Purdue

Gold text on a black background

John Purdue and Tippecanoe County donated land and money to establish Purdue University in 1869. Classes first began in 1874 with 6 instructors and 39 students. Purdue University is located in Lafayette, Indiana and is part of the Big Ten Conference for Division I collegiate sports. Purdue’s official colors are old gold and black. Their mascot is a boilermaker, which is a trained craftsman who creates steel fabrications.