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ANALYSIS
Purdue University and Indiana University are both using H-1B visas to fill data science and software engineering roles, despite Indiana’s wealth of qualified American candidates. The decision drew criticism from an expert on tech workers and H-1B visas.
Purdue University’s most recent filing shows an intent to hire a senior data scientist under an H-1B visa. The position has a salary range of $86,091 to $129,500 and is scheduled to begin in November 2025 and run through November 2028. The remote “primary worksite” is in North Carolina.
Despite Purdue’s strong STEM programs and large alumni network with relevant degrees, Purdue hired a foreign worker for this role. In fact, Purdue ranked number five in the nation for having the largest number of STEM graduates, and it still invests heavily in the STEM sector.
State Representative Andrew Ireland drew attention to these job postings on his X account.
The Fix contacted the Republican representative about why he thinks universities use the H-1B program, why the entry-level postings are particularly concerning, and what his office plans to do about the H-1B hirings. His secretary was unable to get a response.
This is only one role among the 13 currently posted, each offering remote and in-person STEM research and faculty positions for foreign workers. The paid positions have starting salaries of at least $63,270.96, some exceeding six figures.
The roles include postdoctoral research assistants and data analysts.
Purdue University did not respond to multiple requests for information via email and through voicemail in the past several weeks. The Fix asked about U.S. applicant numbers and interviews, recruitment efforts, reasons American applicants were deemed unqualified, and whether the practice aligns with Purdue’s public mission.
Most departments on the listings also did not respond, but the School of Engineering Education’s head and administrative assistant did say they were not involved in the foreign hiring practices.
Indiana University also posted a filing with an intent to hire two associate software engineers under H-1B visas, despite the availability of qualified graduates from IU. The positions each have a salary of $70,533 and are from the beginning of 2026 to the end of 2028.
Indiana University did not respond to multiple requests for information via email and through voicemail in the past several weeks.
However, the executive director of the Institute for Sound Public Policy and founder of U.S. Tech Workers criticized the hiring decisions.
Kevin Lynn disagreed with the premise that universities are unable to find American labor in emailed comments sent to The Fix.
Those in the Optional Practical Training programs and J-1 visa holders“transition into H-1B jobs because H-1B status provides a path toward a green card,” Lynn wrote. “[T]hese uncapped pathways have encouraged universities to rely more on foreign STEM labor.”
This trend of hiring foreign labor means “[c]ompetition from foreign workers willing to accept lower salaries can suppress starting and mid-level pay for domestic graduates,” he continued. “Hiring foreign workers is often easier, cheaper, and more predictable.”
Indiana University hired 262 H-1B workers in fiscal year 2025, while Purdue hired 228.
Lynn also said by hiring H1B workers, universities are able to employ less expensive, less demanding, more compliant labor. Universities tend to only post the notices of intents to hire as a “formality”:
Legally, under the Labor Condition Application (LCA) rules administered by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), employers must notify their current workforce when filing an H-1B petition. This notice—typically posted in two conspicuous locations for at least 10 business days—is intended to inform current employees about the H-1B hire and ensure compliance with wage and working-condition protections.
In practice, universities often fulfill this obligation with minimal visibility, allowing them to meet the legal requirement while avoiding scrutiny over whether qualified U.S. graduates are being bypassed.
Lynn’s group is backing the American Tech Workforce Act of 2025, introduced by Senator Jim Banks. The bill aims “to protect American workers from unfair displacement by foreign workers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields.”
Senator Jim Banks did not respond to multiple requests for information via email and through voicemail in the past several weeks. The Fix asked whether Purdue’s and IU’s H-1B hiring aligns with the intent of the program and the American Tech Workforce Act, whether greater oversight is needed, and why the universities say they cannot hire American workers.
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