Purdue University Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne, Indiana · Public · 83.9% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 35/100 · Poor Value
Purdue University Fort Wayne scores 35 (Poor Value) on the CampusROI scale, driven by a 36.3% completion rate -- one of the lowest among Indiana public campuses -- combined with a 17.7-year payback period and $33,100 median 6-year earnings. In-state tuition is $9,532 and net price is $13,171, so cost is not the primary problem. Median debt of $21,500 with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.650 reflects graduates who borrow a moderate amount relative to modest earnings. The core issue is that fewer than 4 in 10 enrolled students complete a degree, which transforms a low-cost institution into a high-risk one for the majority of attendees. Electrical Engineering ($67,236), Mechanical Engineering ($64,534), and Nursing ($70,046) produce strong outcomes; most other programs are mediocre to poor.
The data raises concerns about Purdue University Fort Wayne
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score35/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- 6-year graduation rate36.3% - Well below the 60% national average. Non-completion is the fastest route to negative ROI.
- Payback period17.7 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
Purdue University Fort Wayne
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $9,532/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $22,887/yr |
| Average net price | $13,171/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $52,684 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $45,872 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $33,100 |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $228 |
| Estimated payback period | 17.7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 36.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 5,484 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Purdue University Fort Wayne is $9,532/year ($22,887/year out-of-state). But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $13,171/year, or roughly $52,684 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $8,306/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $20,224/year.
The median graduate leaves with $21,500 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $228 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $45,872 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.65 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $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 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Low-income families (under $30,000) pay $8,306 net per year at PFW -- a very low absolute price. The four-year total of roughly $33,000 is lower than a single year at many private institutions. The problem is the 36.3% completion rate: students who do not graduate accumulate even this modest debt without a credential. Low-income students at PFW need a declared major in engineering, nursing, or CS and a clear 4-year plan to produce a good financial outcome. Undecided enrollment at this price still carries dropout risk that makes it financially damaging.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-$75,000) pay $12,444 per year, and the $75,001-$110,000 bracket pays $18,430. These are competitive prices for a Purdue-affiliated credential. At $12,444-$18,430 per year, engineering and CS students face a straightforward financial case for PFW. Business and social science students face a slower payback but still a manageable total exposure given the low net price. The main risk remains non-completion.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
High-income families ($110,000+) pay $20,224 per year -- about $81,000 over four years. This is affordable for a Purdue credential, but high-income Indiana families with options should compare against Purdue West Lafayette ($28,794 net price for comparable income) and Indiana University Bloomington. West Lafayette's stronger research infrastructure, brand recognition, and employer networks typically produce meaningfully better outcomes, particularly in engineering, for a cost difference that is manageable for high-income households.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Purdue University Fort Wayne with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management | $63,627 | C+ |
| Teacher Education | $45,525 | C |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $44,299 | C |
| Biology | $50,366 | C+ |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $44,533 | C |
| Computer Science | $101,396 | B |
| Communication and Media Studies | $46,619 | C |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $37,718 | D |
| Mechanical Engineering | $85,075 | - |
| Music | $38,682 | - |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing is Purdue Fort Wayne's highest-volume tracked program with $70,046 first-year earnings, $74,918 at four years, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.385 (ROI grade B). Graduate count is not published in the Scorecard for this cohort, but nursing is a central program at the campus. Fort Wayne's healthcare system -- including Parkview and Lutheran hospitals -- provides direct clinical placement. Against $13,171 net price and $27,000 median debt, nursing at PFW is a financially sound choice for students who complete the program.
