Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW) vs Western Illinois University (WIU)

Purdue University Fort Wayne and Western Illinois University, both public institutions with rich histories, offer distinct educational experiences. Purdue Fort Wayne boasts a higher acceptance rate, making it a more accessible option for students. In contrast, Western Illinois University has a slightly higher graduation rate, indicating a strong commitment to student success. While Purdue Fort Wayne excels in engineering and technology programs, Western Illinois University shines in education and nursing. Explore the detailed comparison table to delve into further differences, including student body demographics, popular majors, and additional factors that may influence your decision. Discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Purdue University Fort Wayne logo

Purdue University Fort Wayne

Western Illinois University logo

Western Illinois University

Overview

Location Fort Wayne, Indiana Macomb, Illinois
Campus setting City: Large Town: Remote
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 57.0% 72.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 83.2% 72.5%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $30

Graduate: $60
Undergraduate: $30

Graduate: $30
SAT range 1000 - 1210 N/A
ACT range 20 - 26 N/A
Students submitting SAT score 63.0%
Students submitting ACT score 16.0%
Total number of applicants 6,007 7,156
Total number of admissions given out 4,998 5,187
Admitted students who chose to enroll 1,293 920
Yield rate 25.9% 17.7%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Not required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $23,441

Out of state: $35,849
$29,140
Average net price $11,820 $11,666
Tuition
In state: $7,703

Out of state: $20,111
$9,238
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $6,240

Meal plan: $3,952
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Guaranteed tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

96.0%
Average amount $7,108
94.0%
Average amount $13,937
Students receiving federal student loan 41.0%
Average amount $4,577
50.0%
Average amount $5,417
Students taking out private loans 4.0%
Average amount $7,294
5.0%
Average amount $9,533

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 7,768
Men 48.5% Women 51.5%
5,394
Men 43.5% Women 56.5%
Graduate students 530
Men 46.6% Women 53.4%
2,061
Men 42.9% Women 57.1%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students N/A 9.7%
International students 3.5% 8.8%
Campus local/setting City: Large Town: Remote
Dormitory capacity 1,328 3,083
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A Illinois Iowa Missouri Wisconsin Indiana

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Education
  • Business
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Business
  • Liberal Arts
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Health Professions
Students to faculty ratio 13:1 13:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 38.3% 50.9%
Dropout rate 57.7% 16.5%
Transferred out N/A 31.2%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $76,891
  • Year 2: $81,333
  • Year 3: $88,532
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,127
  • Year 2: $62,508
  • Year 3: $71,227
Construction Engineering Technologies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $49,864
  • Year 2: $51,106
  • Year 3: $59,608
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,059
  • Year 2: $51,813
  • Year 3: $55,597
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,529
  • Year 2: $46,087
  • Year 3: $51,831
Business/Commerce, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $41,756
  • Year 2: $42,309
  • Year 3: $50,227
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $44,157
  • Year 2: $45,305
  • Year 3: $46,663
Student Counseling and Personnel Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $40,423
  • Year 2: $38,289
  • Year 3: $43,573
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $38,451
  • Year 2: $36,668
  • Year 3: $42,453
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $35,308
  • Year 2: $36,344
  • Year 3: $42,039
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,427
  • Year 2: $63,166
  • Year 3: $79,149
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,346
  • Year 2: $81,702
  • Year 3: $72,457
Engineering Technology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $55,220
  • Year 2: $60,771
  • Year 3: $65,823
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $57,318
  • Year 3: $64,904
Construction Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,827
  • Year 2: $52,941
  • Year 3: $64,741
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,966
  • Year 2: $58,334
  • Year 3: $63,350
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $46,154
  • Year 2: $49,729
  • Year 3: $54,520
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,063
  • Year 2: $43,612
  • Year 3: $53,379
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,058
  • Year 2: $48,667
  • Year 3: $52,271
Educational/Instructional Media Design (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,853
  • Year 2: $52,107
  • Year 3: $51,827

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