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Carleton College Macalester College Oberlin Butler Kenyon Creighton University Haverford College ISU Cornell WUSTL Reed Davidson| Drake University | Grinnell College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Drake | Grinnell | ||
| Location | Des Moines, IA | Grinnell, IA | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Remote Town | ||
| Enrollment | 4,504 | 1,775 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #135 | #55 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | drake.edu | grinnell.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Drake | Grinnell | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $49,466 | $64,342 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $49,466 | $64,342 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,858 | $15,878 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $30,886 | $33,446 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $31,783 | $45,782 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 92% |
Admission |
Drake | Grinnell | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,741 | 9,988 | ||
| Admitted | 4,964 | 1,266 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 64.1% | 12.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 12.9% | 36.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.7 | 3.89 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Elite | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Very High | ||
| ACT Range | 24/30 | 31/34 | ||
| SAT Range | 1190/1390 | 1418/1550 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
Drake | Grinnell | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 9:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Drake | Grinnell | ||
| Graduation Rate | 75% | 88% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $68,500 | $59,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 84% | 87% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,000 | $13,170 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $268 | $136 |
Diversity |
Drake | Grinnell | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 14% | 2% | ||
| % Women | 26% | 2% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 79% | 56% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 7% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 5% | ||
| % International | 7% | 16% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 3% |
Students |
Drake | Grinnell | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 41% | 8% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 56% | 69% | ||
Campus |
Drake | Grinnell | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | Yes | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Drake University is larger than than Grinnell based on total student enrollment (4,504 students vs. 1,775 students)
Drake vs. Grinnell Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Drake or Grinnell?
- Grinnell College is 30.1% more expensive to attend than Drake for in-state tuition ($64,342.00 vs. $49,466.00)
- Out of state tuition is 30.1% higher at Grinnell than Drake University ($64,342.00 vs. $49,466.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Drake University than Grinnell ($30,886 vs. $33,446)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Drake University are 33.9% lower than costs at Grinnell College ($11,858 vs. $15,878)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Drake University than Grinnell College (100% vs. 92%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Grinnell College students is 44% larger than aid received Drake University ($45,782 vs. $31,783)
Drake vs. Grinnell Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Drake or Grinnell? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Grinnell or Drake .
- The average SAT score at Grinnell College (1402) is 178 points higher than at Drake (1224)
- Incoming Grinnell students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at Drake (27)
- 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 (64.1%) than Grinnell (12.7%)
Drake vs. Grinnell Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Drake or Grinnell? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Grinnell and Drake.
- The graduation rate at Grinnell is higher than Drake University (88% vs. 75%)
- Graduates from Drake University earn on average $9,000 more per year than Grinnell graduates after ten years. ($68,500 vs. $59,500)
- Grinnell College students graduate with a $12,830 lower median federal student loan debt than Drake graduates. ($13,170 vs. $26,000)
- Grinnell graduates are paying $132 less per month on federal student loans 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/