Grinnell vs. Cornell

Deciding between Grinnell College and Cornell University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Grinnell College
Cornell University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Grinnell Grinnell, IA
  • Cornell Ithaca, NY
  • Setting
  • Grinnell Remote Town
  • Cornell Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Grinnell 1,788
  • Cornell 26,793
  • Type
  • Grinnell Private 4 Year
  • Cornell Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Grinnell #57
  • Cornell #19
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Grinnell -
  • Cornell -
  • Status
  • Grinnell Non-profit
  • Cornell Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Grinnell
  • Cornell

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Grinnell $68,106
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Grinnell $68,106
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Room & Board
  • Grinnell $16,842
  • Cornell $19,428
  • Average Net Price
  • Grinnell $34,363
  • Cornell $26,361
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Grinnell $49,077
  • Cornell $61,779
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Grinnell 94%
  • Cornell 48%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Grinnell 9,758
  • Cornell 62,993
  • Admitted
  • Grinnell 1,416
  • Cornell 5,516
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Grinnell 14.5%
  • Cornell 8.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Grinnell 30.9%
  • Cornell 63.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Grinnell 1480
  • Cornell 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • Grinnell 32
  • Cornell 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Grinnell 3.89
  • Cornell 3.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Grinnell A
  • Cornell A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Grinnell Exceptional
  • Cornell Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Grinnell Very High
  • Cornell Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Grinnell 31/34
  • Cornell 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • Grinnell 1410/1540
  • Cornell 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Grinnell Test optional
  • Cornell Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Grinnell Jan 15, 2027
  • Cornell Jan 2, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Grinnell 9:1
  • Cornell 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Grinnell
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Foreign Languages (12%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • History (8%)
    • Physical Sciences (8%)
  • Cornell
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Grinnell 88%
  • Cornell 93%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Grinnell $59,500
  • Cornell $98,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Grinnell 87%
  • Cornell 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Grinnell $13,170
  • Cornell $12,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Grinnell $136
  • Cornell $124

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Grinnell 46%
  • Cornell 47%
  • % Women
  • Grinnell 54%
  • Cornell 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Grinnell High
  • Cornell Very High
  • HBCU
  • Grinnell No
  • Cornell No
  • % White
  • Grinnell 56%
  • Cornell 41%
  • % Asian
  • Grinnell 7%
  • Cornell 18%
  • % Black
  • Grinnell 6%
  • Cornell 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Grinnell 7%
  • Cornell 12%
  • % Native American
  • Grinnell 0%
  • Cornell 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Grinnell 0%
  • Cornell 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Grinnell 5%
  • Cornell 4%
  • % International
  • Grinnell 16%
  • Cornell 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Grinnell 3%
  • Cornell 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Grinnell 8%
  • Cornell 32%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Grinnell 68%
  • Cornell 55%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Grinnell Yes
  • Cornell Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Grinnell Yes
  • Cornell No
  • Meal Plan
  • Grinnell Yes
  • Cornell Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Grinnell No
  • Cornell No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Grinnell No
  • Cornell No

Comparable Facts

Compare Grinnell College in Grinnell, IA with Cornell University in Ithaca, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cornell University is larger than Grinnell based on total student enrollment (26,793 students vs. 1,788 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Grinnell College is located in Grinnell, IA (Remote Town setting); Cornell University is in Ithaca, NY (Small City setting).
  • Grinnell College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Cornell University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Grinnell College 9:1; Cornell University 9:1.

Grinnell vs. Cornell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Grinnell or Cornell? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Cornell University than Grinnell ($26,361 vs. $34,363).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grinnell College are 13.3% lower than at Cornell University ($16,842 vs. $19,428).
  • Cornell University is 1.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Grinnell (about $1,208 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $68,106.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.8% higher at Cornell than at Grinnell College (about $1,208 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $68,106.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Grinnell College than at Cornell University (94% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cornell University students is 25.9% larger than aid received by Grinnell College students ($61,779 vs. $49,077).

Grinnell vs. Cornell Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Grinnell or Cornell? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Cornell and Grinnell.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cornell University (1540) is 60 points higher than at Grinnell (1480).
  • Incoming Cornell students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at Grinnell).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Grinnell College 1410/1540; Cornell University 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Grinnell College 31/34; Cornell University 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Grinnell - Test optional; Cornell - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Grinnell Jan 15, 2027; Cornell Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Cornell students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Grinnell (3.89).
  • Grinnell has a higher acceptance rate (14.5%) than Cornell (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 30.9% at Grinnell vs. 63.9% at Cornell.

Grinnell vs. Cornell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Grinnell and Cornell? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Cornell University's six-year graduation rate (93%) is higher than Grinnell College's (88%).
  • Graduates from Cornell University earn a median of about $38,900 more per year than Grinnell graduates about ten years after starting college ($98,400 vs. $59,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cornell University graduates have a $1,170 lower median loan debt than Grinnell graduates ($12,000 vs. $13,170).
  • Among borrowers, Cornell graduates have an estimated $12 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Grinnell graduates ($124 vs. $136).
  • More Cornell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Grinnell students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 87%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.