Head-to-head comparison
Drake University vs Grinnell College: which has better ROI?
Option A Des Moines, IA
Drake University
- Net price / year
- $29,127
- Earnings, 10 years
- $71,901
- Payback
- 4.9 yrs
Option B Grinnell, IA
Grinnell College
- Net price / year
- $17,648
- Earnings, 10 years
- $62,830
- Payback
- 4.9 yrs
Drake University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $116,508 in 4.9 years versus 4.9 years at Grinnell College, on median earnings of $71,901 vs $62,830 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Drake University | Grinnell College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $29,127 | $17,648 |
| Total net cost | $116,508 | $70,592 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $71,901 | $62,830 |
| Median debt | $23,000 | $17,500 |
| Payback | 4.9 yrs | 4.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $354,312 | $218,808 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Drake University or Grinnell College?
Grinnell College, at $17,648 a year after aid versus $29,127 — a gap of $11,479 a year, or $45,916 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Drake University or Grinnell College graduates earn more?
Drake University graduates report a median $71,901 ten years after entry, $9,071 more than the $62,830 at Grinnell College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Drake University or Grinnell College?
Grinnell College: its completers carry a median $17,500 in federal loans versus $23,000 at Drake University, a difference of $5,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
88% of students finish at Grinnell College, against 74% at Drake University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.