Grinnell vs. ISU

Deciding between Grinnell College and Iowa State 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
Iowa State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Grinnell Grinnell, IA
  • ISU Ames, IA
  • Setting
  • Grinnell Remote Town
  • ISU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Grinnell 1,788
  • ISU 30,380
  • Type
  • Grinnell Private 4 Year
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Grinnell #57
  • ISU #343
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Grinnell -
  • ISU -
  • Status
  • Grinnell Non-profit
  • ISU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Grinnell
  • ISU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Grinnell $68,106
  • ISU $10,787
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Grinnell $68,106
  • ISU $28,881
  • Room & Board
  • Grinnell $16,842
  • ISU $10,808
  • Average Net Price
  • Grinnell $34,363
  • ISU $17,779
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Grinnell $49,077
  • ISU $10,791
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Grinnell 94%
  • ISU 77%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Grinnell 9,758
  • ISU 23,095
  • Admitted
  • Grinnell 1,416
  • ISU 20,475
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Grinnell 14.5%
  • ISU 88.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Grinnell 30.9%
  • ISU 28.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Grinnell 1480
  • ISU 1240
  • Typical ACT score
  • Grinnell 32
  • ISU 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • Grinnell 3.89
  • ISU 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Grinnell A
  • ISU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Grinnell Exceptional
  • ISU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • Grinnell Very High
  • ISU
  • ACT Range
  • Grinnell 31/34
  • ISU 21/28
  • SAT Range
  • Grinnell 1410/1540
  • ISU 1120/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Grinnell Test optional
  • ISU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Grinnell Jan 15, 2027
  • ISU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Grinnell 9:1
  • ISU 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Grinnell
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Foreign Languages (12%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • History (8%)
    • Physical Sciences (8%)
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Communication (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Grinnell 88%
  • ISU 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Grinnell $59,500
  • ISU $53,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Grinnell 87%
  • ISU 74%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Grinnell $13,170
  • ISU $23,868
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Grinnell $136
  • ISU $246

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Grinnell 46%
  • ISU 54%
  • % Women
  • Grinnell 54%
  • ISU 46%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Grinnell High
  • ISU Low
  • HBCU
  • Grinnell No
  • ISU No
  • % White
  • Grinnell 56%
  • ISU 76%
  • % Asian
  • Grinnell 7%
  • ISU 3%
  • % Black
  • Grinnell 6%
  • ISU 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Grinnell 7%
  • ISU 5%
  • % Native American
  • Grinnell 0%
  • ISU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Grinnell 0%
  • ISU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Grinnell 5%
  • ISU 2%
  • % International
  • Grinnell 16%
  • ISU 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Grinnell 3%
  • ISU 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Grinnell 8%
  • ISU 54%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Grinnell 68%
  • ISU 43%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Grinnell College in Grinnell, IA with Iowa State University in Ames, IA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Iowa State University is larger than Grinnell based on total student enrollment (30,380 students vs. 1,788 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Grinnell College is located in Grinnell, IA (Remote Town setting); Iowa State University is in Ames, IA (Small City setting).
  • Grinnell College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Iowa State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Grinnell College 9:1; Iowa State University 18:1.

Grinnell vs. ISU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Grinnell or ISU? 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 Iowa State University than Grinnell ($17,779 vs. $34,363).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa State University are 35.8% lower than at Grinnell College ($10,808 vs. $16,842).
  • Grinnell College is 531.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than ISU (about $57,319 more per year; $68,106.00 vs. $10,787.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 135.8% higher at Grinnell than at Iowa State University (about $39,225 more per year; $68,106.00 vs. $28,881.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Grinnell College than at Iowa State University (94% vs. 77%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Grinnell College students is 354.8% larger than aid received by Iowa State University students ($49,077 vs. $10,791).

Grinnell vs. ISU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Grinnell or ISU? 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 ISU and Grinnell.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Grinnell College (1480) is 240 points higher than at ISU (1240).
  • Incoming Grinnell students have a 8 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 24 at ISU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Grinnell College 1410/1540; Iowa State University 1120/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Grinnell College 31/34; Iowa State University 21/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Grinnell - Test optional; ISU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Grinnell Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Grinnell students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at ISU (3.7).
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (88.7%) than Grinnell (14.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 30.9% at Grinnell vs. 28.8% at ISU.

Grinnell vs. ISU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Grinnell and ISU? 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).

  • Grinnell College's six-year graduation rate (88%) is higher than Iowa State University's (68%).
  • Graduates from Grinnell College earn a median of about $5,800 more per year than ISU graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,500 vs. $53,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Grinnell College graduates have a $10,698 lower median loan debt than ISU graduates ($13,170 vs. $23,868).
  • Among borrowers, Grinnell graduates have an estimated $110 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ISU graduates ($136 vs. $246).
  • More Grinnell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ISU students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 74%)

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.