Drake vs. Grinnell

Deciding between Drake University and Grinnell College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Drake University
Grinnell College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Drake Des Moines, IA
  • Grinnell Grinnell, IA
  • Setting
  • Drake Midsize City
  • Grinnell Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Drake 4,345
  • Grinnell 1,788
  • Type
  • Drake Private 4 Year
  • Grinnell Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Drake #160
  • Grinnell #57
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Drake -
  • Grinnell -
  • Status
  • Drake Non-profit
  • Grinnell Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Drake
  • Grinnell

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Drake $52,130
  • Grinnell $68,106
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Drake $52,130
  • Grinnell $68,106
  • Room & Board
  • Drake $12,452
  • Grinnell $16,842
  • Average Net Price
  • Drake $29,565
  • Grinnell $34,363
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Drake $35,498
  • Grinnell $49,077
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Drake 100%
  • Grinnell 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Drake 9,873
  • Grinnell 9,758
  • Admitted
  • Drake 6,304
  • Grinnell 1,416
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Drake 63.9%
  • Grinnell 14.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Drake 9.8%
  • Grinnell 30.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Drake 1230
  • Grinnell 1480
  • Typical ACT score
  • Drake 26
  • Grinnell 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Drake 3.7
  • Grinnell 3.89
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Drake A-
  • Grinnell A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Drake Difficult
  • Grinnell Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Drake Low
  • Grinnell Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Drake 24/29
  • Grinnell 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Drake 1110/1350
  • Grinnell 1410/1540
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Drake Test optional
  • Grinnell Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Drake
  • Grinnell Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Drake 11:1
  • Grinnell 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Drake
    • Business (39%)
    • Communication (12%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Biology (6%)
  • Grinnell
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Foreign Languages (12%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • History (8%)
    • Physical Sciences (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Drake 75%
  • Grinnell 88%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Drake $68,500
  • Grinnell $59,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Drake 84%
  • Grinnell 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Drake $26,000
  • Grinnell $13,170
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Drake $268
  • Grinnell $136

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Drake 38%
  • Grinnell 46%
  • % Women
  • Drake 62%
  • Grinnell 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Drake Low
  • Grinnell High
  • HBCU
  • Drake No
  • Grinnell No
  • % White
  • Drake 79%
  • Grinnell 56%
  • % Asian
  • Drake 3%
  • Grinnell 7%
  • % Black
  • Drake 4%
  • Grinnell 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Drake 4%
  • Grinnell 7%
  • % Native American
  • Drake 0%
  • Grinnell 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Drake 0%
  • Grinnell 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Drake 2%
  • Grinnell 5%
  • % International
  • Drake 7%
  • Grinnell 16%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Drake 0%
  • Grinnell 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Drake 44%
  • Grinnell 8%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Drake 51%
  • Grinnell 68%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Drake Yes
  • Grinnell Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Drake No
  • Grinnell Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • Drake Yes
  • Grinnell Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Drake No
  • Grinnell No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Drake No
  • Grinnell No

Comparable Facts

Compare Drake University in Des Moines, IA with Grinnell College in Grinnell, IA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Drake University is larger than Grinnell based on total student enrollment (4,345 students vs. 1,788 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Drake University is located in Des Moines, IA (Midsize City setting); Grinnell College is in Grinnell, IA (Remote Town setting).
  • Drake University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Grinnell College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Drake University 11:1; Grinnell College 9:1.

Drake vs. Grinnell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Drake or Grinnell? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Drake University than Grinnell ($29,565 vs. $34,363).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Drake University are 26.1% lower than at Grinnell College ($12,452 vs. $16,842).
  • Grinnell College is 30.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Drake (about $15,976 more per year; $68,106.00 vs. $52,130.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 30.6% higher at Grinnell than at Drake University (about $15,976 more per year; $68,106.00 vs. $52,130.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Drake University than at Grinnell College (100% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Grinnell College students is 38.3% larger than aid received by Drake University students ($49,077 vs. $35,498).

Drake vs. Grinnell Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Drake or Grinnell? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Grinnell and Drake.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Grinnell College (1480) is 250 points higher than at Drake (1230).
  • Incoming Grinnell students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 26 at Drake).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Drake University 1110/1350; Grinnell College 1410/1540.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Drake University 24/29; Grinnell College 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Drake - Test optional; Grinnell - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Grinnell Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Grinnell students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at Drake (3.7).
  • Drake has a higher acceptance rate (63.9%) than Grinnell (14.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.8% at Drake vs. 30.9% at Grinnell.

Drake vs. Grinnell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Drake and Grinnell? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Grinnell College's six-year graduation rate (88%) is higher than Drake University's (75%).
  • Graduates from Drake University earn a median of about $9,000 more per year than Grinnell graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,500 vs. $59,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Grinnell College graduates have a $12,830 lower median loan debt than Drake graduates ($13,170 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, Grinnell graduates have an estimated $132 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Drake graduates ($136 vs. $268).
  • More Grinnell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Drake students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 84%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.