@leolions2016, I believe you are correct. It used to be that all of the merit aid was soaked up by the applicants to the STEM programs, since these are the hardest to get into at Purdue and so they typically attracted the higher stats applicants…leaving applicants to the other colleges (with typically lower stats) little hope of scholarships. Therefore, the merit aid was supposedly distributed more proportionately to all of the colleges.
It also used to be that Purdue offered automatic merit aid that was scaled to gpa/test scores (using a system similar to Alabama, though not as generous). However, Purdue switched to a “holistic” method, which gives Purdue the ability to give nothing to a 4.0/36 (who would get top merit in the old, “automatic” days), yet on the other hand perhaps give some merit aid to a 31/3.7 if the application appeals to them.
If you really like Purdue, and it is indeed a wonderful university, go ahead and apply. You never know what aid you might get. Just don’t set your heart on it, and be prepared to pay full fare.
Are you instate or OOS?
[QUOTE=""]
@mom2collegekids i don't have a specific goal in mind for a net cost,
[/QUOTE]
Well, your parents may have a goal in mind, so please ask them. Your “goal” may be irrelevant if they won’t pay your goal. 
<<<
my original goal was 1/2 half tuition which would be the Presidential scholarship.
[QUOTE=""]
[/QUOTE]
not likely
@mom2collegekids Instate. Paying full cost isn’t a problem, but I’ve worked hard in school to try to earn a merit scholarship. Since the scholarship evaluation is holistic, I am hopeful for a scholarship based on the entirety of my application and not just my ACT score. I believe that is the point of a “holistic” approach. I’m also hopeful due to the fact that I am applying to the biochemistry department of the School of Agriculture which is the most financially aided department at Purdue (40% receive scholarship aid). Any type of scholarship would be rewarding to me even if it wasn’t my original goal of 1/2 tuition.
@prospect1 $44046 was Purdue’s CoA quoted early last year, so the $45k is an estimate for this year. Same for the number I use for UIUC. It was $49780 last year. They may be slightly off depending on major.