Principia College vs. Trine University

Should I go to Principia College or Trine University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Principia College or Trine 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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Principia College vs. Trine University comparison
Principia College Trine University College 3 College 4
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Overview

 Principia College Trine University
Location Elsah, Illinois Angola, IN
Setting Rural Fringe Distant Town
Enrollment 338 4,471
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #758
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website principiacollege.edu trine.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Principia College Trine University
Tuition (In State) $32,250 $35,000
Tuition (Out of State) $32,250 $35,000
Room & Board $13,370 $12,250
Avg Net Price $14,904 $25,580
Avg Grant Aid $32,096 $24,424
% Receiving Grant Aid 90% 96%

Admission

 Principia College Trine University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 268 4,102
Admitted 119 3,474
Acceptance Rate 44.4% 84.7%
Enrolled % 70.6% 19.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.34 3.51
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/23 21/28
SAT Range 1040/1250 1030/1240
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2026

Academics

 Principia College Trine University
Student to Faculty Ratio 5:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (30%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (13%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Engineering Technology (7%)

Outcomes

 Principia College Trine University
Graduation Rate - 44%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) N/A $46,400
Making Student Loan Payments - 60%
Median Student Loan Debt N/A $25,150
Median Loan Payment N/A $260

Diversity

 Principia College Trine University
% Men 0% 2%
% Women 0% 5%
Racial Diversity - Low
HBCU No No
% White 0% 79%
% Black 0% 3%
% Hispanic 0% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 2%
% International 0% 7%
% Unknown Race 0% 3%

Students

 Principia College Trine University
% In-State 3% 54%
% Out-of-State 41% 45%

Campus

 Principia College Trine University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Trine University is larger than than Principia College based on total student enrollment (4,471 students vs. 338 students)

Principia College vs. Trine University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Principia College or Trine University?

  • Trine University is 8.5% more expensive to attend than Principia College for in-state tuition ($35,000.00 vs. $32,250.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 8.5% higher at Trine University than Principia College ($35,000.00 vs. $32,250.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Principia College than Trine University ($14,904 vs. $25,580)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Trine University are 9.1% lower than costs at Principia College ($12,250 vs. $13,370)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Trine University than Principia College (96% vs. 90%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Principia College students is 31.4% larger than aid received Trine University ($32,096 vs. $24,424)

Principia College vs. Trine University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Trine University students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.51) than students at Principia College (3.34)
  • Trine University has a higher acceptance rate (84.7%) than Principia College (44.4%)

Principia College vs. Trine University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Principia College or Trine 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 Trine University and Principia College.

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