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Carleton College Hamilton College Colgate Middlebury Macalester College Tufts Vassar Oberlin BC Kenyon Bowdoin College Bates| Grinnell College | Colby College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Grinnell | Colby College | ||
| Location | Grinnell, IA | Waterville, ME | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Remote Town | ||
| Enrollment | 1,775 | 2,284 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #55 | #37 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | grinnell.edu | colby.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Grinnell | Colby College | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $64,342 | $63,790 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $64,342 | $63,790 | ||
| Room & Board | $15,878 | $17,120 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $33,446 | $15,163 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $45,782 | $66,387 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 92% | 42% |
Admission |
Grinnell | Colby College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 9,988 | 17,786 | ||
| Admitted | 1,266 | 1,215 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 12.7% | 6.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 36.1% | 49.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.89 | 3.86 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Elite | Elite | ||
| Applicant Competition | Very High | Extreme | ||
| ACT Range | 31/34 | 32/34 | ||
| SAT Range | 1418/1550 | 1440/1550 | ||
| 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, 2026 | Jan 1, 2026 |
Academics |
Grinnell | Colby College | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 9:1 | 9:1 | ||
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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 | 2% | 0% | ||
| % Women | 2% | 0% | ||
| 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 | 8% | 7% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 69% | 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 (2,284 students vs. 1,775 students)
Grinnell vs. Colby College Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Grinnell or Colby College?
- Grinnell College is 0.9% more expensive to attend than Colby College for in-state tuition ($64,342.00 vs. $63,790.00)
- Out of state tuition is 0.9% higher at Grinnell than Colby College ($64,342.00 vs. $63,790.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Colby College than Grinnell ($15,163 vs. $33,446)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grinnell College are 7.8% lower than costs at Colby College ($15,878 vs. $17,120)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Grinnell College than Colby College (92% vs. 42%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Colby College students is 45% larger than aid received Grinnell College ($66,387 vs. $45,782)
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 (12.7%) than Colby College (6.8%)
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/