Grinnell vs. Purdue

Deciding between Grinnell College and Purdue University Main Campus? 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.

Grinnell College
Purdue University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Grinnell Grinnell, IA
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • Grinnell Remote Town
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Grinnell 1,788
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • Grinnell Private 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Grinnell #57
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Grinnell -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • Grinnell Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Grinnell
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Grinnell $68,106
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Grinnell $68,106
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • Grinnell $16,842
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • Grinnell $34,363
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Grinnell $49,077
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Grinnell 94%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Grinnell 9,758
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • Grinnell 1,416
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Grinnell 14.5%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Grinnell 30.9%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Grinnell 1480
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • Grinnell 32
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Grinnell 3.89
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Grinnell A
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Grinnell Exceptional
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Grinnell Very High
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • Grinnell 31/34
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • Grinnell 1410/1540
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Grinnell Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Grinnell Jan 15, 2027
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Grinnell 9:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Grinnell
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Foreign Languages (12%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • History (8%)
    • Physical Sciences (8%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Grinnell 88%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Grinnell $59,500
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Grinnell 87%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Grinnell $13,170
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Grinnell $136
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Grinnell 46%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • Grinnell 54%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Grinnell High
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • Grinnell No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • Grinnell 56%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • Grinnell 7%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • Grinnell 6%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Grinnell 7%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • Grinnell 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Grinnell 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Grinnell 5%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • Grinnell 16%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Grinnell 3%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Grinnell 8%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Grinnell 68%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Grinnell College in Grinnell, IA with Purdue University Main Campus in West Lafayette, IN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Purdue University Main Campus is larger than Grinnell based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 1,788 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Grinnell College is located in Grinnell, IA (Remote Town setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Grinnell College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Purdue University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Grinnell College 9:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

Grinnell vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Grinnell or Purdue? 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 Purdue University Main Campus than Grinnell ($13,722 vs. $34,363).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 23.9% lower than at Grinnell College ($12,820 vs. $16,842).
  • Grinnell College is 581.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $58,114 more per year; $68,106.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 136.5% higher at Grinnell than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $39,312 more per year; $68,106.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Grinnell College than at Purdue University Main Campus (94% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Grinnell College students is 334.5% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($49,077 vs. $11,294).

Grinnell vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Grinnell or Purdue? 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 Purdue and Grinnell.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Grinnell College (1480) is 140 points higher than at Purdue (1340).
  • Incoming Grinnell students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at Purdue).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Grinnell College 1410/1540; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Grinnell College 31/34; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Grinnell - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Grinnell Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Grinnell students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at Purdue (3.67).
  • Purdue has a higher acceptance rate (49.9%) than Grinnell (14.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 30.9% at Grinnell vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

Grinnell vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Grinnell and Purdue? 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 Purdue University Main Campus's (68%).
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $1,700 more per year than Grinnell graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,200 vs. $59,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Grinnell College graduates have a $8,330 lower median loan debt than Purdue graduates ($13,170 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, Grinnell graduates have an estimated $86 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Purdue graduates ($136 vs. $222).
  • More Grinnell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purdue students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 78%)

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.