Purdue University in Indianapolis is currently the only university in the United States to offer an accredited motorsports engineering degree. Previously housed under Indiana University Purdue University (IUPUI), the motorsports engineering program has transitioned fully to Purdue University, bringing new opportunities for students.
The program aims to educate students in motorsports and automotive engineering sciences through both classroom-based and hands-on learning. Earlier this year, Purdue motorsports and Dallara, an Italian race car manufacturer, formed an official partnership to hold the program at the Dallara Experience Hub in Speedway. The company was founded by Giampaolo Dallara, who worked at Ferrari as their chief designer, later moving to companies like Maserati, Lamborghini and De Tomaso to design notable sports cars like the Miura P400 and the Maserati Tipo 151.
Currently there are about 60 continuing students from IUPUI and 200 students who started the program in the past two fall terms. Enrollment for fall 2026 is expected to surpass the 2025 cohort.
“Current growth models indicate the program will support 300 to 500 total students from sophomore through senior year,” said Christopher Finch, a professor of engineering practice. “We will have further developed our partnership with Dallara and other industry partners. Our goal is to be recognized in the international racing industry which we are working diligently to achieve.”
Although the program is now separated from IUPUI, it continues to provide the same education to students already enrolled, along with a new plan of study which took effect for students enrolled this semester.
“A new plan of study for the program was in motion before the transition [from IUPUI],” Finch said. “The new plan of study was approved last year, and this is the pathway newly enrolled students are following. Our constant optimization of the program benefits new students and continuing students as the support of the school is allowing us to improve the lab and experiential opportunities for the students.”
While the motorsports program itself has been a success, the dual-degree program with mechanical engineering, previously at IUPUI, was discontinued for incoming students because it was not approved by the undergraduate curriculum committee. It remains available for continuing students.
Finch encourages those interested in the dual-degree program to seek the four-plus-one bachelor’s and master’s pathway instead, which allows for students to graduate with both degrees in the same amount of time.
“Due to the increasing challenges in the motorsports industry,” Finch said. “Members of our industry advisory board support the [four-plus-one] option for students, as it provides the students with deeper technical knowledge in their chosen discipline.”
Despite the cut of the dual-degree program, motorsports at Purdue in Indianapolis remains a successful and growing program, right in the heart of the racing capital of the world.
“Purdue University and the School of Mechanical Engineering fully supports the growth and development of the program,” Finch said. “The goal is for motorsports engineering and mechanical engineering to be the flagship engineering programs in Indianapolis.”
Melanie Contreras is a sophomore majoring in journalism with a minor in video production and a paralegal studies certificate in progress. She is the culture and politics editor for The Campus Citizen. She enjoys drinking coffee and being a social advocate for the community.
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