IPFW vs. Purdue

Comparable Facts

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

Purdue University Main Campus is larger than IPFW based on total student enrollment (58,658 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); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
• Purdue University Fort Wayne is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Purdue University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Purdue University Fort Wayne 13:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

IPFW vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IPFW or Purdue? 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 Main Campus than IPFW ($13,722 vs. $14,735).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Fort Wayne are 9% lower than at Purdue University Main Campus ($11,669 vs. $12,820).
• Purdue University Main Campus is 4.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than IPFW (about $460 more per year; $9,992.00 vs. $9,532.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 25.8% higher at Purdue than at Purdue University Fort Wayne (about $5,907 more per year; $28,794.00 vs. $22,887.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Purdue University Fort Wayne than at Purdue University Main Campus (95% vs. 40%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students is 58.3% larger than aid received by Purdue University Fort Wayne students ($11,294 vs. $7,135).

IPFW vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Purdue University Main Campus (1340) is 240 points higher than at IPFW (1100).
• Incoming Purdue students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (30 vs. 25 at IPFW).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Purdue University Fort Wayne 970/1220; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Purdue University Fort Wayne 22/29; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IPFW - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: IPFW Aug 1, 2027.
• Enrolled freshman Purdue students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at IPFW (3.37).
• IPFW has a higher acceptance rate (83.9%) than Purdue (49.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.4% at IPFW vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

IPFW vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IPFW and Purdue? 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.

• Purdue University Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than Purdue University Fort Wayne's (26%).
• Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $22,600 more per year than IPFW graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,200 vs. $38,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Purdue University Main Campus graduates have a $3,000 lower median loan debt than IPFW graduates ($21,500 vs. $24,500).
• Among borrowers, Purdue graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IPFW graduates ($222 vs. $253).
• More Purdue graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IPFW students, three years after graduation. (78% 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.