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Carleton College Case Western Macalester College Oberlin RPI Colgate BU Vassar Kenyon Lehigh Hamilton College Syracuse| Grinnell College | University of Rochester | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Grinnell | U of R | ||
| Location | Grinnell, IA | Rochester, NY | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 1,775 | 12,160 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #55 | #56 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | grinnell.edu | rochester.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Grinnell | U of R | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $64,342 | $63,150 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $64,342 | $63,150 | ||
| Room & Board | $15,878 | $18,924 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $33,446 | $40,900 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $45,782 | $41,700 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 92% | 74% |
Admission |
Grinnell | U of R | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 9,988 | 21,680 | ||
| Admitted | 1,266 | 7,773 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 12.7% | 35.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 36.1% | 19.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.89 | 3.75 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Elite | Elite | ||
| Applicant Competition | Very High | High | ||
| ACT Range | 31/34 | 31/34 | ||
| SAT Range | 1418/1550 | 1400/1540 | ||
| 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, 2026 | Jan 5, 2026 |
Academics |
Grinnell | U of R | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 9:1 | 9:1 | ||
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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 | 2% | 21% | ||
| % Women | 2% | 24% | ||
| 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 | 8% | 25% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 69% | 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 (12,160 students vs. 1,775 students)
Grinnell vs. U of R Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Grinnell or U of R?
- Grinnell College is 1.9% more expensive to attend than U of R for in-state tuition ($64,342.00 vs. $63,150.00)
- Out of state tuition is 1.9% higher at Grinnell than University of Rochester ($64,342.00 vs. $63,150.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Grinnell College than U of R ($33,446 vs. $40,900)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grinnell College are 19.2% lower than costs at University of Rochester ($15,878 vs. $18,924)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Grinnell College than University of Rochester (92% vs. 74%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Grinnell College students is 9.8% larger than aid received University of Rochester ($45,782 vs. $41,700)
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 (35.9%) than Grinnell (12.7%)
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/