Grinnell vs. Carleton College

Should I go to Grinnell College or Carleton College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Grinnell or Carleton College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

Macalester College St Olaf Oberlin Kenyon Hamilton College Middlebury Pomona WUSTL Haverford College Colgate Emory Vassar
Grinnell College vs. Carleton College comparison
Grinnell College Carleton College College 3 College 4
Grinnell College Carleton College
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Grinnell Carleton College
Location Grinnell, IA Northfield, MN
Setting Remote Town Distant Town
Enrollment 1,759 2,059
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #55 #39
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website grinnell.edu carleton.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Grinnell Carleton College
Tuition (In State) $60,988 $62,244
Tuition (Out of State) $60,988 $62,244
Room & Board $15,048 $15,990
Avg Net Price $33,467 $31,494
Avg Grant Aid $42,231 $46,821
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 60%

Admission

Grinnell Carleton College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,997 8,583
Admitted 1,076 1,427
Acceptance Rate 10.8% 16.6%
Enrolled % 40.6% 37.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.89 3.9
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Elite
Applicant Competition Very High Very High
ACT Range 31/34 32/35
SAT Range 1380/1530 1430/1550
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, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Grinnell Carleton College
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 8:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (27%)
  • Foreign Languages (12%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • History (8%)
  • Physical Sciences (8%)
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • Physical Sciences (14%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • English and Literature (6%)

Outcomes

Grinnell Carleton College
Graduation Rate 88% 93%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $59,500 $65,600
Making Student Loan Payments 87% 92%
Median Student Loan Debt $13,170 $19,500
Median Loan Payment $136 $201

Diversity

Grinnell Carleton College
% Men 47% 50%
% Women 53% 50%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 56% 63%
% Black 6% 4%
% Hispanic 7% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 5%
% International 16% 10%
% Unknown Race 3% 2%

Students

Grinnell Carleton College
% In-State 7% 17%
% Out-of-State 72% 73%

Campus

Grinnell Carleton College
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

  • Carleton College is larger than than Grinnell based on total student enrollment (2,059 students vs. 1,759 students)

Grinnell vs. Carleton College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Grinnell or Carleton College?

  • Carleton College is 2.1% more expensive to attend than Grinnell for in-state tuition ($62,244.00 vs. $60,988.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 2.1% higher at Carleton College than Grinnell College ($62,244.00 vs. $60,988.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Carleton College than Grinnell ($31,494 vs. $33,467)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grinnell College are 6.3% lower than costs at Carleton College ($15,048 vs. $15,990)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Grinnell College than Carleton College (91% vs. 60%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Carleton College students is 10.9% larger than aid received Grinnell College ($46,821 vs. $42,231)

Grinnell vs. Carleton College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Grinnell or Carleton College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Carleton College or Grinnell .

  • The average SAT score at Grinnell College (1402) is 2 points higher than at Carleton College (1400)
  • Incoming Grinnell students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at Carleton College (31)
  • Accepted freshman Carleton College students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Grinnell (3.89)
  • Carleton College has a higher acceptance rate (16.6%) than Grinnell (10.8%)

Grinnell vs. Carleton College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Grinnell or Carleton College? 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 Carleton College and Grinnell.

  • The graduation rate at Carleton College is higher than Grinnell College (93% vs. 88%)
  • Graduates from Carleton College earn on average $6,100 more per year than Grinnell graduates after ten years. ($65,600 vs. $59,500)
  • Grinnell College students graduate with a $6,330 lower median federal student loan debt than Carleton College graduates. ($13,170 vs. $19,500)
  • Grinnell graduates are paying $65 less per month on federal student loans than Carleton College graduates. ($136 vs. $201)
  • More Carleton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Grinnell students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 87%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/