Purdue University Fort Wayne
- Graduation Rate
- 34% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $45,872 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $13,171 B-
- 23% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 84% C-
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 18.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $18.8 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $18.8 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $935,256.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 34% — 40% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $18.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Purdue University Fort Wayne Matters
Purdue University Fort Wayne is a public university in Fort Wayne, IN and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 5,484
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Education, Humanities, Visual & Performing Arts
Why students choose Purdue University Fort Wayne
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 84% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 970–1220. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $13,171 a year after grants and scholarships — 23% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $45,872 ten years after enrolling — 12% above the typical college, against $21,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.39 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Purdue University Fort Wayne has an acceptance rate of 84%, making it an accessible choice for many students. This high acceptance rate reflects the university’s commitment to welcoming a diverse range of applicants. With an enrollment of 5,484, it offers a community where students can connect both academically and socially.
The data from Chetty/Opportunity Insights is not available for Purdue Fort Wayne, but the university's graduation rate stands at 34%. Students should consider how this rate may impact their academic journey and future opportunities. While specific mobility rates are not provided, understanding the local job market and employment outcomes can help students gauge their potential for upward mobility after graduation.
Financially, the average net price is $13,171, with a median debt of $21,500 for graduates. After ten years, alumni typically earn around $45,872 annually. Students who thrive here often pursue majors in business, education, visual and performing arts, humanities, or engineering. This focus can lead to solid career paths, particularly for those who engage fully with the university’s resources and community.
Rankings
- #11 Best Engineering Colleges in Indiana
- #13 Most Affordable Colleges in Indiana
- #18 Best Computer Science Colleges in Indiana
- #18 Best Data Science Colleges in Indiana
- #26 Best Education Colleges in Indiana
- #26 Best Biology Colleges in Indiana
- #27 Best Online Colleges in Indiana
- #29 Best Business Colleges in Indiana
Can I Get In?
How selective Purdue University Fort Wayne is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Purdue University Fort Wayne? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Purdue University Fort Wayne admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 84%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,100. The graduation rate is roughly 34%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 84%
- Retention Rate
- 67%
- SAT Average
- 1100
- ACT Midpoint
- 23
- SAT Range
- 970–1220
- ACT Range
- 22–29
- Full-Time Faculty
- 98%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,912
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 13:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.52
- First-Gen Students
- 35%
- Applicants
- 5,853
- Admitted
- 4,721
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Purdue University Fort Wayne? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Purdue University Fort Wayne is $22,887, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $13,171. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,306 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $21,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $9,532
- Out-of-State
- $22,887
- Avg Net Price
- $13,171
- Median Debt
- $21,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 25%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 24%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $8,306
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $8,703
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $12,444
- Family Income $110K+
- $20,224
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Purdue University Fort Wayne — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Purdue University Fort Wayne Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Purdue University Fort Wayne earn a median of $45,872, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $42,873
- 8 Years
- $44,192
- 10 Years
- $45,872
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.47x
- Earning > $25K
- 60%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (246)
- 19%
- 100% (246)
- 19%
- 100% (246)
- 19%
- 100% (246)
- 19%
How Purdue Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Purdue University Fort Wayne Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Purdue University Fort Wayne delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $13,171/year ($52,684 total). Graduates earn $45,872 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $987,940 in total earnings — a net gain of $935,256 (18.8× your investment). The median debt is $21,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 34% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $52,684
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $987,940
- Net Return
- $935,256
- ROI Multiple
- 18.8×
- Cost Per Year
- $13,171
- Median Debt
- $21,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 34%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $1,335,947
- Investment Income
- $-358,768
Top Programs
The fields Purdue University Fort Wayne awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 19% $50,271 early-career
- Education 9% $45,495 early-career
- Humanities 8% $23,930 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 7% $34,164 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 7% $75,746 early-career
- Psychology 6% $33,550 early-career
- Engineering 6% $73,346 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 5% $32,489 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Purdue University Fort Wayne's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Purdue University Fort Wayne? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Purdue University Fort Wayne admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 84%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,100. The graduation rate is roughly 34%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Purdue University Fort Wayne? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Purdue University Fort Wayne is $22,887, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $13,171. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,306 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $21,500 in federal student loans.
Is Purdue University Fort Wayne Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Purdue University Fort Wayne earn a median of $45,872, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is Purdue University Fort Wayne? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Purdue University Fort Wayne. Its economic connectedness score is 1.39, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Purdue University Fort Wayne.
- Norfolk State UniversityNorfolk, VA · Close peer36% grad $44,666 earn 88% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of North AlabamaFlorence, AL · Close peer54% grad $45,415 earn 87% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- National Louis UniversityChicago, IL · Close peer33% grad $45,799 earn 95% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- McNeese State UniversityLake Charles, LA · Close peer49% grad $46,453 earn 78% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- University of Louisiana at MonroeMonroe, LA · Close peer52% grad $46,769 earn 85% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Northwestern State University of LouisianaNatchitoches, LA · Close peer44% grad $47,021 earn 93% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Purdue University Fort Wayne? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Purdue University Fort Wayne. Its economic connectedness score is 1.39, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note