Grinnell vs. U of R

Should I go to Grinnell College or University of Rochester? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Grinnell or U of R is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Grinnell College vs. University of Rochester comparison
Grinnell College University of Rochester College 3 College 4
Grinnell College University of Rochester
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Overview

Grinnell U of R
Location Grinnell, IA Rochester, NY
Setting Remote Town Midsize City
Enrollment 1,759 12,197
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #55 #53
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website grinnell.edu rochester.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Grinnell U of R
Tuition (In State) $60,988 $60,550
Tuition (Out of State) $60,988 $60,550
Room & Board $15,048 $18,232
Avg Net Price $33,467 $39,775
Avg Grant Aid $42,231 $39,715
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 71%

Admission

Grinnell U of R
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,997 19,966
Admitted 1,076 7,768
Acceptance Rate 10.8% 38.9%
Enrolled % 40.6% 20.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.89 3.75
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Elite
Applicant Competition Very High High
ACT Range 31/34 31/34
SAT Range 1380/1530 1390/1540
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 5, 2025

Academics

Grinnell U of R
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (27%)
  • Foreign Languages (12%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • History (8%)
  • Physical Sciences (8%)
  • Social Sciences (20%)
  • Biology (13%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)

Outcomes

Grinnell U of R
Graduation Rate 88% 83%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $59,500 $71,000
Making Student Loan Payments 87% 79%
Median Student Loan Debt $13,170 $24,500
Median Loan Payment $136 $253

Diversity

Grinnell U of R
% Men 47% 47%
% Women 53% 53%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 56% 48%
% Black 6% 5%
% Hispanic 7% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 3%
% International 16% 18%
% Unknown Race 3% 7%

Students

Grinnell U of R
% In-State 7% 25%
% Out-of-State 72% 44%

Campus

Grinnell U of R
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Rochester is larger than than Grinnell based on total student enrollment (12,197 students vs. 1,759 students)

Grinnell vs. U of R Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Grinnell or U of R?

  • Grinnell College is 0.7% more expensive to attend than U of R for in-state tuition ($60,988.00 vs. $60,550.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 0.7% higher at Grinnell than University of Rochester ($60,988.00 vs. $60,550.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Grinnell College than U of R ($33,467 vs. $39,775)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grinnell College are 21.2% lower than costs at University of Rochester ($15,048 vs. $18,232)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Grinnell College than University of Rochester (91% vs. 71%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Grinnell College students is 6.3% larger than aid received University of Rochester ($42,231 vs. $39,715)

Grinnell vs. U of R Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Grinnell or U of R? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between U of R or Grinnell .

  • Accepted freshman Grinnell students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at U of R (3.75)
  • U of R has a higher acceptance rate (38.9%) than Grinnell (10.8%)

Grinnell vs. U of R Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Grinnell or U of R? 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 U of R and Grinnell.

  • The graduation rate at Grinnell is higher than University of Rochester (88% vs. 83%)
  • Graduates from University of Rochester earn on average $11,500 more per year than Grinnell graduates after ten years. ($71,000 vs. $59,500)
  • Grinnell College students graduate with a $11,330 lower median federal student loan debt than U of R graduates. ($13,170 vs. $24,500)
  • Grinnell graduates are paying $117 less per month on federal student loans than U of R graduates. ($136 vs. $253)
  • More Grinnell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former U of R students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 79%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/