Purdue University Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne, IN 46805-1499
About Purdue University Fort Wayne
Purdue University Fort Wayne is a public research university in Fort Wayne, Indiana, serving roughly 5,484 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 83.89% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $45,872 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Purdue University Fort Wayne charges 73% above the national public median tuition ($9,532).
- Versus the Indiana median, sticker tuition is 6% below.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 36.27%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $45,872.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Purdue University Fort Wayne is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 771% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Finding
Purdue University Fort Wayne awards credentials across a wide program mix.
IPEDS completions cover more than 74 distinct degree programs at this campus.
Interpretation: Institutional averages blend very different fields; program-level completions and earnings matter more than the campus mean alone.
Limitation: Completions counts are not enrollment demand and do not measure program quality.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purdue University Fort Wayne | $9,532 | $13,171 | 1 |
| Public (national median) | $5,512 | — | 1,688 |
| Indiana (state median) | $10,090 | $9,763 | 92 |
| Urban (City) (locale median) | $15,200 | $20,053 | 1,346 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is Purdue University Fort Wayne really?
Key findings
- Purdue University Fort Wayne charges 73% above the national public median tuition ($9,532).
- Versus the Indiana median, sticker tuition is 6% below.
Purdue University Fort Wayne tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $9,532
Finding Purdue University Fort Wayne charges 73% above the national public median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $9,532. That is 73% above the national public median ($5,512). Versus the Indiana median ($10,090), sticker tuition is 6% below. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is 20% below.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to public and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Purdue University Fort Wayne versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Purdue University Fort Wayne versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Purdue University Fort Wayne is $13,171.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $13,171 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $3,408 above the Indiana median net price. Versus urban (city) campuses, net price runs $6,882 below the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway At Purdue University Fort Wayne, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
Purdue University Fort Wayne: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Purdue University Fort Wayne—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
In-state tuition
$9,532
Out-of-state tuition
$22,887
Avg. net price
$13,171
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $8,306 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $8,703 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $12,444 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $18,430 |
| $110,001+ | $20,224 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $38,128. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Purdue University Fort Wayne is known for
Top program completions
- Business/Commerce, General234
- Computer Science156
- Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other90
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General77
- Experimental Psychology69
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 25% of admitted students enrolled.
- Average SAT: 1100
- Midpoint ACT: 23
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Purdue University Fort Wayne a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Purdue University Fort Wayne is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Purdue University Fort Wayne.
Campus
Location
Fort Wayne, IN
City / state
- ZIP
- 46805-1499
- NCES locale
- City
Compared with Urban (City) campuses nationally, net price is 34% below the median for Urban (City) campuses ($20,053 median).
Control
Institution type
Public
Control
- Region
- Great Lakes
- Carnegie
- Master's Colleges and Universities: Small Programs
Size
Enrollment
5,484
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 8,360
- Graduate
- 717
- Full-time share
- 86%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$21,500
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 24.77%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Purdue University Fort Wayne.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Purdue University Fort Wayne was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Purdue University Fort Wayne in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $7,013 | $16,845 | $14,337 |
| 2014 | $7,949 | $19,092 | $13,638 |
| 2015 | $8,080 | $19,408 | $14,961 |
| 2016 | $8,213 | $19,727 | $12,227 |
| 2017 | $8,330 | $20,005 | $12,464 |
| 2018 | $8,450 | $20,288 | $11,404 |
| 2019 | $8,589 | $20,622 | $10,912 |
| 2020 | $8,730 | $20,961 | $11,629 |
| 2021 | $8,857 | $21,265 | $11,303 |
| 2022 | $8,985 | $21,573 | $11,347 |
| 2023 | $9,254 | $22,220 | $11,513 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Average 1100 (middle 50% not reported)
Midpoint 23 (middle 50% not reported)
Scores for enrollees who submitted tests (College Scorecard).
Academic Requirements
Estimated from admission selectivity and test scores. Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
Estimated range · median 3.20
Estimated GPA band from selectivity and test scores — not an official requirement.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Purdue University Fort Wayne reported total enrollment of about 5,484 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 52% male and 48% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (67.9%), Hispanic or Latino (11.3%), and Black or African American (7.3%). About 24.77% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 35.2% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
85.6% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Purdue University Fort Wayne in 2024 is 5,484 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 8,360 students. Graduate enrollment is about 717 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
66.6%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
21.52% 100% Completion Time
36.27% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 21.52% of students graduating from Purdue University Fort Wayne completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Business/Commerce, General: 64% male / 36% female
- Computer Science: 74% male / 26% female
- Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other: 53% male / 47% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Purdue University Fort Wayne graduates earn a median of $45,872 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Purdue University Fort Wayne.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $45,872. Median federal loan debt: $21,500. Average net price used in cost models: $13,171.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Purdue University Fort Wayne graduates report median earnings of $45,872 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Purdue University Fort Wayne.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (74 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Purdue University Fort Wayne.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Purdue University Fort Wayne graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Purdue University Fort Wayne—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$78.3M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Indiana median 0.94× the median ($83.1M)
- Great Lakes median 2.5× the median ($31.8M)
- U.S. median 3.0× the median ($26.4M)
- Indiana median 0.42× the median ($31,877)
- Great Lakes median 0.79× the median ($16,690)
- U.S. median 1.1× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 97.5%
- Indiana median 21.7 pp above median (75.8%)
- Great Lakes median 39.5 pp above median (58.1%)
- U.S. median 39.6 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $8,912
- Indiana median 1.2× the median ($7,744)
- Great Lakes median 1.1× the median ($8,046)
- U.S. median 1.2× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $10,031
- Indiana median 1.4× the median ($7,011)
- Great Lakes median 1.3× the median ($7,690)
- U.S. median 1.4× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Purdue University Fort Wayne at a glance
Purdue University Fort Wayne
Purdue University Fort Wayne is a public institution in Fort Wayne, IN, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Small Programs.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Business/Commerce, GeneralComputer ScienceLiberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian67.9%Hispanic or Latino11.3%Black or African American7.3%
Schools near Purdue University Fort Wayne
Other campuses in Fort Wayne, IN when available, plus nearby institutions in Indiana.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade D) within Indiana, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Purdue University Fort Wayne located?
Purdue University Fort Wayne is located in Fort Wayne, IN.
What is Purdue University Fort Wayne's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Purdue University Fort Wayne is 83.9% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 6,466 applicants and 5,539 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Purdue University Fort Wayne's tuition?
Purdue University Fort Wayne tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $9,532 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $13,171 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Purdue University Fort Wayne cost?
Reported tuition is $9,532 and average net price is $13,171 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $11,669 annually.
What explains Purdue University Fort Wayne's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($13,171), completion (36.3% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($45,872). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Purdue University Fort Wayne?
Purdue University Fort Wayne reports undergraduate enrollment of about 8,360 students, White (67.9%), Hispanic or Latino (11.3%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Purdue University Fort Wayne?
About 35.2% of students at Purdue University Fort Wayne are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Purdue University Fort Wayne?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Purdue University Fort Wayne reports midpoint SAT about 1100 and midpoint ACT about 23.
What do graduates of Purdue University Fort Wayne earn?
Median earnings are $42,873 six years after entry and $45,872 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Purdue University Fort Wayne?
The 150%-time completion rate is 36.3% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Purdue University Fort Wayne students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $21,500.
Is Purdue University Fort Wayne public or private?
Purdue University Fort Wayne is a public institution located in Fort Wayne, IN.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.