Gap Year Policy and Request

Purdue University’s gap year policy allows first-year students to delay enrollment for up to two years from their original entry term. 

If your gap year 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 gap year (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 final high school transcripts with a C- or below in their senior year will be reevaluated for admission. Students with an approved gap year must remain in their current academic college to retain their admission, merit scholarship and John Martinson Honors College admission (if applicable).

Eligibility

First-year applicants who are admitted for the fall semester and have accepted their offer of admission by the May 1 deadline may request a gap year. If your gap year is approved, you must enroll at Purdue in the semester for which your gap year was approved. The deadline to request a gap year is August 1, prior to your original enrollment term.

Any admitted Purdue student 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 a gap year.

Reasons for a Gap Year

You may request a gap year 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 a Gap Year

• Accept your offer of admission no later than May 1 (including payment of the required, nonrefundable $500 deposit).
• Complete the gap year request form by August 1, 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.
• Send your official, final high school transcript to Purdue University at the conclusion of your senior year.

Once a gap year request has been submitted and reviewed, you will be notified by email whether or not it has been approved.

Enrolling After Your Gap Year

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

The following information outlines what will “carry over” from your original admission year to your enrollment year. 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 gap year:

• Honors College and Residential Community — If you were offered admission to the John Martinson Honors College and Residences 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. During your first year, if you live in on-campus student housing and are a member of the Honors College, you will be a member of the Honors College residential community as well.
• 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 gap year guidelines on the Lilly Scholars at Purdue website.

During your gap year, 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 gap year). 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 first-year student status, scholarships and/or admission to Purdue University.