The Purdue Exponent
The Purdue Exponent is an independent, student-run college newspaper founded in 1889 that serves Purdue University and the Greater Lafayette, Indiana community across digital, print, podcast, and merchandise channels under the nonprofit Purdue Student Publishing Foundation.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1889
- HeadquartersWest Lafayette, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Purdue Exponent does
The Purdue Exponent is an independent, student-run college newspaper serving Purdue University and the Greater Lafayette, Indiana community. Founded in 1889 and operated by the Purdue Student Publishing Foundation, a nonprofit, it is one of the oldest collegiate publications in the region and functions as the campus paper of record. The publication's primary product is a digital news website (purdueexponent.org) covering campus news, city and state politics, Big Ten sports, opinion, visual arts, and puzzles, supported by a print edition distributed across campus and the surrounding area.
The platform is built on the BLOX Content Management System from BLOX Digital, which handles content management, digital delivery, and syndication through the BLOX Digital Content Exchange. The organization has extended its surface area beyond the core newspaper with several adjacent products: The Hub (exponenthub.org) for merchandise, distribution mapping, and student services; The Rivet, an arts and culture sub-brand; The Root podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube; a twice-weekly email newsletter; and annual Salary Guides covering Greater Lafayette compensation data, published as downloadable PDFs since at least 2023.
Revenue is generated through three primary streams: display and classified advertising on the website and in print, paid print and digital subscriptions with home delivery, and tax-deductible donations to the Purdue Student Publishing Foundation. Branded merchandise sales through the Exponent Hub add a secondary commerce revenue line. Distribution is regional — concentrated in West Lafayette, Lafayette, and the broader Tippecanoe County area — with no indicated geographic expansion beyond the Purdue market. The organization is privately held as a nonprofit, has no venture capital or private equity involvement, and is managed by student staff with faculty advisors.
The Purdue Exponent firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Purdue Exponent
- Legal name
- Purdue Exponent
- Website
- https://purdueexponent.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1889
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Purdue Exponent is an independent, student-run college newspaper founded in 1889 that serves Purdue University and the Greater Lafayette, Indiana community across digital, print, podcast, and merchandise channels under the nonprofit Purdue Student Publishing Foundation.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Purdue Exponent industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Student Newspaper
- NAICS
- Newspaper Publishers (51311)
- SIC
- Newspapers: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2711)
- akta.pro primary industry
- University/Educational Local Stations (College Radio, Campus TV) (MPABACAH)
Keywords
Where The Purdue Exponent is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- West Lafayette
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
The Purdue Exponent business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Advertising: The newspaper generates revenue through display and classified advertising on its website and in print editions, serving local and campus-based businesses.
- Subscriptions: Paid subscriptions for home delivery and digital access to content, with options for newsletter and direct delivery services.
- Donations: The Purdue Student Publishing Foundation accepts donations to support the independent student newspaper.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Home delivery subscription |
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
The Purdue Exponent product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Purdue Exponent is an independent student-run newspaper that publishes daily campus, city, sports, opinion, visual, and arts coverage for Purdue University and the Greater Lafayette community across a responsive digital website, a print edition, and supplementary podcast and newsletter channels. The publication is administered by the Purdue Student Publishing Foundation and supported through advertising sales, paid subscriptions, and donations.
Product overview
The Purdue Exponent is a student-run newspaper platform serving Purdue University and Greater Lafayette. The core offering is the digital news website at purdueexponent.org, which publishes content across multiple sections including Campus, City, Sports, Opinions, Visuals, Rivet, and Puzzles. The organization operates The Exponent Hub for merchandise and distribution services, maintains a podcast (The Root) on Apple Podcasts, offers newsletter and print subscription services, and publishes annual Salary Guides. The platform is built on BLOX CMS from TownNews/BLOX Digital.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- The Hub: Online destination for Purdue student news, merchandise, and distribution information
- The Rivet
- Exponent Merchandise
Products and services
- The Purdue Exponent Newspaper (Print and Digital Subscription) Independent student newspaper published across print and digital editions, covering Purdue University campus news, Greater Lafayette community events, Big Ten sports, opinion, and visual arts. Targeted at Purdue students, faculty, and Greater Lafayette residents.
