Purdue University-Main Campus Athletics

Purdue competes in NCAA Division I, which means big-time college sports with athletic scholarships and national television coverage. The Boilermakers field 16 varsity teams and award $12.8 million in athletic scholarships to 540 student-athletes. That means only 1.4% of Purdue's 39,637 students compete at the varsity level, making it quite exclusive. The school competes in the Big Ten Conference, one of college sports' most competitive leagues, and has a heated rivalry with Indiana University that goes back over a century. Purdue basketball has a strong tradition, regularly making the NCAA tournament and playing in front of packed crowds at Mackey Arena. The football team has had some solid seasons recently and plays in a 57,000-seat stadium that creates an electric atmosphere on game days.