Lafayette Community

The Greater Lafayette area with a population of approximately 150,000 is located approximately two hours from Chicago and one hour from Indianapolis but maintains the security and beauty of a rural community.  Along with the scenic Wabash River, the greater Lafayette area is flanked by three picturesque state parks that provide an ideal setting for outdoor recreation such as canoeing, camping, hiking, and fishing.  Lafayette and West Lafayette have thriving economies with many job opportunities. The greater Lafayette area showcases its cultural diversity and rich history in several annual festivals. The area also is home to a large selection of theatre productions and live musical entertainment.

West Lafayette is home to the main campus of Purdue University, which has an enrollment of about 39,000 for the fall 2007 semester. Lafayette and West Lafayette are twin cities located on the Wabash river in north-central Indiana about 63 miles northwest of Indianapolis. The Lafayette area provides an excellent place to live while attending graduate school. The cost of living is affordable and is one of the lowest among cities containing a Big Ten University. Ample affordable housing for both single and married graduate students is available both on and off campus. There are virtually no problems with traffic or parking and the area has a low crime-rate, excellent schools, and first-rate cultural and recreational activities making the Lafayette area a comfortable and relaxed place to live. 

The Greater Lafayette community offers a wide variety of cultural activities and entertainment. There are excellent facilities for concerts and other performances both on campus and within the community. The Civic Theater of Lafayette features plays that are both locally produced and performed. For those with musical interests, the Lafayette Symphony Orchestra has an active concert series and holds auditions that provide opportunities for talented musicians. There are a number of small parks and historic sites within the Lafayette area such as the Tippecanoe Battle Field and Museum where the Battle of Tippecanoe took place in 1811. Fort Ouiatenon on the Wabash River near West Lafayette is the site of the popular Feast of the Hunter's Moon held annually in October.

The University has many activities of interest to our graduate students. Each year Purdue Convocations has a full schedule of performances by professional artists that includes plays and dance or musical concerts. The Purdue Band, Symphony Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble, Choir and other musical organizations give regular performances on campus. Of course, Purdue athletic teams compete in the Big Ten Conference with football and men's and women's basketball receiving the greatest interest. For athletic students that want to compete, a large number of intramural sports are available on campus. The Recreational Gymnasium (Co-Rec)  on campus provides indoor facilities for swimming, aerobics, jogging, volleyball, weight-lifting and similar activities. For additional insights into the campus environment and activities you may wish to visit the website for the Exponent, an independent student newspaper.

Those desiring a taste of urban life can visit the nearby cities of Indianapolis and Chicago. Indianapolis, a vibrant city with more than 1.6 million residents, can be reached by car in about one hour. Chicago, which is about 130 miles northwest of Purdue, is within driving distance and makes an excellent destination for a weekend getaway.