IPFW vs. WMU

Should I go to Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne or Western Michigan University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if IPFW or WMU 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. Western Michigan University comparison
Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne Western Michigan University College 3 College 4
Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne Western Michigan University
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Overview

IPFW WMU
Location Fort Wayne, IN Kalamazoo, MI
Setting Large City Small City
Enrollment 9,069 17,000
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #848 #634
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ipfw.edu wmich.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

IPFW WMU
Tuition (In State) $7,815 $14,523
Tuition (Out of State) $20,403 $18,154
Room & Board $10,111 $11,102
Avg Net Price $11,951 $20,030
Avg Grant Aid $7,432 $6,813
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 93%

Admission

IPFW WMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,853 20,501
Admitted 4,721 17,334
Acceptance Rate 80.7% 84.6%
Enrolled % 25.6% 15.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.37 3.5
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 20/26 19/27
SAT Range 980/1210 990/1220
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

Academics

IPFW WMU
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (19%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (17%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Engineering Technology (8%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Engineering (6%)

Outcomes

IPFW WMU
Graduation Rate 26% 56%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,600 $48,900
Making Student Loan Payments 51% 54%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,500 $26,633
Median Loan Payment $253 $275

Diversity

IPFW WMU
% Men 48% 47%
% Women 52% 53%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 82% 72%
% Black 5% 12%
% Hispanic 5% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 2% 4%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

IPFW WMU
% In-State 85% 79%
% Out-of-State 11% 19%

Campus

IPFW WMU
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

  • Western Michigan University is larger than than IPFW based on total student enrollment (17,000 students vs. 9,069 students)

IPFW vs. WMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IPFW or WMU?

  • Western Michigan University is 85.8% more expensive to attend than IPFW for in-state tuition ($14,523.00 vs. $7,815.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 12.4% higher at IPFW than Western Michigan University ($20,403.00 vs. $18,154.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne than WMU ($11,951 vs. $20,030)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne are 9.8% lower than costs at Western Michigan University ($10,111 vs. $11,102)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne than Western Michigan University (100% vs. 93%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne students is 9.1% larger than aid received Western Michigan University ($7,432 vs. $6,813)

IPFW vs. WMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Western Michigan University (1030) is 35 points higher than at IPFW (995)
  • Incoming IPFW students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at WMU (22)
  • Accepted freshman WMU students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at IPFW (3.37)
  • WMU has a higher acceptance rate (84.6%) than IPFW (80.7%)

IPFW vs. WMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, IPFW or WMU? 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 WMU and IPFW.

  • The graduation rate at WMU is higher than Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne (56% vs. 26%)
  • Graduates from Western Michigan University earn on average $10,300 more per year than IPFW graduates after ten years. ($48,900 vs. $38,600)
  • Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne students graduate with a $2,133 lower median federal student loan debt than WMU graduates. ($24,500 vs. $26,633)
  • IPFW graduates are paying $22 less per month on federal student loans than WMU graduates. ($253 vs. $275)
  • More WMU 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/