Head-to-head · 2026
Grinnell College vs St Luke's College
Compare average net price ($17,648 at Grinnell College; $19,820 at St Luke's College), ROI score (8.90 vs 7.70), school-wide ten-year median earnings ($62,830 vs $61,033), and admissions selectivity (14.5% acceptance at Grinnell College; 80% at St Luke's College) using federal College Scorecard data. The table keeps affordability, outcomes, access and program fit separate rather than declaring one universal winner.
Face to face
Metric-by-metric comparison
13 metrics, side by side. Color marks a useful directional signal; admissions, SAT, tuition eligibility, ownership and enrollment stay neutral.
| Metric | Grinnell College | St Luke's College |
|---|---|---|
| ROI score (school-wide) | 8.90 ✓ | 7.70 |
| Avg net price | $17,648 ✓ | $19,820 |
| 4-year avg net price | $70,592 ✓ | $79,280 |
| In-state tuition | $68,106 | $24,175 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $68,106 | $24,175 |
| School-wide earnings (10y) | $62,830 ✓ | $61,033 |
| Acceptance rate | 14.5% | 80% |
| Graduation rate | 88.1% | 100% ✓ |
| Retention rate | 92.6% | — |
| Median debt | $17,500 | $15,000 ✓ |
| Enrollment | 1,729 | 167 |
| Ownership | Private Non-Profit | Private Non-Profit |
| Avg SAT | 1486 | 980 |
Cost by family income
Reported net price by income band
Federal averages for students receiving Title IV aid. These are context, not a substitute for either school's financial-aid offer.
| Income band | Grinnell College | St Luke's College |
|---|---|---|
| Family income $0–30k | $9,970 | — |
| Family income $30–48k | $7,789 | — |
| Family income $48–75k | $9,669 ✓ | $15,602 |
| Family income $75–110k | $19,348 | — |
| Family income $110k+ | $37,725 | $26,147 ✓ |
Program fit
Shared fields with reported awards
Award share is the share of reported credentials in a field, not the share of currently enrolled students.
No shared field has positive award-share data at both schools in the current federal records. Check each school's official catalog before ruling out a program.
Decision readout
What the differences mean
Grinnell College reports the lower average net price by $2,172 per year. Holding today's averages constant, that is a $8,688 difference over four years ($70,592 vs $79,280).
Grinnell College reports $1,797 higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry ($62,830 vs $61,033). This is not earnings for a specific major.
Retention data is incomplete for at least one school. Compare the available graduation, debt, price and admissions context without treating a missing field as an advantage.
The current federal records do not show a shared field with positive award-share data for these schools. That does not prove a program is unavailable; verify offerings with each school.
Keep comparing
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Frequently asked
Grinnell College vs St Luke's College, answered
4 of the most common questions, with real numbers from federal data.
Which school costs less after aid?
Grinnell College is cheaper — average net price $17,648 per year vs $19,820 at St Luke's College. The annual difference of $2,172 adds up to about $8,688 over four years.
Which school reports higher earnings?
Grinnell College reports higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry: $62,830 vs $61,033 at St Luke's College. The gap in the federal data is $1,797. This is not major-specific earnings.
Which school is harder to get into?
Grinnell College is more selective at 14.5% acceptance vs 80% at St Luke's College.
Is there an overall winner?
No single metric makes either school the universal winner. Compare your actual aid offers, residency tuition, intended major, graduation and retention rates, debt, location and campus fit. EduGradify keeps these trade-offs separate instead of combining admissions selectivity and test scores into a final verdict.