Computer Science
Computer Science (42 graduates) earns $61,354 first-year and $101,396 at four years, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.397 (ROI grade B) and $24,375 median debt. The four-year jump to $101k is consistent with CS career progression in Fort Wayne's growing technology sector and Indiana's broader manufacturing-tech corridor. The Purdue name provides a stronger brand signal than the Fort Wayne campus location might suggest, particularly in Indiana industry hiring. CS is the second-best financial choice at PFW after engineering.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering (33 graduates) earns $64,534 first-year and $85,075 at four years -- the highest four-year earnings on campus after CS. No debt data is available for this cohort. Against $9,532 in-state tuition, Mechanical Engineering at a Purdue campus is a strong value proposition: the Purdue brand, manufacturing-focused curriculum, and Fort Wayne's proximity to automotive and industrial manufacturing employers (including companies like BorgWarner and Lincoln Financial) produce relevant employer connections.
Business Administration and Management
Business Administration and Management is PFW's largest non-healthcare program at 175 graduates, with $46,950 first-year earnings, $63,627 at four years, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.485 (ROI grade C+). Against $22,764 median debt and a $13,171 net price, the payback is slow but manageable. Fort Wayne's mid-size employer market (Sweetwater Sound, Parkview Health, Lincoln Financial) provides some regional business employment, but PFW's generic business credential has limited reach outside northeast Indiana without networking effort.
Fine and Studio Arts
Fine and Studio Arts (34 graduates) earns $27,775 first-year and $37,718 at four years, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.968 (ROI grade D) and $26,873 median debt. This is the weakest-ROI program with meaningful volume at PFW. Year-one earnings of $27,775 are below living wage in Fort Wayne, and the four-year figure shows minimal improvement. Students selecting fine arts at any regional public university should understand they are making a career choice where the bachelor's degree alone rarely produces financially independent outcomes in the near term.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 65.4% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 71.1% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 57.5% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 63.5% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 83.9% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 480-610 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 490-610 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 22-29 |
| Enrollment | 5,484 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 24.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,912 |
Purdue Fort Wayne's 83.9% admission rate with an SAT range of 480-610 Math and 490-610 Reading indicates broad access with a middling academic profile. The ACT 22-29 range is wide. The Purdue brand name carries recognition in Indiana industry, particularly in manufacturing and technology, but this is a distinct campus from the main West Lafayette campus with a different resource and employer network level.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Purdue Fort Wayne's peer schools include Ball State University, Indiana University Indianapolis (IUPUI), University of North Alabama, Northern Michigan University, and University of Tennessee-Martin. Among Indiana peers, PFW and IUPUI serve similar urban-commuter populations. IUPUI (now Indiana University Indianapolis) typically posts stronger outcomes -- particularly in health, business, and law -- reflecting its Indianapolis location and larger employer ecosystem. Ball State in Muncie is a comparable size with a stronger completion rate. PFW's 36.3% completion rate is the most alarming statistic relative to all peers in this group, where Ball State and UTM typically post 40-55% completion rates. The Purdue brand provides an advantage over Northern Michigan and North Alabama in Indiana hiring, but this advantage diminishes for students who do not complete.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purdue University Fort Wayne (this school) | 35 | $13,171 | $45,872 |
| Indiana University-Indianapolis | 67 | $11,668 | $55,198 |
| Ball State University | 54 | $14,940 | $51,833 |
| Northern Michigan University | 40 | $14,085 | $47,107 |
| University of North Alabama | 38 | $12,170 | $45,415 |
| The University of Tennessee-Martin | 37 | $10,701 | $44,213 |
Who Thrives Here
Purdue Fort Wayne admits 83.9% of applicants (SAT mid-range 480-610 Math, 490-610 Reading; ACT 22-29) at 5,484 students. The 24.8% Pell grant rate reflects a moderate-income regional student body. Fort Wayne is Indiana's second-largest city, providing some local employer access. This school fits students entering engineering, nursing, or CS with a clear program plan and realistic expectations about the campus's commuter-heavy, non-residential character. It is a poor fit for undirected students: the completion rate is a stark warning that most students who arrive without a clear major and strong persistence will not graduate.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Purdue University Fort Wayne. With a net cost of $13,171 per year and median graduate earnings of only $45,872 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 17.7 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 36.3% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $21,500 against $45,872 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.