IIT vs. Grinnell

Deciding between Illinois Institute of Technology and Grinnell College? 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.

Illinois Institute of Technology
Grinnell College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IIT Chicago, IL
  • Grinnell Grinnell, IA
  • Setting
  • IIT Large City
  • Grinnell Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • IIT 8,834
  • Grinnell 1,788
  • Type
  • IIT Private 4 Year
  • Grinnell Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IIT #236
  • Grinnell #57
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IIT -
  • Grinnell -
  • Status
  • IIT Non-profit
  • Grinnell Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IIT
  • Grinnell

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IIT $52,386
  • Grinnell $68,106
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IIT $52,386
  • Grinnell $68,106
  • Room & Board
  • IIT $17,356
  • Grinnell $16,842
  • Average Net Price
  • IIT $24,796
  • Grinnell $34,363
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IIT $44,547
  • Grinnell $49,077
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IIT 100%
  • Grinnell 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IIT 12,216
  • Grinnell 9,758
  • Admitted
  • IIT 6,710
  • Grinnell 1,416
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IIT 54.9%
  • Grinnell 14.5%
  • Enrolled
  • IIT 7.7%
  • Grinnell 30.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IIT 1310
  • Grinnell 1480
  • Typical ACT score
  • IIT 29
  • Grinnell 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • IIT 3.84
  • Grinnell 3.89
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IIT A-
  • Grinnell A
  • Admissions Standards
  • IIT Very High
  • Grinnell Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • IIT Low
  • Grinnell Very High
  • ACT Range
  • IIT 26/32
  • Grinnell 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • IIT 1180/1440
  • Grinnell 1410/1540
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IIT Test optional
  • Grinnell Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IIT Mar 1, 2027
  • Grinnell Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IIT 14:1
  • Grinnell 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IIT
    • Engineering (50%)
    • Architecture (20%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (8%)
    • Business (7%)
    • Biology (4%)
  • Grinnell
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Foreign Languages (12%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • History (8%)
    • Physical Sciences (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IIT 64%
  • Grinnell 88%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IIT $79,300
  • Grinnell $59,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IIT 81%
  • Grinnell 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IIT $27,000
  • Grinnell $13,170
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IIT $279
  • Grinnell $136

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IIT 62%
  • Grinnell 46%
  • % Women
  • IIT 38%
  • Grinnell 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IIT Very High
  • Grinnell High
  • HBCU
  • IIT No
  • Grinnell No
  • % White
  • IIT 33%
  • Grinnell 56%
  • % Asian
  • IIT 13%
  • Grinnell 7%
  • % Black
  • IIT 6%
  • Grinnell 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • IIT 16%
  • Grinnell 7%
  • % Native American
  • IIT 0%
  • Grinnell 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IIT 0%
  • Grinnell 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IIT 2%
  • Grinnell 5%
  • % International
  • IIT 26%
  • Grinnell 16%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IIT 4%
  • Grinnell 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IIT 67%
  • Grinnell 8%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IIT 24%
  • Grinnell 68%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, IL with Grinnell College in Grinnell, IA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Illinois Institute of Technology is larger than Grinnell based on total student enrollment (8,834 students vs. 1,788 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois Institute of Technology is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Grinnell College is in Grinnell, IA (Remote Town setting).
  • Illinois Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Grinnell College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois Institute of Technology 14:1; Grinnell College 9:1.

IIT vs. Grinnell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IIT or Grinnell? 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 Illinois Institute of Technology than Grinnell ($24,796 vs. $34,363).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grinnell College are 3% lower than at Illinois Institute of Technology ($16,842 vs. $17,356).
  • Grinnell College is 30% more expensive for in-state tuition than IIT (about $15,720 more per year; $68,106.00 vs. $52,386.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 30% higher at Grinnell than at Illinois Institute of Technology (about $15,720 more per year; $68,106.00 vs. $52,386.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Illinois Institute of Technology than at Grinnell College (100% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Grinnell College students is 10.2% larger than aid received by Illinois Institute of Technology students ($49,077 vs. $44,547).

IIT vs. Grinnell Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Grinnell College (1480) is 170 points higher than at IIT (1310).
  • Incoming Grinnell students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 29 at IIT).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Institute of Technology 1180/1440; Grinnell College 1410/1540.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Institute of Technology 26/32; Grinnell College 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IIT - Test optional; Grinnell - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: IIT Mar 1, 2027; Grinnell Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Grinnell students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at IIT (3.84).
  • IIT has a higher acceptance rate (54.9%) than Grinnell (14.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 7.7% at IIT vs. 30.9% at Grinnell.

IIT vs. Grinnell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IIT and Grinnell? 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 Illinois Institute of Technology's (64%).
  • Graduates from Illinois Institute of Technology earn a median of about $19,800 more per year than Grinnell graduates about ten years after starting college ($79,300 vs. $59,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Grinnell College graduates have a $13,830 lower median loan debt than IIT graduates ($13,170 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Grinnell graduates have an estimated $143 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IIT graduates ($136 vs. $279).
  • More Grinnell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IIT 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.