Cornell College vs Principia College
Cornell College and Principia College, two distinct institutions of higher learning, offer unique educational experiences to their students. Cornell College, a private liberal arts college in Mount Vernon, Iowa, boasts an acceptance rate of 75%, while Principia College, a private Christian college in Elsah, Illinois, has a more selective acceptance rate of 58%. Cornell College's student body is more diverse, with 48% female and 52% male students, while Principia College's student body is predominantly female, with a 60% female to 40% male ratio. Both colleges offer a range of popular majors, including Business, Education, and Psychology, but Cornell College also offers unique programs such as Environmental Studies and Peace and Conflict Studies. With graduation rates of 68% and 75% respectively, both colleges provide students with the opportunity to succeed and achieve their academic goals. To help you make an informed decision about your higher education journey, we
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![]() Cornell College |
![]() Principia College |
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Overview |
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Location | Mount Vernon, Iowa | Elsah, Illinois |
Campus setting | Town: Fringe | Rural: Fringe |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 78.0% | 81.0% |
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Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Methodism | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 81.1% | 84.1% |
Application fees | $30 | |
SAT range | 1155 - 1405 | 1028 - 1193 |
ACT range | 24 - 30 | 21 - 28 |
Students submitting SAT score | 28.0% | 30.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 58.0% | 13.0% |
Total number of applicants | 2,836 | 138 |
Total number of admissions given out | 2,300 | 116 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 366 | 79 |
Yield rate | 15.9% | 68.1% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $62,735 | $42,820 |
Average net price | $22,667 | $19,816 |
Tuition | $47,100 | $29,970 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$4,868
Meal plan:
$5,688
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Room/dormitory:
$5,810
Meal plan:
$6,460
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
100.0%
Average amount $37,745 |
94.0%
Average amount $25,174 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
57.0%
Average amount $5,607 |
0.0%
Average amount $0 |
Students taking out private loans |
16.0%
Average amount $9,357 |
94.0%
Average amount $2,016 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
1,046
Men 52.5% Women 47.5% |
321
Men 53.0% Women 47.0% |
Graduate students |
9
Men 33.3% Women 66.7% |
N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Low
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Out-of-state students | N/A | 92.7% |
International students | 3.0% | 24.3% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Fringe | Rural: Fringe |
Dormitory capacity | 1,060 | 585 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | Missouri California Texas Illinois Ohio |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 12:1 | 5:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 63.8% | 85.9% |
Dropout rate | 10.9% | 14.1% |
Transferred out | 25.4% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
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N/A |
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