Norfolk State University vs Purdue University Fort Wayne

Norfolk State University and Purdue University Fort Wayne are both well-regarded institutions, but they differ in important ways. Here's how they compare across key dimensions.

Admissions: Purdue University Fort Wayne is more selective with a 85.7% acceptance rate compared to Norfolk State University's 87.5%. Average SAT scores are 980 and 1078 respectively.

Cost: Purdue University Fort Wayne offers a lower average net price at $11,513, which is $1,460 less than Norfolk State University ($12,973). After financial aid, this can make a significant difference over 4 years.

Career Outcomes: Graduates from Purdue University Fort Wayne earn a median salary of $45,872 ten years after enrollment, which is $1,206 more than Norfolk State University graduates ($44,666).

Graduation: Norfolk State University leads with a 36.3% graduation rate, and freshman retention rates are 72.0% vs 64.2%.

Campus Size: Norfolk State University is the larger campus with 5,495 total students, while Purdue University Fort Wayne has 5,450.

Bottom Line: Purdue University Fort Wayne stands out as both more affordable and producing higher-earning graduates — making it the stronger value proposition overall.