Grinnell vs. Marquette University

Should I go to Grinnell College or Marquette University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Grinnell or Marquette University is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Grinnell College vs. Marquette University comparison
Grinnell College Marquette University College 3 College 4
Grinnell College Marquette University
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Overview

Grinnell Marquette University
Location Grinnell, IA Milwaukee, WI
Setting Remote Town Large City
Enrollment 1,775 11,373
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #55 #219
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website grinnell.edu marquette.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Grinnell Marquette University
Tuition (In State) $64,342 $47,690
Tuition (Out of State) $64,342 $47,690
Room & Board $15,878 $15,740
Avg Net Price $33,446 $32,031
Avg Grant Aid $45,782 $31,683
% Receiving Grant Aid 92% 100%

Admission

Grinnell Marquette University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,988 15,636
Admitted 1,266 13,672
Acceptance Rate 12.7% 87.4%
Enrolled % 36.1% 13.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.89 3.56
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Elite Very High
Applicant Competition Very High
ACT Range 31/34 26/31
SAT Range 1418/1550 1190/1360
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 Dec 1, 2025

Academics

Grinnell Marquette University
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (27%)
  • Foreign Languages (12%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • History (8%)
  • Physical Sciences (8%)
  • Business (27%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Engineering (9%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)

Outcomes

Grinnell Marquette University
Graduation Rate 88% 81%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $59,500 $67,500
Making Student Loan Payments 87% 81%
Median Student Loan Debt $13,170 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $136 $279

Diversity

Grinnell Marquette University
% Men 2% 12%
% Women 2% 20%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 56% 73%
% Black 6% 4%
% Hispanic 7% 10%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 16% 4%
% Unknown Race 3% 0%

Students

Grinnell Marquette University
% In-State 8% 34%
% Out-of-State 69% 65%

Campus

Grinnell Marquette University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Marquette University is larger than than Grinnell based on total student enrollment (11,373 students vs. 1,775 students)

Grinnell vs. Marquette University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Grinnell or Marquette University?

  • Grinnell College is 34.9% more expensive to attend than Marquette University for in-state tuition ($64,342.00 vs. $47,690.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 34.9% higher at Grinnell than Marquette University ($64,342.00 vs. $47,690.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Marquette University than Grinnell ($32,031 vs. $33,446)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Marquette University are 0.9% lower than costs at Grinnell College ($15,740 vs. $15,878)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Marquette University than Grinnell College (100% vs. 92%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Grinnell College students is 44.5% larger than aid received Marquette University ($45,782 vs. $31,683)

Grinnell vs. Marquette University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Grinnell or Marquette University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Marquette University or Grinnell .

  • The average SAT score at Grinnell College (1402) is 183 points higher than at Marquette University (1219)
  • Incoming Grinnell students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at Marquette University (27)
  • Accepted freshman Grinnell students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at Marquette University (3.56)
  • Marquette University has a higher acceptance rate (87.4%) than Grinnell (12.7%)

Grinnell vs. Marquette University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Grinnell or Marquette University? 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 Marquette University and Grinnell.

  • The graduation rate at Grinnell is higher than Marquette University (88% vs. 81%)
  • Graduates from Marquette University earn on average $8,000 more per year than Grinnell graduates after ten years. ($67,500 vs. $59,500)
  • Grinnell College students graduate with a $13,830 lower median federal student loan debt than Marquette University graduates. ($13,170 vs. $27,000)
  • Grinnell graduates are paying $143 less per month on federal student loans than Marquette University graduates. ($136 vs. $279)
  • More Grinnell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Marquette University students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 81%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/