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IU Virginia Tech Illinois Carleton College Rose-Hulman Wisconsin UT Austin Ohio State UCSD Iowa NC State ISU| Grinnell College | Purdue University Main Campus | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Grinnell | Purdue | ||
| Location | Grinnell, IA | West Lafayette, IN | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Midsize Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 1,775 | 52,905 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #55 | #103 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | grinnell.edu | purdue.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Grinnell | Purdue | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $64,342 | $9,718 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $64,342 | $28,520 | ||
| Room & Board | $15,878 | $11,650 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $33,446 | $12,421 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $45,782 | $11,126 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 92% | 39% |
Admission |
Grinnell | Purdue | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 9,988 | 73,083 | ||
| Admitted | 1,266 | 36,763 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 12.7% | 50.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 36.1% | 25.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.89 | 3.67 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Elite | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Very High | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 31/34 | 27/34 | ||
| SAT Range | 1418/1550 | 1190/1460 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Required to be considered for admission | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
Grinnell | Purdue | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 9:1 | 14:1 | ||
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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 | 2% | 15% | ||
| % Women | 2% | 10% | ||
| 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 | 8% | 46% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 69% | 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 (52,905 students vs. 1,775 students)
Grinnell vs. Purdue Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Grinnell or Purdue?
- Grinnell College is 562.1% more expensive to attend than Purdue for in-state tuition ($64,342.00 vs. $9,718.00)
- Out of state tuition is 125.6% higher at Grinnell than Purdue University Main Campus ($64,342.00 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 ($12,421 vs. $33,446)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 36.3% lower than costs at Grinnell College ($11,650 vs. $15,878)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Grinnell College than Purdue University Main Campus (92% vs. 39%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Grinnell College students is 311.5% larger than aid received Purdue University Main Campus ($45,782 vs. $11,126)
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 (50.3%) than Grinnell (12.7%)
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/