IPFW vs. BGSU

Deciding between Purdue University Fort Wayne and Bowling Green State University Main Campus? 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.

Purdue University Fort Wayne
Bowling Green State University Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • IPFW Fort Wayne, IN
  • BGSU Bowling Green, OH
  • Setting
  • IPFW Large City
  • BGSU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • IPFW 7,206
  • BGSU 17,594
  • Type
  • IPFW Public 4 Year
  • BGSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IPFW #761
  • BGSU #690
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IPFW -
  • BGSU -
  • Status
  • IPFW Non-profit
  • BGSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IPFW
  • BGSU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IPFW $9,532
  • BGSU $14,460
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IPFW $22,887
  • BGSU $22,448
  • Room & Board
  • IPFW $11,669
  • BGSU $14,508
  • Average Net Price
  • IPFW $14,735
  • BGSU $24,283
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IPFW $7,135
  • BGSU $9,310
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IPFW 95%
  • BGSU 96%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IPFW 7,631
  • BGSU 21,153
  • Admitted
  • IPFW 6,402
  • BGSU 17,125
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IPFW 83.9%
  • BGSU 81%
  • Enrolled
  • IPFW 21.4%
  • BGSU 20.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IPFW 1100
  • BGSU 1110
  • Typical ACT score
  • IPFW 25
  • BGSU 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • IPFW 3.37
  • BGSU 3.6
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IPFW B+
  • BGSU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • IPFW Average
  • BGSU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • IPFW
  • BGSU
  • ACT Range
  • IPFW 22/29
  • BGSU 19/26
  • SAT Range
  • IPFW 970/1220
  • BGSU 1000/1210
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IPFW Test optional
  • BGSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IPFW Aug 1, 2027
  • BGSU Jul 15, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IPFW 13:1
  • BGSU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IPFW
    • Business (19%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (17%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
  • BGSU
    • Education (19%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IPFW 26%
  • BGSU 58%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IPFW $38,600
  • BGSU $43,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IPFW 51%
  • BGSU 53%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IPFW $24,500
  • BGSU $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IPFW $253
  • BGSU $268
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IPFW 51%
  • BGSU 43%
  • % Women
  • IPFW 49%
  • BGSU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IPFW Low
  • BGSU Low
  • HBCU
  • IPFW No
  • BGSU No
  • % White
  • IPFW 82%
  • BGSU 78%
  • % Asian
  • IPFW 3%
  • BGSU 1%
  • % Black
  • IPFW 5%
  • BGSU 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • IPFW 5%
  • BGSU 4%
  • % Native American
  • IPFW 0%
  • BGSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IPFW 0%
  • BGSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IPFW 3%
  • BGSU 3%
  • % International
  • IPFW 2%
  • BGSU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IPFW 0%
  • BGSU 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IPFW 90%
  • BGSU 84%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IPFW 9%
  • BGSU 13%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Purdue University Fort Wayne in Fort Wayne, IN with Bowling Green State University Main Campus in Bowling Green, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Bowling Green State University Main Campus is larger than IPFW based on total student enrollment (17,594 students vs. 7,206 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Purdue University Fort Wayne is located in Fort Wayne, IN (Large City setting); Bowling Green State University Main Campus is in Bowling Green, OH (Distant Town setting).
  • Purdue University Fort Wayne is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Purdue University Fort Wayne 13:1; Bowling Green State University Main Campus 17:1.

IPFW vs. BGSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IPFW or BGSU? 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 BGSU ($14,735 vs. $24,283).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Fort Wayne are 19.6% lower than at Bowling Green State University Main Campus ($11,669 vs. $14,508).
  • Bowling Green State University Main Campus is 51.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than IPFW (about $4,928 more per year; $14,460.00 vs. $9,532.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2% higher at IPFW than at Bowling Green State University Main Campus (about $439 more per year; $22,887.00 vs. $22,448.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bowling Green State University Main Campus than at Purdue University Fort Wayne (96% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bowling Green State University Main Campus students is 30.5% larger than aid received by Purdue University Fort Wayne students ($9,310 vs. $7,135).

IPFW vs. BGSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, IPFW or BGSU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between BGSU and IPFW.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Bowling Green State University Main Campus (1110) is 10 points higher than at IPFW (1100).
  • Incoming IPFW students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 22 at BGSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Purdue University Fort Wayne 970/1220; Bowling Green State University Main Campus 1000/1210.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Purdue University Fort Wayne 22/29; Bowling Green State University Main Campus 19/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IPFW - Test optional; BGSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: IPFW Aug 1, 2027; BGSU Jul 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman BGSU students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at IPFW (3.37).
  • IPFW has a higher acceptance rate (83.9%) than BGSU (81%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.4% at IPFW vs. 20.6% at BGSU.

IPFW vs. BGSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IPFW and BGSU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Bowling Green State University Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (58%) is higher than Purdue University Fort Wayne's (26%).
  • Graduates from Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn a median of about $5,000 more per year than IPFW graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,600 vs. $38,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Purdue University Fort Wayne graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than BGSU graduates ($24,500 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, IPFW graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BGSU graduates ($253 vs. $268).
  • More BGSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IPFW students, three years after graduation. (53% 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.