ISU vs. IPFW

Deciding between Illinois State University and Purdue University Fort Wayne? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Illinois State University
Purdue University Fort Wayne

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ISU Normal, IL
  • IPFW Fort Wayne, IN
  • Setting
  • ISU Small City
  • IPFW Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • ISU 21,546
  • IPFW 7,206
  • Type
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • IPFW Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ISU #502
  • IPFW #761
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ISU -
  • IPFW -
  • Status
  • ISU Non-profit
  • IPFW Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ISU
  • IPFW

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ISU $16,144
  • IPFW $9,532
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ISU $28,210
  • IPFW $22,887
  • Room & Board
  • ISU $11,754
  • IPFW $11,669
  • Average Net Price
  • ISU $21,369
  • IPFW $14,735
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ISU $12,974
  • IPFW $7,135
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ISU 96%
  • IPFW 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ISU 21,573
  • IPFW 7,631
  • Admitted
  • ISU 19,017
  • IPFW 6,402
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ISU 88.2%
  • IPFW 83.9%
  • Enrolled
  • ISU 22.5%
  • IPFW 21.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ISU 1100
  • IPFW 1100
  • Typical ACT score
  • ISU 24
  • IPFW 25
  • Average High School GPA
  • ISU 3.41
  • IPFW 3.37
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ISU B+
  • IPFW B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • ISU Moderate
  • IPFW Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • ISU
  • IPFW
  • ACT Range
  • ISU 21/27
  • IPFW 22/29
  • SAT Range
  • ISU 990/1210
  • IPFW 970/1220
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ISU Test optional
  • IPFW Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ISU Apr 1, 2027
  • IPFW Aug 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ISU 19:1
  • IPFW 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Education (18%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • IPFW
    • Business (19%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (17%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ISU 71%
  • IPFW 26%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ISU $49,000
  • IPFW $38,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ISU 74%
  • IPFW 51%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ISU $22,000
  • IPFW $24,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ISU $227
  • IPFW $253

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ISU 42%
  • IPFW 51%
  • % Women
  • ISU 58%
  • IPFW 49%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ISU Low
  • IPFW Low
  • HBCU
  • ISU No
  • IPFW No
  • % White
  • ISU 77%
  • IPFW 82%
  • % Asian
  • ISU 2%
  • IPFW 3%
  • % Black
  • ISU 8%
  • IPFW 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • ISU 9%
  • IPFW 5%
  • % Native American
  • ISU 0%
  • IPFW 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ISU 0%
  • IPFW 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ISU 3%
  • IPFW 3%
  • % International
  • ISU 0%
  • IPFW 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ISU 0%
  • IPFW 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ISU 96%
  • IPFW 90%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ISU 3%
  • IPFW 9%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • ISU Yes
  • IPFW Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • ISU No
  • IPFW No
  • Meal Plan
  • ISU Yes
  • IPFW No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • ISU No
  • IPFW Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • ISU Yes
  • IPFW No

Comparable Facts

Compare Illinois State University in Normal, IL with Purdue University Fort Wayne in Fort Wayne, IN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Illinois State University is larger than IPFW based on total student enrollment (21,546 students vs. 7,206 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois State University is located in Normal, IL (Small City setting); Purdue University Fort Wayne is in Fort Wayne, IN (Large City setting).
  • Illinois State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Purdue University Fort Wayne is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois State University 19:1; Purdue University Fort Wayne 13:1.

ISU vs. IPFW Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU or IPFW? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Purdue University Fort Wayne than ISU ($14,735 vs. $21,369).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Fort Wayne are 0.7% lower than at Illinois State University ($11,669 vs. $11,754).
  • Illinois State University is 69.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than IPFW (about $6,612 more per year; $16,144.00 vs. $9,532.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 23.3% higher at ISU than at Purdue University Fort Wayne (about $5,323 more per year; $28,210.00 vs. $22,887.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Illinois State University than at Purdue University Fort Wayne (96% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois State University students is 81.8% larger than aid received by Purdue University Fort Wayne students ($12,974 vs. $7,135).

ISU vs. IPFW Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ISU or IPFW? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between IPFW and ISU.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Illinois State University (1100) is the same as at IPFW (1100).
  • Incoming IPFW students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (25 vs. 24 at ISU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Illinois State University 990/1210; Purdue University Fort Wayne 970/1220.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Illinois State University 21/27; Purdue University Fort Wayne 22/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ISU - Test optional; IPFW - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: ISU Apr 1, 2027; IPFW Aug 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman ISU students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at IPFW (3.37).
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (88.2%) than IPFW (83.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.5% at ISU vs. 21.4% at IPFW.

ISU vs. IPFW Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ISU and IPFW? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Illinois State University's six-year graduation rate (71%) is higher than Purdue University Fort Wayne's (26%).
  • Graduates from Illinois State University earn a median of about $10,400 more per year than IPFW graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,000 vs. $38,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Illinois State University graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than IPFW graduates ($22,000 vs. $24,500).
  • Among borrowers, ISU graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IPFW graduates ($227 vs. $253).
  • More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IPFW students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 51%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.