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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

Lewis University Indiana Tech Valpo Purdue Cleveland State Gannon University Adrian College ONU UNH Webster University IPFW CMU
Principia College vs. Trine University comparison
Principia College Trine University College 3 College 4
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Principia College Trine University
Location Elsah, Illinois Angola, IN
Setting Rural Fringe Distant Town
Enrollment 323 4,088
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #772
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website principiacollege.edu trine.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Principia College Trine University
Tuition (In State) $31,200 $34,330
Tuition (Out of State) $31,200 $34,330
Room & Board $12,870 $11,920
Avg Net Price $18,039 $24,276
Avg Grant Aid $27,051 $24,645
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 97%

Admission

Principia College Trine University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 209 3,904
Admitted 100 3,587
Acceptance Rate 47.8% 91.9%
Enrolled % 61% 18.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.34 3.51
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/28
SAT Range 970/1300 1030/1240
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025

Academics

Principia College Trine University
Student to Faculty Ratio 6:1 16:1
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 59% 51%
% Women 41% 49%
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% 55%
% Out-of-State 41% 44%

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 (4,088 students vs. 323 students)

Principia College vs. Trine University Cost Comparison

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

  • Trine University is 10% more expensive to attend than Principia College for in-state tuition ($34,330.00 vs. $31,200.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 10% higher at Trine University than Principia College ($34,330.00 vs. $31,200.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Principia College than Trine University ($18,039 vs. $24,276)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Trine University are 8% lower than costs at Principia College ($11,920 vs. $12,870)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Trine University than Principia College (97% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Principia College students is 9.8% larger than aid received Trine University ($27,051 vs. $24,645)

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 (91.9%) than Principia College (47.8%)

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/