Why Purdue?
Applying
Applying to Engineering in Indianapolis
At our Indianapolis location, jumpstart your career with direct admission to your engineering major of choice. From day one, you enroll in motorsports engineering and follow a core curriculum similar to that of first-year engineering in West Lafayette.
The priority application deadline for motorsports engineering is Nov. 1. Applications received after Nov. 1 for this competitive major will be evaluated based on available space.
Our students graduate with strong mechanical and technical skills, ready to launch exciting careers not only in the racing industry but also in aerospace, defense, automotive, and performance vehicle industries, including roles such as:
- Aerodynamics engineer
- Design engineer
- Manufacturing engineer
- Motorsports technical director
- Performance engineer
- Simulation and modeling engineer
- Test and development engineer
With hands-on learning opportunities and industry connections, our students gain vital experience to thrive in motorsports and beyond with companies like:
- NASCAR crew chief, Team Penske
- Competition director, Joe Gibbs Racing
- Driver, NASCAR’s Super Late Model and Modified series
- Engineer, Team Penske IndyCar
- Lead race engineer, Andretti Autosport
- IMSA technical lead, Vasser Sullivan
- Vice president of competition and race engineering, IndyCar
You should pursue the most rigorous high school curriculum available to you. Succeeding in challenging courses will make you a stronger candidate for Purdue’s competitive admission process and better prepare you for college success.
Minimum high school coursework (many applicants exceed these minimums):
- Math – 4 years
- English – 4 years
- Lab science – 3 years
- Social studies – 3 years
- World language – 2 years
In addition to meeting or exceeding the minimum high school course requirements, our holistic review process places particular emphasis on key academic courses such as:
- Calculus (if available at high school)
- Four years of laboratory sciences, including:
- Biology
- Chemistry (expected)
- Physics (if available at high school)
Connect
College of Engineering
Explore nearly 20 majors in one of the best engineering schools in the country for academics and career preparation.
Contact
Office of Future Engineers
(765) 494-3975
future-engineers@purdue.edu
Visit
Experience for yourself all that Purdue has to offer with opportunities to explore in-person or virtually.
Apply
Ready to take the next step? Apply to begin your journey at Purdue in engineering.
Reed England
Fueled by a lifelong passion for racing, Reed England found his perfect fit in Purdue’s one-of-a-kind motorsports engineering program in Indianapolis. From volunteering at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to working trackside with professional teams, Reed is turning his love for motorsports into a fast-paced career.
Lizzie Todd
Lizzie Todd fell in love with IndyCar racing as an 8-year-old attending the Indianapolis 500. The motorsports engineering alumna turned that childhood passion into a career. She now works as a systems engineer for driver Pato O’Ward and the Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team.
Transfer to Motorsports Engineering
Purdue admits to individual majors. Transfer students must meet Purdue’s overall transfer criteria, as well as any major-specific requirements. Before you apply, check the closed programs page to confirm this major is open to transfer students. If it is, refer to the information below for major-specific transfer criteria.
- Minimum 3.0 GPA
- For detailed admissions requirements to transfer into any of Purdue’s engineering majors, review our engineering transfer criteria.
