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Carleton College Macalester College Oberlin Kenyon Haverford College Tennessee State University Cornell WUSTL Reed Davidson Swarthmore Colby College| Grinnell College | Fisk University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Grinnell | Fisk University | ||
| Location | Grinnell, IA | Nashville, TN | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 1,775 | 1,005 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #55 | #600 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | grinnell.edu | fisk.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Grinnell | Fisk University | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $64,342 | $22,320 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $64,342 | $22,320 | ||
| Room & Board | $15,878 | $11,698 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $33,446 | $19,836 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $45,782 | $20,400 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 92% | 96% |
Admission |
Grinnell | Fisk University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 9,988 | 7,982 | ||
| Admitted | 1,266 | 4,622 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 12.7% | 57.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 36.1% | 6.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.89 | 3.1 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Elite | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | Very High | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 31/34 | 20/25 | ||
| SAT Range | 1418/1550 | 1160/1480 | ||
| 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 | Aug 1, 2026 |
Academics |
Grinnell | Fisk University | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 9:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Grinnell | Fisk University | ||
| Graduation Rate | 88% | 45% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $59,500 | $35,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 87% | 38% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $13,170 | $26,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $136 | $268 |
Diversity |
Grinnell | Fisk University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 2% | 1% | ||
| % Women | 2% | 4% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | Yes | ||
| % White | 56% | 1% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 88% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 1% | ||
| % International | 16% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 6% |
Students |
Grinnell | Fisk University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 8% | 30% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 69% | 57% | ||
Campus |
Grinnell | Fisk University | ||
| 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
- Grinnell College is larger than than Fisk University based on total student enrollment (1,775 students vs. 1,005 students)
Grinnell vs. Fisk University Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Grinnell or Fisk University?
- Grinnell College is 188.3% more expensive to attend than Fisk University for in-state tuition ($64,342.00 vs. $22,320.00)
- Out of state tuition is 188.3% higher at Grinnell than Fisk University ($64,342.00 vs. $22,320.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Fisk University than Grinnell ($19,836 vs. $33,446)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fisk University are 35.7% lower than costs at Grinnell College ($11,698 vs. $15,878)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Fisk University than Grinnell College (96% vs. 92%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Grinnell College students is 124.4% larger than aid received Fisk University ($45,782 vs. $20,400)
Grinnell vs. Fisk University Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Grinnell or Fisk University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Fisk University or Grinnell .
- The average SAT score at Grinnell College (1402) is 465 points higher than at Fisk University (937)
- Incoming Grinnell students have a 12 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at Fisk University (20)
- Accepted freshman Grinnell students have a 0.79 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at Fisk University (3.1)
- Fisk University has a higher acceptance rate (57.9%) than Grinnell (12.7%)
Grinnell vs. Fisk University Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Grinnell or Fisk University? 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 Fisk University and Grinnell.
- The graduation rate at Grinnell is higher than Fisk University (88% vs. 45%)
- Graduates from Grinnell College earn on average $23,600 more per year than Fisk University graduates after ten years. ($59,500 vs. $35,900)
- Grinnell College students graduate with a $12,830 lower median federal student loan debt than Fisk University graduates. ($13,170 vs. $26,000)
- Grinnell graduates are paying $132 less per month on federal student loans than Fisk University graduates. ($136 vs. $268)
- More Grinnell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fisk University students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 38%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/