.
- If you are a Lilly Scholar at Purdue, please see up-to-date guidelines on the Lilly Scholars at Purdue website.

For All Applicants

Offer of Admission — Your offer of admission and enrollment deposit will be carried to the new term.

During your deferral period, as you’re planning for Purdue enrollment, you should file a  Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by April 15 (the FAFSA for aid that will be applied to your Purdue enrollment year becomes available in October of your enrollment period ). You should also be aware of deadlines for applications that might be required to be considered for scholarships awarded by your Purdue college or academic department. The Division of Financial Aid is the best source for information.

Failure to follow the guidelines established in this policy can result in the loss of enrollment eligibility, scholarships and/or admission to Purdue University.

You will need to reapply to live in University Residences for on-campus housing.