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Compare Drake University vs Grinnell College

Des Moines, IA · Grinnell, IA

Drake UniversityGrinnell College
Cost
Price after aid (average)$29,127/yr$17,648/yr
Price after aid (family income under $30k)$25,824/yr$9,970/yr
Typical loan debt at graduation$23,000$17,500
Price after aid ($30k–$48k income)$23,275/yr$7,789/yr
Price after aid ($48k–$75k income)$25,171/yr$9,669/yr
Price after aid ($75k–$110k income)$27,408/yr$19,348/yr
Price after aid (income over $110k)$33,126/yr$37,725/yr
Typical loan payment after graduation$244/mo$186/mo
Room & board (on campus)$12,452/yr$16,842/yr
Room & board (off campus)$10,701/yrNo data reported
Borrowers who default0%0%
Books & supplies$510/yr$800/yr
Other living costs (on campus)$3,150/yr$1,850/yr
Sticker price (before aid)$64,835/yr$83,440/yr
Tuition (in-state)$52,130/yr$68,106/yr
Tuition (out-of-state)$52,130/yr$68,106/yr
Students with Pell Grants22%18%
Students taking federal loans44%13%
Getting in
Students who get accepted64%15%
SAT range (middle 50%)1110–13501410–1540
SAT average12921486
ACT range (middle 50%)24–2931–34
ACT sections (middle 50%)English 22–30 · Math 22–28English 31–35 · Math 28–34
Admissions data fromFall 2023Fall 2023
Applications received7,7419,988
Students accepted4,9641,266
Students who enrolled639457
Accepted students who enroll13%36%
Enrolled who sent SAT scores8%30%
Enrolled who sent ACT scores31%21%
High-school GPARequiredOptional (considered if sent)
High-school transcriptRequiredRequired
EssayOptional (considered if sent)Required
Recommendation lettersOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
Class rankNot consideredOptional (considered if sent)
College-prep programOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
Demonstrated competenciesOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
Work experienceOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
English proficiency testRequiredRequired
Other admission testsNot consideredOptional (considered if sent)
Legacy consideredNot consideredOptional (considered if sent)
SAT/ACT policyOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
Graduation & earnings
Students who graduate74%88%
Freshmen who come back84%93%
Typical earnings 10 years in$71,901/yr$62,830/yr
Earnings range 10 years in$47,785–$110,436$38,836–$90,289
Finish within 8 years (anywhere)77%89%
White students graduating79%88%
Black students graduating45%95%
Hispanic students graduating69%85%
Asian students graduating65%93%
Typical earnings 6 years in$58,233/yr$49,004/yr
Earn more than a HS grad87%79%
Graduate on time66%75%
Pell students who graduate61%90%
First-gen students who finish43%87%
Low-income students who finish47%No data reported
Typical earnings 8 years in$68,149/yr$58,562/yr
Majors & programs
Top 3 programsBusiness, Management & Marketing 22% · Communication & Journalism 10% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 8%Social Sciences 29% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 17% · Computer & Information Sciences 13%
Most popular programBusiness, Management & Marketing — 22% of degreesSocial Sciences — 29% of degrees
2nd most popular programCommunication & Journalism — 10% of degreesBiological & Biomedical Sciences — 17% of degrees
3rd most popular programBiological & Biomedical Sciences — 8% of degreesComputer & Information Sciences — 13% of degrees
4th most popular programHealth Professions — 8% of degreesPsychology — 9% of degrees
5th most popular programSocial Sciences — 8% of degreesPhysical Sciences — 7% of degrees
Highest-paying major (1 year out)Business Administration, Management and Operations — $91,098/yrComputer Science — $84,449/yr
Degrees in STEM16%42%
Campus & students
Undergrad enrollment2,5431,729
Students per professor11 : 19 : 1
Graduate students1,760No data reported
Average professor pay$10,431/mo$12,576/mo
Full-time professors72%81%
Fully onlineNoNo
Accredited byHigher Learning CommissionHigher Learning Commission
Median family income$89,603$74,916
SettingCity (midsize)Town (remote)
LocationDes Moines, IAGrinnell, IA
RegionPlainsPlains
Founded18811846
Public or privatePrivate (nonprofit)Private (nonprofit)
Main degree offeredBachelor's degreesBachelor's degrees
Carnegie classificationDoctoral/Professional UniversitiesBaccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus
Main or branch campusMain campusMain campus
International students4.2%21%
Men39%46%
Women61%54%
White students68%48%
Black students7.8%4.7%
Hispanic or Latino students9.5%8.7%
Asian students4.6%9.7%
Two or more races5.4%6.4%
Other / not reported0.4%1.1%
Special typeNoneNone
First-generation students15%18%
Part-time students2.2%0.2%
Students age 25+3.3%0.2%
Spent on teaching per student$13,803/yr$32,882/yr
Endowment$306.2M$2.7B
Campus life
Campus data from20232023
On-campus housingYes — dorms on campusYes — dorms on campus
Beds in campus housing1,7581,450
Required to live on campusNoYes — for first-year students
Room charge (campus housing)$6,470/yr$7,500/yr
Meal plan charge$5,388/yr$8,378/yr
Meal plan offeredYesYes
Meals per week20 meals/week20 meals/week
Academic calendarSemesterSemester
Federal designationNoneNone
Study abroadYesYes
Undergraduate researchYesNo
ROTCYes — Army, Air ForceNo
Accepts AP creditYesYes
Accepts dual-enrollment creditNoNo
Credit for life experienceNoNo
Online classesYesNo
Whole degrees onlineYesNo
Weekend & evening classesYesNo
Teacher certificationYesYes
Academic & career counselingYesYes
Job help while you studyYesYes
Job placement for graduatesYesYes
On-campus day careNoNo
Program for students with intellectual disabilitiesNoNo
Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) schoolYesYes
Credit for military trainingYesNo
Student veteran organizationNoNo
Tuition payment planYesYes
Guaranteed (locked) tuitionYesNo
Prepaid tuition planNoNo
Athletics
Athletics data from2024-252024-25
College sports levelNCAA Division I-FCSNCAA Division III with football
Football teamYesYes
Varsity teams1420
Student athletes387434
Athletic scholarships$5.0M$0
Athletics budget$21.3M$4.8M
Athletics revenue$21.3M$4.8M
Recruiting spend$217,012$60,861

Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.