Life in Greater Lafayette - Purdue Business

Greater Lafayette consists of Lafayette, West Lafayette, and smaller towns in surroundings counties, and is within driving distance to a number of lively American cities — Chicago, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Louisville and Nashville. Greater Lafayette boasts a welcoming, friendly Midwestern culture.

The area is on Eastern Daylight Time, same as New York City, and we typically experience four seasons — warm summers, cold winters, and mild weather most of the spring and autumn.

You’ll discover a wealth of options for cultural and outdoor activities, student life, housing, sport and fitness activities for health, food and shopping, with access to public transportation to help you reach your destinations.

Where to Live?

You can choose between on and off-campus housing.

For off-campus housing, explore

Off-campus Housing Purdue Housing Guide

For on-campus housing, explore

Purdue University Residences

Things To Do

Between Purdue Convocations, student organization events, clubs, sporting events, Lafayette’s broad array of offerings, day trips to nearby cities and outdoor delights, you’ll never lack activities to enrich your experience at Purdue.

Find events, activities, unique shops and restaurants in downtown Lafayette, just over the Wabash River from campus (never fear: there's a lovely pedestrian bridge).
For the full array of organization and school activities, including farmer’s markets, club and organization events, check the Purdue calendar.
Purdue Convocations offers a cosmopolitan menu of concerts, dance performances, Broadway and theater productions and more.

Access a wide selection of events through on-campus cultural centers:

Day Trips & Transportation

Indianapolis is one hour southeast
Chicago is two hours northwest
St. Louis is four hours southwest
Columbus, Ohio, is three hours east
Cincinnati is three hours southeast
Louisville is three hours south
Milwaukee is three and a half hours north
Detroit is four and a half hours northeast
Nashville is five and a half hours south

Lafayette Limo & Reindeer Shuttle are available for day trips to Indianapolis, Chicago and nearby airports, including Indianapolis International Airport (IND) and Chicago’s O’Hare Airport (ORD).

Health & Fitness

Lafayette's YMCA offers family, group and personal fitness, swimming and other activities.
For intramural sports, wall climbing, swimming, personal fitness or group classes, access Purdue’s Co-Rec on campus.
Participate in a number of 5K and 10K runs (Purdue Institute for Cancer Research, Lafayette Urban Ministry Turkey Trot, Riverfest Water Drop, Harvest Hustle, Race for Hope) as well as the annual Subaru CASA Cycling Challenge and Boilermaker half-marathon and 5K.
Purdue Student Health offers primary care for acute and chronic medical conditions, some prescriptions, reproductive/sexual health, physical therapy and more.
Need a physical, vaccines, treatment for common illness, allergy shot or dietary coaching? Purdue’s Center for Healthy Living offers a number of basic medical services to students.
Need specialized or emergency care? Find screenings and tests, specialized medicine and emergency care in the Franciscan and IU health networks.

Big Ten Sports

Purdue is a member of the Big Ten Conference. The Boilermakers draw crowds for their winning sports.

Experience Boilermaker football at Ross-Ade Stadium.
Get loud at Mackey Arena, home of the university's basketball teams.
Explore Purdue Sports for info on soccer, volleyball, tennis, softball, golf, cross country and more.

Boiler Up! Hammer Down!

Three images - one of Purdue's Ross Ade football stadium, one of Purdue's Mackie Arena for basketball, and one of a Purdue swimmer diving into a pool