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Carleton College Macalester College Oberlin Kenyon Lawrence University of St Thomas Minnesota Haverford College Cornell WUSTL Whitman College Reed| Grinnell College | St Olaf College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Grinnell | St Olaf | ||
| Location | Grinnell, IA | Northfield, MN | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 1,759 | 3,046 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #55 | #156 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Evangelical Lutheran Church | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | grinnell.edu | stolaf.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Grinnell | St Olaf | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $60,988 | $54,650 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $60,988 | $54,650 | ||
| Room & Board | $15,048 | $12,450 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $33,467 | $26,171 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $42,231 | $40,399 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 91% | 99% |
Admission |
Grinnell | St Olaf | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 9,997 | 5,524 | ||
| Admitted | 1,076 | 3,116 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 10.8% | 56.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 40.6% | 27.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.89 | 3.68 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Very High | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 31/34 | 28/33 | ||
| SAT Range | 1380/1530 | 1300/1480 | ||
| 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, 2025 | Jan 15, 2025 |
Academics |
Grinnell | St Olaf | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 9:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Grinnell | St Olaf | ||
| Graduation Rate | 88% | 85% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $59,500 | $53,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 87% | 91% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $13,170 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $136 | $279 |
Diversity |
Grinnell | St Olaf | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 47% | 42% | ||
| % Women | 53% | 58% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 56% | 75% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 4% | ||
| % International | 16% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 1% |
Students |
Grinnell | St Olaf | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 7% | 47% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 72% | 43% | ||
Campus |
Grinnell | St Olaf | ||
| 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
- St Olaf College is larger than than Grinnell based on total student enrollment (3,046 students vs. 1,759 students)
Grinnell vs. St Olaf Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Grinnell or St Olaf?
- Grinnell College is 11.6% more expensive to attend than St Olaf for in-state tuition ($60,988.00 vs. $54,650.00)
- Out of state tuition is 11.6% higher at Grinnell than St Olaf College ($60,988.00 vs. $54,650.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at St Olaf College than Grinnell ($26,171 vs. $33,467)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at St Olaf College are 20.9% lower than costs at Grinnell College ($12,450 vs. $15,048)
- More students receive financial grant aid at St Olaf College than Grinnell College (99% vs. 91%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Grinnell College students is 4.5% larger than aid received St Olaf College ($42,231 vs. $40,399)
Grinnell vs. St Olaf Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Grinnell or St Olaf? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between St Olaf or Grinnell .
- The average SAT score at Grinnell College (1402) is 120 points higher than at St Olaf (1282)
- Incoming Grinnell students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at St Olaf (29)
- Accepted freshman Grinnell students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at St Olaf (3.68)
- St Olaf has a higher acceptance rate (56.4%) than Grinnell (10.8%)
Grinnell vs. St Olaf Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Grinnell or St Olaf? 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 St Olaf and Grinnell.
- The graduation rate at Grinnell is higher than St Olaf College (88% vs. 85%)
- Graduates from Grinnell College earn on average $5,800 more per year than St Olaf graduates after ten years. ($59,500 vs. $53,700)
- Grinnell College students graduate with a $13,830 lower median federal student loan debt than St Olaf graduates. ($13,170 vs. $27,000)
- Grinnell graduates are paying $143 less per month on federal student loans than St Olaf graduates. ($136 vs. $279)
- More St Olaf graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Grinnell students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 87%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/