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Purdue University - Parking - College ProwlerCollege Prowler3.08

Parking

B-
Where does this grade come from?View all Parking rankingsReview this school to add your opinion

Comparable Schools' Parking Grades:

Quick Stats

Student Parking Lot? Yes
There are many lots, plus several parking garages.
Freshmen Allowed to Park? No
Approximate Parking Permit Cost $40–$70
Common Parking Tickets
  • Expired meter: $20
  • Loading zone: $20
  • No parking zone: $20
  • Parking in an “A” zpot: $25
  • Reserved parking: $25
  • University parking only: $25

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

Parking on any college campus is a nightmare, but at least it’s an organized nightmare at Purdue. Parking garages and spaces open up after 5 p.m., making it safe and easy for students living off campus to participate in evening activities. Sure, the “C” parking spots feel like they’re a mile away, but shuttles are provided from the lots to campus, so you don’t even have to walk if you don’t feel like it. Really, it’s not as bad as people make it out to be. That being said, Purdue has increased the number of “C” permits issued, but decreased the number of “C” parking spots. Plus, if you choose to illegally park in, say, a loading zone or an “A” spot, you run the risk of being caught by what students affectionately refer to as the “parking Nazis.”

The one bright spot in this ominous gloom is that Purdue’s campus is laid out in such a way that driving around campus is unnecessary. Shuttles transport students for free from the major apartment complexes, and the excellent CityBus system provides free and easy transport from the Greater Lafayette area. Freshmen, leave your cars at home this first year—you can walk practically anywhere, and it’s much easier than incurring the wrath of the parking gods, who will bestow hefty parking fines on you.

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Purdue Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Parking at Purdue University

csonafrank

'15

Biology and Biological Sciences

3.5
B

Expensive Parking

Parking permits for parking Garages or various parking spots around campus are expensive. As for the few free parking spots... Good luck getting one. There are parking garages very close to the academic campus, and the dorms as well though.

Feb 01, 2012

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Parking at Purdue University

sbyerley

'15

Animal Sciences

3.5
B

Strict, Hard to Find Spots

As a freshman, you get the worst parking. Give yourself time to find a spot before your classes start. Permit prices are high. I have seen many tickets on cars parked in restricted areas.

Jan 28, 2012

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Parking at Purdue University

boilercat

'14

Physics

4.2
A-

Purdue Parking

As a freshmen, it might be more difficult to have a car on campus, but sophomore+ as long as you're in the dorms you're guaranteed parking. A permit costs $150 for the year and you have to make sure you're parked in designated spots. I don't know how driving to campus works. There are opportunities to get a permit, but if you live too close it isn't allowed. Living on campus, parking can be a pain sometimes, but overall it's reasonable. There is no immediate need for a car on campus, the buses will take you anywhere you want to go.

Jan 16, 2012

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Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Rate the campus parking on the following topics

How convenient is off-campus parking?

Facts

Getting a Parking Permit

Any registered student whose local place of residence is at least 1.5 miles from campus may purchase a C permit for $40 per year. This is the parking pass that most students have. Students employed by Purdue at least 30 hours per week are eligible to purchase an “A” permit for $96 per year, or a “B” permit for $40 per year. These passes get the best parking spots, but you only get them if you work for the University, and they are quite limited. You also have the option of purchasing “C” garage permits instead of “C” lot permits. These allow you to park in a specific parking garage. However, these are only available through an application process. Students living in residence halls have the option for purchasing a residence hall pass, which is a stellar option if you have a car but still live in the dorms.

Did You Know?

Best Places to Find a Parking Spot:
• Residence hall parking lots
• C garages
• The stadium parking lot
• Anywhere on West Lafayette streets
• Anywhere after 5 p.m.

Good Luck Getting a Parking Spot Here!
• Metered parking outside residence halls
• Along the street during class hours

Watch Out!
Be sure to pay your parking tickets right away. If you have three unpaid tickets, and you get a fourth, a bright yellow boot gets put on your car, and you have to pay enormous amounts of money to get it taken off!

Do You Like To Play With Fire?
If you’re that pressed for time and need a parking spot, pronto, try parking in a loading zone (the best spots are the ones around Elliot Hall of Music). It’s sort of like playing Russian roulette—you may get a ticket, you may not. Many of my friends did this, and it was about a 50-50 chance that they would get a ticket.

Parking ServicesWhat's This?

Parking Facilities Office
1877 Visitor Information Center
504 Northwestern Ave.
(765) 494-9494

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Most Recent Student Author

College Prowler guides are in the hands of students throughout the entire process. Because you can't make student-written guides without the students, we have students at each campus who write, edit, and survey their peers for every guide that we publish. Thanks to our most recent student author at Purdue

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Hometown: Unknown

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