- Newsletter Subscription Email newsletter service that delivers twice-weekly headline updates and news content directly to subscribers.
- The Purdue Exponent Presents: The Root Podcast Podcast series featuring coverage and discussions related to Purdue University topics, available on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
- Exponent Merchandise Branded merchandise storefront selling Purdue Exponent-related apparel and goods to readers and alumni.
- The Exponent Hub Online hub providing student-focused content, a distribution map of pickup locations, and merchandise sales for The Purdue Exponent.
Companies that use The Purdue Exponent
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Purdue Exponent technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Purdue Exponent partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- BLOX DigitalcoreBLOX Digital provides the BLOX Content Management System (BLOX CMS) that powers The Purdue Exponent's website and digital publishing operations. The system handles content management, digital delivery, and syndication through the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Purdue Exponent competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Indiana Daily Student: Indiana University's independent student newspaper covering campus news and Big Ten athletics — highly comparable as a fellow Indiana / Big Ten publication serving a major public university student body and surrounding community.
- The Stanford Daily: Independent student newspaper at Stanford covering campus, athletics, and local Palo Alto news — directly comparable in mission and revenue model to The Purdue Exponent.
- The Daily Pennsylvanian: Independent student newspaper at the University of Pennsylvania — comparable structure (nonprofit/independent of administration), digital + print operations, and audience (university + Philadelphia-local readers).
- The Michigan Daily: Independent daily student newspaper at the University of Michigan covering campus, city, and Big Ten sports — a near-twin in editorial scope, revenue model (ads/subscriptions/donations), and audience (large Big Ten campus + local community).
- The Daily Targum: Independent student newspaper at Rutgers University covering campus news and Big Ten athletics — comparable Big Ten campus media context and multi-channel distribution.
- The Daily Northwestern: Independent student newspaper serving Northwestern University with print, digital, and multimedia operations — directly comparable in mission, structure (independent of university administration), and business model to The Purdue Exponent.
- The Cornell Daily Sun: Independent daily student newspaper at Cornell University — comparable as an editorially independent campus publication covering university news, sports, and local community.
- The Badger Herald: Independent student newspaper at the University of Wisconsin — comparable as a fellow Big Ten campus publication serving students and local community with advertising and subscription revenue.
- The Daily Illini: Independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois serving a Big Ten campus and surrounding community — directly comparable in audience, geographic model, and revenue mix.
Broad incumbents
- Gannett: Largest U.S. local newspaper chain (USA TODAY network) operating hundreds of community papers — relevant as a broad incumbent whose local papers compete with the Exponent for Greater Lafayette readers and advertising dollars.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Purdue Exponent social profiles
Digital presenceThe Purdue Exponent financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Purdue Exponent leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
The Purdue Exponent subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
The Purdue Exponent funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Purdue Exponent M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Purdue Exponent
What does The Purdue Exponent do?
The Purdue Exponent is an independent student-run newspaper that publishes daily campus, city, sports, opinion, visual, and arts coverage for Purdue University and the Greater Lafayette community across a responsive digital website, a print edition, and supplementary podcast and newsletter channels. The publication is administered by the Purdue Student Publishing Foundation and supported through advertising sales, paid subscriptions, and donations.
Is The Purdue Exponent a public or private company?
The Purdue Exponent is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Purdue Exponent founded?
The Purdue Exponent was founded in 1889. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Purdue Exponent based?
The Purdue Exponent is headquartered in West Lafayette, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Purdue Exponent make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Advertising is the primary driver. The others are subscriptions and donations.
Who are The Purdue Exponent's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Indiana Daily Student, The Stanford Daily, The Daily Pennsylvanian, The Michigan Daily, The Daily Targum, The Daily Northwestern, The Cornell Daily Sun, The Badger Herald and The Daily Illini. Gannett is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does The Purdue Exponent have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Purdue Exponent.
What industry is The Purdue Exponent in?
The Purdue Exponent's product category is Student Newspaper. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABACAH, University/Educational Local Stations (College Radio, Campus TV). Its NAICS code is 51311 and its SIC code is 2711.