Grinnell vs. Colby College

Should I go to Grinnell College or Colby College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Grinnell or Colby 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. 

Carleton College Hamilton College Colgate Middlebury Macalester College Tufts Vassar Oberlin BC Kenyon Bowdoin College Bates
Grinnell College vs. Colby College comparison
Grinnell College Colby College College 3 College 4
Grinnell College Colby College
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Grinnell Colby College
Location Grinnell, IA Waterville, ME
Setting Remote Town Remote Town
Enrollment 1,759 2,299
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #55 #44
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website grinnell.edu colby.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Grinnell Colby College
Tuition (In State) $60,988 $60,840
Tuition (Out of State) $60,988 $60,840
Room & Board $15,048 $16,330
Avg Net Price $33,467 $16,951
Avg Grant Aid $42,231 $61,714
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 41%

Admission

Grinnell Colby College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,997 16,890
Admitted 1,076 1,286
Acceptance Rate 10.8% 7.6%
Enrolled % 40.6% 52.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.89 3.86
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Elite
Applicant Competition Very High Extreme
ACT Range 31/34 32/34
SAT Range 1380/1530 1430/1540
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 1, 2025

Academics

Grinnell Colby College
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (27%)
  • Foreign Languages (12%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • History (8%)
  • Physical Sciences (8%)
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • General Studies (13%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Physical Sciences (7%)

Outcomes

Grinnell Colby College
Graduation Rate 88% 91%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $59,500 $73,400
Making Student Loan Payments 87% 88%
Median Student Loan Debt $13,170 $19,345
Median Loan Payment $136 $200

Diversity

Grinnell Colby College
% Men 47% 48%
% Women 53% 52%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 56% 62%
% Black 6% 3%
% Hispanic 7% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 5%
% International 16% 11%
% Unknown Race 3% 7%

Students

Grinnell Colby College
% In-State 7% 7%
% Out-of-State 72% 79%

Campus

Grinnell Colby College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Colby College is larger than than Grinnell based on total student enrollment (2,299 students vs. 1,759 students)

Grinnell vs. Colby College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Grinnell or Colby College?

  • Grinnell College is 0.2% more expensive to attend than Colby College for in-state tuition ($60,988.00 vs. $60,840.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 0.2% higher at Grinnell than Colby College ($60,988.00 vs. $60,840.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Colby College than Grinnell ($16,951 vs. $33,467)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grinnell College are 8.5% lower than costs at Colby College ($15,048 vs. $16,330)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Grinnell College than Colby College (91% vs. 41%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colby College students is 46.1% larger than aid received Grinnell College ($61,714 vs. $42,231)

Grinnell vs. Colby College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Grinnell College (1402) is 39 points higher than at Colby College (1363)
  • Incoming Grinnell students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at Colby College (31)
  • Accepted freshman Grinnell students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at Colby College (3.86)
  • Grinnell has a higher acceptance rate (10.8%) than Colby College (7.6%)

Grinnell vs. Colby College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Grinnell or Colby 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 Colby College and Grinnell.

  • The graduation rate at Colby College is higher than Grinnell College (91% vs. 88%)
  • Graduates from Colby College earn on average $13,900 more per year than Grinnell graduates after ten years. ($73,400 vs. $59,500)
  • Grinnell College students graduate with a $6,175 lower median federal student loan debt than Colby College graduates. ($13,170 vs. $19,345)
  • Grinnell graduates are paying $64 less per month on federal student loans than Colby College graduates. ($136 vs. $200)
  • More Colby College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Grinnell students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 87%)

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