IPFW vs. NDSU

Should I go to Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne or North Dakota State University Main Campus? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if IPFW or NDSU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne vs. North Dakota State University Main Campus comparison
Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne North Dakota State University Main Campus College 3 College 4
Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne North Dakota State University Main Campus
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Overview

 IPFW NDSU
Location Fort Wayne, IN Fargo, ND
Setting Large City Midsize City
Enrollment 9,069 12,242
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #848 #568
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ipfw.edu ndsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 IPFW NDSU
Tuition (In State) $7,815 $9,309
Tuition (Out of State) $20,403 $13,963
Room & Board $10,111 $9,300
Avg Net Price $11,951 $15,962
Avg Grant Aid $7,432 $5,732
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 77%

Admission

 IPFW NDSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,853 8,535
Admitted 4,721 8,166
Acceptance Rate 80.7% 95.7%
Enrolled % 25.6% 30.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.37 3.53
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 20/26 19/25
SAT Range 980/1210 968/1216
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025 Aug 1, 2025

Academics

 IPFW NDSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (19%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (17%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Engineering Technology (8%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Engineering (14%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Agriculture (8%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

 IPFW NDSU
Graduation Rate 26% 54%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,600 $53,600
Making Student Loan Payments 51% 81%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,500 $23,300
Median Loan Payment $253 $240

Diversity

 IPFW NDSU
% Men 48% 49%
% Women 52% 51%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 82% 86%
% Black 5% 3%
% Hispanic 5% 2%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 2% 3%
% Unknown Race 0% 2%

Students

 IPFW NDSU
% In-State 85% 35%
% Out-of-State 11% 65%

Campus

 IPFW NDSU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan No Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • North Dakota State University Main Campus is larger than than IPFW based on total student enrollment (12,242 students vs. 9,069 students)

IPFW vs. NDSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IPFW or NDSU?

  • North Dakota State University Main Campus is 19.1% more expensive to attend than IPFW for in-state tuition ($9,309.00 vs. $7,815.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 46.1% higher at IPFW than North Dakota State University Main Campus ($20,403.00 vs. $13,963.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne than NDSU ($11,951 vs. $15,962)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at North Dakota State University Main Campus are 8.7% lower than costs at Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne ($9,300 vs. $10,111)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne than North Dakota State University Main Campus (100% vs. 77%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne students is 29.7% larger than aid received North Dakota State University Main Campus ($7,432 vs. $5,732)

IPFW vs. NDSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, IPFW or NDSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NDSU or IPFW .

  • The average SAT score at North Dakota State University Main Campus (1091) is 96 points higher than at IPFW (995)
  • Incoming NDSU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at IPFW (22)
  • Accepted freshman NDSU students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at IPFW (3.37)
  • NDSU has a higher acceptance rate (95.7%) than IPFW (80.7%)

IPFW vs. NDSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, IPFW or NDSU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between NDSU and IPFW.

  • The graduation rate at NDSU is higher than Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne (54% vs. 26%)
  • Graduates from North Dakota State University Main Campus earn on average $15,000 more per year than IPFW graduates after ten years. ($53,600 vs. $38,600)
  • North Dakota State University Main Campus students graduate with a $1,200 lower median federal student loan debt than IPFW graduates. ($23,300 vs. $24,500)
  • NDSU graduates are paying $13 less per month on federal student loans than IPFW graduates. ($240 vs. $253)
  • More NDSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IPFW students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 51%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/