IPFW vs. CMU

Deciding between Purdue University Fort Wayne and Central Michigan University? 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
Central Michigan University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • IPFW Fort Wayne, IN
  • CMU Mount Pleasant, MI
  • Setting
  • IPFW Large City
  • CMU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • IPFW 7,206
  • CMU 14,488
  • Type
  • IPFW Public 4 Year
  • CMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IPFW #761
  • CMU #782
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IPFW -
  • CMU -
  • Status
  • IPFW Non-profit
  • CMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IPFW
  • CMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IPFW $9,532
  • CMU $14,760
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IPFW $22,887
  • CMU $14,760
  • Room & Board
  • IPFW $11,669
  • CMU $12,564
  • Average Net Price
  • IPFW $14,735
  • CMU $17,575
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IPFW $7,135
  • CMU $13,042
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IPFW 95%
  • CMU 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IPFW 7,631
  • CMU 21,969
  • Admitted
  • IPFW 6,402
  • CMU 19,732
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IPFW 83.9%
  • CMU 89.8%
  • Enrolled
  • IPFW 21.4%
  • CMU 11.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IPFW 1100
  • CMU 1080
  • Typical ACT score
  • IPFW 25
  • CMU 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • IPFW 3.37
  • CMU 3.47
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IPFW B+
  • CMU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • IPFW Average
  • CMU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • IPFW
  • CMU
  • ACT Range
  • IPFW 22/29
  • CMU 21/27
  • SAT Range
  • IPFW 970/1220
  • CMU 960/1200
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IPFW Test optional
  • CMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IPFW Aug 1, 2027
  • CMU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IPFW 13:1
  • CMU 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IPFW
    • Business (19%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (17%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
  • CMU
    • Business (24%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IPFW 26%
  • CMU 54%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IPFW $38,600
  • CMU $44,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IPFW 51%
  • CMU 54%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IPFW $24,500
  • CMU $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IPFW $253
  • CMU $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IPFW 51%
  • CMU 39%
  • % Women
  • IPFW 49%
  • CMU 61%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IPFW Low
  • CMU Low
  • HBCU
  • IPFW No
  • CMU No
  • % White
  • IPFW 82%
  • CMU 79%
  • % Asian
  • IPFW 3%
  • CMU 1%
  • % Black
  • IPFW 5%
  • CMU 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • IPFW 5%
  • CMU 4%
  • % Native American
  • IPFW 0%
  • CMU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IPFW 0%
  • CMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IPFW 3%
  • CMU 3%
  • % International
  • IPFW 2%
  • CMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IPFW 0%
  • CMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IPFW 90%
  • CMU 88%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IPFW 9%
  • CMU 9%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Purdue University Fort Wayne in Fort Wayne, IN with Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Central Michigan University is larger than IPFW based on total student enrollment (14,488 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); Central Michigan University is in Mount Pleasant, MI (Distant Town setting).
  • Purdue University Fort Wayne is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Central Michigan University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Purdue University Fort Wayne 13:1; Central Michigan University 16:1.

IPFW vs. CMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IPFW or CMU? 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 CMU ($14,735 vs. $17,575).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Fort Wayne are 7.1% lower than at Central Michigan University ($11,669 vs. $12,564).
  • Central Michigan University is 54.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than IPFW (about $5,228 more per year; $14,760.00 vs. $9,532.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 55.1% higher at IPFW than at Central Michigan University (about $8,127 more per year; $22,887.00 vs. $14,760.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Purdue University Fort Wayne than at Central Michigan University (95% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Central Michigan University students is 82.8% larger than aid received by Purdue University Fort Wayne students ($13,042 vs. $7,135).

IPFW vs. CMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, IPFW or CMU? 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 CMU and IPFW.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Purdue University Fort Wayne (1100) is 20 points higher than at CMU (1080).
  • Incoming IPFW students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 24 at CMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Purdue University Fort Wayne 970/1220; Central Michigan University 960/1200.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Purdue University Fort Wayne 22/29; Central Michigan University 21/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IPFW - Test optional; CMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: IPFW Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman CMU students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.47) than students at IPFW (3.37).
  • CMU has a higher acceptance rate (89.8%) than IPFW (83.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.4% at IPFW vs. 11.3% at CMU.

IPFW vs. CMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IPFW and CMU? 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).

  • Central Michigan University's six-year graduation rate (54%) is higher than Purdue University Fort Wayne's (26%).
  • Graduates from Central Michigan University earn a median of about $5,900 more per year than IPFW graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,500 vs. $38,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Purdue University Fort Wayne graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than CMU graduates ($24,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, IPFW graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CMU graduates ($253 vs. $279).
  • More CMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IPFW students, three years after graduation. (54% 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.