VCM vs. IPFW

Deciding between VanderCook College of Music 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.

Purdue University Fort Wayne

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • VCM Chicago, IL
  • IPFW Fort Wayne, IN
  • Setting
  • VCM Large City
  • IPFW Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • VCM 323
  • IPFW 7,206
  • Type
  • VCM Private 4 Year
  • IPFW Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • VCM
  • IPFW #761
  • Religious Affiliation
  • VCM -
  • IPFW -
  • Status
  • VCM Non-profit
  • IPFW Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • VCM
  • IPFW

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • VCM $30,910
  • IPFW $9,532
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • VCM $30,910
  • IPFW $22,887
  • Room & Board
  • VCM $14,008
  • IPFW $11,669
  • Average Net Price
  • VCM $21,306
  • IPFW $14,735
  • Average Grant Aid
  • VCM $23,317
  • IPFW $7,135
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • VCM 100%
  • IPFW 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • VCM 38
  • IPFW 7,631
  • Admitted
  • VCM 34
  • IPFW 6,402
  • Acceptance Rate
  • VCM 89.5%
  • IPFW 83.9%
  • Enrolled
  • VCM 44.1%
  • IPFW 21.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • VCM 1030
  • IPFW 1100
  • Typical ACT score
  • VCM 17
  • IPFW 25
  • Average High School GPA
  • VCM 3.1
  • IPFW 3.37
  • Typical High School Grades
  • VCM B
  • IPFW B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • VCM Extremely Easy
  • IPFW Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • VCM
  • IPFW
  • ACT Range
  • VCM 15/20
  • IPFW 22/29
  • SAT Range
  • VCM 890/1160
  • IPFW 970/1220
  • Submit Test Scores
  • VCM Test optional
  • IPFW Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • VCM Apr 1, 2027
  • IPFW Aug 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • VCM 5:1
  • IPFW 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • VCM
    • Education (100%)
  • IPFW
    • Business (19%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (17%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • VCM 45%
  • IPFW 26%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • VCM N/A
  • IPFW $38,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • VCM 66%
  • IPFW 51%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • VCM $27,000
  • IPFW $24,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • VCM $279
  • IPFW $253

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • VCM 47%
  • IPFW 51%
  • % Women
  • VCM 53%
  • IPFW 49%
  • Racial Diversity
  • VCM High
  • IPFW Low
  • HBCU
  • VCM No
  • IPFW No
  • % White
  • VCM 62%
  • IPFW 82%
  • % Asian
  • VCM 2%
  • IPFW 3%
  • % Black
  • VCM 8%
  • IPFW 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • VCM 21%
  • IPFW 5%
  • % Native American
  • VCM 0%
  • IPFW 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • VCM 0%
  • IPFW 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • VCM 4%
  • IPFW 3%
  • % International
  • VCM 2%
  • IPFW 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • VCM 2%
  • IPFW 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • VCM 73%
  • IPFW 90%
  • % Out-of-State
  • VCM 27%
  • IPFW 9%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, IL with Purdue University Fort Wayne in Fort Wayne, IN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Purdue University Fort Wayne is larger than VCM based on total student enrollment (7,206 students vs. 323 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • VanderCook College of Music is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Purdue University Fort Wayne is in Fort Wayne, IN (Large City setting).
  • VanderCook College of Music is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Purdue University Fort Wayne is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: VanderCook College of Music 5:1; Purdue University Fort Wayne 13:1.

VCM vs. IPFW Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, VCM 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 Purdue University Fort Wayne than VCM ($14,735 vs. $21,306).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Fort Wayne are 16.7% lower than at VanderCook College of Music ($11,669 vs. $14,008).
  • VanderCook College of Music is 224.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than IPFW (about $21,378 more per year; $30,910.00 vs. $9,532.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 35.1% higher at VCM than at Purdue University Fort Wayne (about $8,023 more per year; $30,910.00 vs. $22,887.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at VanderCook College of Music than at Purdue University Fort Wayne (100% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by VanderCook College of Music students is 226.8% larger than aid received by Purdue University Fort Wayne students ($23,317 vs. $7,135).

VCM vs. IPFW Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, VCM 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 VCM.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Purdue University Fort Wayne (1100) is 70 points higher than at VCM (1030).
  • Incoming IPFW students have a 8 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 17 at VCM).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: VanderCook College of Music 890/1160; Purdue University Fort Wayne 970/1220.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: VanderCook College of Music 15/20; Purdue University Fort Wayne 22/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: VCM - Test optional; IPFW - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: VCM Apr 1, 2027; IPFW Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman IPFW students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.37) than students at VCM (3.1).
  • VCM has a higher acceptance rate (89.5%) than IPFW (83.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 44.1% at VCM vs. 21.4% at IPFW.

VCM vs. IPFW Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for VCM 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).

  • VanderCook College of Music's six-year graduation rate (45%) is higher than Purdue University Fort Wayne's (26%).
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Purdue University Fort Wayne graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than VCM graduates ($24,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, IPFW graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than VCM graduates ($253 vs. $279).
  • More VCM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IPFW students, three years after graduation. (66% 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.