Purdue University Fort Wayne Athletics

Purdue Fort Wayne competes in NCAA Division I, where athletic scholarships and serious competition define the sports culture. The Mastodons field 16 varsity teams with 284 total athletes, representing just 5.2% of the 5,450-student body. The school awards $2.56 million in athletic scholarships across its programs. As a member of the Summit League, not the Big Ten as some data suggests, the Mastodons focus on building their Division I identity after the campus split from IPFW in 2018. The relatively new athletic program lacks the deep traditions of established Division I schools, but students can still experience the excitement of high-level college sports. The small percentage of student-athletes means most students engage with athletics as spectators rather than participants in the competitive program.