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Carleton College Skidmore College Macalester College Oberlin Lafayette College St Lawrence University Trinity College Kenyon Colgate Dickinson College RPI Hamilton College| Grinnell College | Union College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Grinnell | Union College | ||
| Location | Grinnell, IA | Schenectady, NY | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 1,775 | 2,082 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #55 | #87 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | grinnell.edu | union.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Grinnell | Union College | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $64,342 | $66,105 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $64,342 | $66,105 | ||
| Room & Board | $15,878 | $16,389 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $33,446 | $42,884 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $45,782 | $38,751 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 92% | 94% |
Admission |
Grinnell | Union College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 9,988 | 9,295 | ||
| Admitted | 1,266 | 4,070 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 12.7% | 43.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 36.1% | 13.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.89 | 3.5 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Elite | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Very High | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 31/34 | 30/33 | ||
| SAT Range | 1418/1550 | 1310/1480 | ||
| 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 | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
Grinnell | Union College | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 9:1 | 10:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Grinnell | Union College | ||
| Graduation Rate | 88% | 86% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $59,500 | $74,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 87% | 86% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $13,170 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $136 | $279 |
Diversity |
Grinnell | Union College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 2% | 0% | ||
| % Women | 2% | 1% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 56% | 73% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 7% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 2% | ||
| % International | 16% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 0% |
Students |
Grinnell | Union College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 8% | 28% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 69% | 63% | ||
Campus |
Grinnell | Union 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
- Union College is larger than than Grinnell based on total student enrollment (2,082 students vs. 1,775 students)
Grinnell vs. Union College Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Grinnell or Union College?
- Union College is 2.7% more expensive to attend than Grinnell for in-state tuition ($66,105.00 vs. $64,342.00)
- Out of state tuition is 2.7% higher at Union College than Grinnell College ($66,105.00 vs. $64,342.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Grinnell College than Union College ($33,446 vs. $42,884)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grinnell College are 3.2% lower than costs at Union College ($15,878 vs. $16,389)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Union College than Grinnell College (94% vs. 92%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Grinnell College students is 18.1% larger than aid received Union College ($45,782 vs. $38,751)
Grinnell vs. Union College Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Grinnell or Union College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Union College or Grinnell .
- Accepted freshman Grinnell students have a 0.39 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at Union College (3.5)
- Union College has a higher acceptance rate (43.8%) than Grinnell (12.7%)
Grinnell vs. Union College Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Grinnell or Union 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 Union College and Grinnell.
- The graduation rate at Grinnell is higher than Union College (88% vs. 86%)
- Graduates from Union College earn on average $14,700 more per year than Grinnell graduates after ten years. ($74,200 vs. $59,500)
- Grinnell College students graduate with a $13,830 lower median federal student loan debt than Union College graduates. ($13,170 vs. $27,000)
- Grinnell graduates are paying $143 less per month on federal student loans than Union College graduates. ($136 vs. $279)
- More Grinnell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Union College students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 86%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/