Southern Illinois University vs. IPFW

Deciding between Southern Illinois University Carbondale and Purdue University Fort Wayne? 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.

Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Purdue University Fort Wayne

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Southern Illinois University Carbondale, IL
  • IPFW Fort Wayne, IN
  • Setting
  • Southern Illinois University Rural Fringe
  • IPFW Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Southern Illinois University 11,790
  • IPFW 7,206
  • Type
  • Southern Illinois University Public 4 Year
  • IPFW Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Southern Illinois University #537
  • IPFW #761
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Southern Illinois University -
  • IPFW -
  • Status
  • Southern Illinois University Non-profit
  • IPFW Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Southern Illinois University
  • IPFW
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Southern Illinois University $13,334
  • IPFW $9,532
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Southern Illinois University $13,334
  • IPFW $22,887
  • Room & Board
  • Southern Illinois University $12,341
  • IPFW $11,669
  • Average Net Price
  • Southern Illinois University $13,473
  • IPFW $14,735
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Southern Illinois University $13,610
  • IPFW $7,135
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Southern Illinois University 95%
  • IPFW 95%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Southern Illinois University 10,858
  • IPFW 7,631
  • Admitted
  • Southern Illinois University 9,433
  • IPFW 6,402
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Southern Illinois University 86.9%
  • IPFW 83.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Southern Illinois University 18.6%
  • IPFW 21.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Southern Illinois University 1030
  • IPFW 1100
  • Typical ACT score
  • Southern Illinois University 21
  • IPFW 25
  • Average High School GPA
  • Southern Illinois University 3.24
  • IPFW 3.37
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Southern Illinois University B+
  • IPFW B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Southern Illinois University Easy
  • IPFW Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • Southern Illinois University
  • IPFW
  • ACT Range
  • Southern Illinois University 18/25
  • IPFW 22/29
  • SAT Range
  • Southern Illinois University 900/1160
  • IPFW 970/1220
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Southern Illinois University Test optional
  • IPFW Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Southern Illinois University
  • IPFW Aug 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Southern Illinois University 11:1
  • IPFW 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Southern Illinois University
    • Education (20%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (5%)
  • IPFW
    • Business (19%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (17%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Southern Illinois University 44%
  • IPFW 26%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Southern Illinois University $47,800
  • IPFW $38,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Southern Illinois University 51%
  • IPFW 51%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Southern Illinois University $22,500
  • IPFW $24,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Southern Illinois University $232
  • IPFW $253
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Southern Illinois University 47%
  • IPFW 51%
  • % Women
  • Southern Illinois University 53%
  • IPFW 49%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Southern Illinois University Medium
  • IPFW Low
  • HBCU
  • Southern Illinois University No
  • IPFW No
  • % White
  • Southern Illinois University 64%
  • IPFW 82%
  • % Asian
  • Southern Illinois University 2%
  • IPFW 3%
  • % Black
  • Southern Illinois University 19%
  • IPFW 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Southern Illinois University 8%
  • IPFW 5%
  • % Native American
  • Southern Illinois University 0%
  • IPFW 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Southern Illinois University 0%
  • IPFW 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Southern Illinois University 3%
  • IPFW 3%
  • % International
  • Southern Illinois University 4%
  • IPFW 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Southern Illinois University 0%
  • IPFW 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Southern Illinois University 85%
  • IPFW 90%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Southern Illinois University 14%
  • IPFW 9%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Southern Illinois University Carbondale in Carbondale, IL with Purdue University Fort Wayne in Fort Wayne, IN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Southern Illinois University Carbondale is larger than IPFW based on total student enrollment (11,790 students vs. 7,206 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Southern Illinois University Carbondale is located in Carbondale, IL (Rural Fringe setting); Purdue University Fort Wayne is in Fort Wayne, IN (Large City setting).
  • Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Purdue University Fort Wayne is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Southern Illinois University Carbondale 11:1; Purdue University Fort Wayne 13:1.

Southern Illinois University vs. IPFW Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Southern Illinois University or IPFW? 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 Southern Illinois University Carbondale than IPFW ($13,473 vs. $14,735).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Fort Wayne are 5.4% lower than at Southern Illinois University Carbondale ($11,669 vs. $12,341).
  • Southern Illinois University Carbondale is 39.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than IPFW (about $3,802 more per year; $13,334.00 vs. $9,532.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 71.6% higher at IPFW than at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (about $9,553 more per year; $22,887.00 vs. $13,334.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Southern Illinois University Carbondale as at Purdue University Fort Wayne (95% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southern Illinois University Carbondale students is 90.7% larger than aid received by Purdue University Fort Wayne students ($13,610 vs. $7,135).

Southern Illinois University vs. IPFW Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Southern Illinois University or IPFW? 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 IPFW and Southern Illinois University.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Purdue University Fort Wayne (1100) is 70 points higher than at Southern Illinois University (1030).
  • Incoming IPFW students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 21 at Southern Illinois University).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Southern Illinois University Carbondale 900/1160; Purdue University Fort Wayne 970/1220.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Southern Illinois University Carbondale 18/25; Purdue University Fort Wayne 22/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Southern Illinois University - Test optional; IPFW - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: IPFW Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman IPFW students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.37) than students at Southern Illinois University (3.24).
  • Southern Illinois University has a higher acceptance rate (86.9%) than IPFW (83.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.6% at Southern Illinois University vs. 21.4% at IPFW.

Southern Illinois University vs. IPFW Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Southern Illinois University and IPFW? 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).

  • Southern Illinois University Carbondale's six-year graduation rate (44%) is higher than Purdue University Fort Wayne's (26%).
  • Graduates from Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn a median of about $9,200 more per year than IPFW graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,800 vs. $38,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Southern Illinois University Carbondale graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than IPFW graduates ($22,500 vs. $24,500).
  • Among borrowers, Southern Illinois University graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IPFW graduates ($232 vs. $253).
  • More IPFW graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southern Illinois University students, three years after graduation. (51% 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.