Grinnell vs. Purdue

Should I go to Grinnell College or Purdue University Main Campus? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Grinnell or Purdue 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

IU Virginia Tech Illinois Carleton College Rose-Hulman Wisconsin UT Austin Ohio State UCSD Iowa NC State ISU
Grinnell College vs. Purdue University Main Campus comparison
Grinnell College Purdue University Main Campus College 3 College 4
Grinnell College Purdue University Main Campus
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Grinnell Purdue
Location Grinnell, IA West Lafayette, IN
Setting Remote Town Midsize Suburban
Enrollment 1,759 51,528
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #55 #101
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website grinnell.edu purdue.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Grinnell Purdue
Tuition (In State) $60,988 $9,718
Tuition (Out of State) $60,988 $28,520
Room & Board $15,048 $10,030
Avg Net Price $33,467 $12,576
Avg Grant Aid $42,231 $8,950
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 48%

Admission

Grinnell Purdue
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,997 68,582
Admitted 1,076 36,146
Acceptance Rate 10.8% 52.7%
Enrolled % 40.6% 26.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.89 3.67
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Exceptional
Applicant Competition Very High Low
ACT Range 31/34 27/34
SAT Range 1380/1530 1200/1470
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2025

Academics

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

Outcomes

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

Diversity

Grinnell Purdue
% Men 47% 58%
% Women 53% 42%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 56% 65%
% Black 6% 3%
% Hispanic 7% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 2%
% International 16% 17%
% Unknown Race 3% 2%

Students

Grinnell Purdue
% In-State 7% 46%
% Out-of-State 72% 44%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Purdue University Main Campus is larger than than Grinnell based on total student enrollment (51,528 students vs. 1,759 students)

Grinnell vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Grinnell or Purdue?

  • Grinnell College is 527.6% more expensive to attend than Purdue for in-state tuition ($60,988.00 vs. $9,718.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 113.8% higher at Grinnell than Purdue University Main Campus ($60,988.00 vs. $28,520.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Purdue University Main Campus than Grinnell ($12,576 vs. $33,467)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 50% lower than costs at Grinnell College ($10,030 vs. $15,048)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Grinnell College than Purdue University Main Campus (91% vs. 48%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Grinnell College students is 371.9% larger than aid received Purdue University Main Campus ($42,231 vs. $8,950)

Grinnell vs. Purdue Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Grinnell College (1402) is 171 points higher than at Purdue (1231)
  • Incoming Grinnell students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at Purdue (28)
  • 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 (52.7%) than Grinnell (10.8%)

Grinnell vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Grinnell or Purdue? 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 Purdue and Grinnell.

  • The graduation rate at Grinnell is higher than Purdue University Main Campus (88% vs. 68%)
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn on average $1,700 more per year than Grinnell graduates after ten years. ($61,200 vs. $59,500)
  • Grinnell College students graduate with a $8,330 lower median federal student loan debt than Purdue graduates. ($13,170 vs. $21,500)
  • Grinnell graduates are paying $86 less per month on federal student loans 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/