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Bowdoin College Carleton College Macalester College Oberlin Kenyon Colby College Wesleyan University Haverford College Cornell WUSTL Reed Davidson| Grinnell College | Bates College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Grinnell | Bates | ||
| Location | Grinnell, IA | Lewiston, ME | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 1,775 | 1,753 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #55 | #45 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | grinnell.edu | bates.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Grinnell | Bates | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $64,342 | $63,478 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $64,342 | $63,478 | ||
| Room & Board | $15,878 | $17,904 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $33,446 | $26,658 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $45,782 | $53,782 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 92% | 44% |
Admission |
Grinnell | Bates | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 9,988 | 8,937 | ||
| Admitted | 1,266 | 1,164 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 12.7% | 13% | ||
| Enrolled % | 36.1% | 43.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.89 | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Elite | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Very High | Very High | ||
| ACT Range | 31/34 | 31/33 | ||
| SAT Range | 1418/1550 | 1400/1510 | ||
| 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 | Jan 15, 2026 | Jan 1, 2026 |
Academics |
Grinnell | Bates | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 9:1 | 10:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Grinnell | Bates | ||
| Graduation Rate | 88% | 92% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $59,500 | $75,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 87% | 90% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $13,170 | $14,450 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $136 | $149 |
Diversity |
Grinnell | Bates | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 2% | 35% | ||
| % Women | 2% | 36% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 56% | 71% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 4% | ||
| % International | 16% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 0% |
Students |
Grinnell | Bates | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 8% | 8% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 69% | 80% | ||
Campus |
Grinnell | Bates | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | Yes | Yes | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Grinnell College is larger than than Bates based on total student enrollment (1,775 students vs. 1,753 students)
Grinnell vs. Bates Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Grinnell or Bates?
- Grinnell College is 1.4% more expensive to attend than Bates for in-state tuition ($64,342.00 vs. $63,478.00)
- Out of state tuition is 1.4% higher at Grinnell than Bates College ($64,342.00 vs. $63,478.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bates College than Grinnell ($26,658 vs. $33,446)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grinnell College are 12.8% lower than costs at Bates College ($15,878 vs. $17,904)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Grinnell College than Bates College (92% vs. 44%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Bates College students is 17.5% larger than aid received Grinnell College ($53,782 vs. $45,782)
Grinnell vs. Bates Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Grinnell or Bates? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Bates or Grinnell .
- Bates has a higher acceptance rate (13%) than Grinnell (12.7%)
Grinnell vs. Bates Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Grinnell or Bates? 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 Bates and Grinnell.
- The graduation rate at Bates is higher than Grinnell College (92% vs. 88%)
- Graduates from Bates College earn on average $16,200 more per year than Grinnell graduates after ten years. ($75,700 vs. $59,500)
- Grinnell College students graduate with a $1,280 lower median federal student loan debt than Bates graduates. ($13,170 vs. $14,450)
- Grinnell graduates are paying $13 less per month on federal student loans than Bates graduates. ($136 vs. $149)
- More Bates graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Grinnell students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 87%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/