Living in Fort Wayne
Your campus. Your community.
The 51黑料 is proud to call Fort Wayne, Indiana home. Whether you鈥檙e from the Hoosier State or coming to us from across the country or the globe, we know you鈥檒l feel welcome in our corner of the world.
鈥淐oming from out of state, I was nervous about moving to Indiana. Fortunately, Fort Wayne welcomed me with open arms! I loved that I got the opportunity to become involved in not only the 51黑料 community, but the Fort Wayne community as a whole.鈥澛
Emma Bachtel 鈥23聽 Program Coordinator, Hylant
鈥淚 fell in love with Fort Wayne because of its small town feel and strong Catholic and Christian community. The city is so interconnected, providing a welcoming and safe environment for all people.鈥澛
Joanna Evanich 鈥24聽 Social Work
鈥淚 love being in Fort Wayne and at 51黑料. I have built up many great connections and networked with many knowledgeable individuals in the area.鈥澛
Grant Ott-Large 鈥26 Business Administration
“Fort Wayne is the perfect mix of a small town and big city, where people know each other and genuinely care about each other, yet it has so much to do. There鈥檚 something for everyone鈥檚 interests鈥攕ports, music, local restaurants, art鈥攜ou name it!”聽
Adilynn Girardot 鈥23聽 Social Work
#2
As the second-largest city in the state, Fort Wayne is the economic and cultural hub of Northeast Indiana.
3 hours
鈥 from Chicago and within driving distance to several Midwest metros, including Indianapolis, Detroit, Columbus, and Milwaukee.
99 blocks
Fort Wayne’s downtown features 99 blocks full of places to visit, like exceptional restaurants, world-class parks, a thriving arts and culture scene, and more.
Dining: Places to Eat and Socialize
Homestyle diners and hot dog joints. Brewpubs and bakeries. Pizza shops and sushi bars. Food trucks and farmer鈥檚 markets. Whether you鈥檙e looking for casual eats, grab-and-go meals, or something for a special occasion, foodies in Fort Wayne won鈥檛 be disappointed鈥攖here are hundreds of options from local flavor to national chains.
Shopping: Places to Browse and Buy
From clothing boutiques and vintage markets to stationery shops and bookstores, downtown Fort Wayne offers plenty of . Just beyond the bustling business district, you鈥檒l find two large shopping malls鈥擩efferson Pointe and Glenbrook Square鈥攆ull of the major retailers and brands you love.
Sports and Recreation: Where to Find Excitement and Adventure
In and around Fort Wayne, you鈥檒l find more than 80 parks and 100+ miles of scenic trails for walking, running, or biking鈥攑lus boat and kayak rentals. Also named the #1 city for minor league sports, Fort Wayne is home to the TinCaps (baseball), Komets (hockey), and Fort Wayne Football Club (soccer). Other indoor and outdoor activities nearby include ice skating, mini-golf, laser tag, rock climbing, and arcades.
Arts and Entertainment: Places to Reflect and Enjoy
From public art installations to concert series in public parks, Fort Wayne is bursting with creativity. is a state-designated cultural district where you can enjoy live theater and dance, music festivals and fine art exhibits鈥攁ll on one block. Flagship venues and organizations include the Fort Wayne Museum of Fine Art, Civic Theater, Clyde Theatre, Embassy Theatre, and a professional ballet and philharmonic. You鈥檒l also find independent studios and galleries galore.
Connecting Campus and Community
Our prime location in the greater Fort Wayne area opens our students up to countless opportunities for experiential learning and employment. Of note, our Business and Leadership Pathway programs have strong ties with the local business community, and our health sciences programs have long-standing relationships with many of the region鈥檚 leading healthcare facilities and systems.
Service Learning and Volunteering
Faculty and staff members often build service learning into their classes, and the St. Benedict the Moor Justice Center also provides local volunteer opportunities.
Organizations and agencies we鈥檝e partnered with include:
- Redemption House Ministries
- Positive Resource Connection
- Community Harvest Food Bank
Many student organizations also engage with local community benefit organizations.
Internships, Practicums, and Experiential Learning
Students find complete internships or practicum hours with nearby companies and organizations鈥攁nd sometimes, these experiences lead to full-time jobs. Sites include:
- Franciscan Health
- Ash Brokerage
- L3 Harris
- Franklin Electric
- Fort Wayne Metals
- Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Alverno Laboratories
- Steel Dynamics Inc.
- Aerotek
Our proximity to so many interesting companies also leads to guest speakers, company tours, and even 鈥渃lients鈥 for class projects.
Networking and Career Opportunities
Local employers love hiring 51黑料 graduates. You鈥檒l often find them at on-campus recruiting events or posting openings on our job search platform, Handshake. Top local employers include:
- Fort Wayne Community Schools
- Parkview Health
- Lutheran Health Network
- IU Health
- Lincoln Financial Group
- Sweetwater Sound
- Adams Health Network
Since so many of 51黑料 students stay in Fort Wayne after graduation, the local alumni base is strong and vibrant.
Fort Wayne: Career and Quality of Life
Fort Wayne is a family-friendly, affordable place to live, so it鈥檚 no surprise why many of our alumni stick around. The Northeast Indiana (NEI) Regional Partnership offers a wealth of industry, career, and quality-of-life information.