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Duke WUSTL Emory Rice Carleton College Notre Dame Georgetown Northwestern Stanford Macalester College Johns Hopkins Oberlin| Grinnell College | Vanderbilt University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Grinnell | Vanderbilt | ||
| Location | Grinnell, IA | Nashville, TN | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 1,775 | 13,456 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #55 | #14 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | grinnell.edu | vanderbilt.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Grinnell | Vanderbilt | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $64,342 | $61,618 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $64,342 | $61,618 | ||
| Room & Board | $15,878 | $21,054 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $33,446 | $26,689 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $45,782 | $57,723 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 92% | 66% |
Admission |
Grinnell | Vanderbilt | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 9,988 | 45,313 | ||
| Admitted | 1,266 | 2,844 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 12.7% | 6.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 36.1% | 57% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.89 | 3.89 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Elite | Elite | ||
| Applicant Competition | Very High | Extreme | ||
| ACT Range | 31/34 | 34/35 | ||
| SAT Range | 1418/1550 | 1510/1560 | ||
| 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 1, 2026 |
Academics |
Grinnell | Vanderbilt | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 9:1 | 7:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Grinnell | Vanderbilt | ||
| Graduation Rate | 88% | 92% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $59,500 | $83,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 87% | 83% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $13,170 | $14,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $136 | $144 |
Diversity |
Grinnell | Vanderbilt | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 2% | 19% | ||
| % Women | 2% | 28% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 56% | 55% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 8% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 5% | ||
| % International | 16% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 5% |
Students |
Grinnell | Vanderbilt | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 8% | 13% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 69% | 75% | ||
Campus |
Grinnell | Vanderbilt | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | Yes | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Vanderbilt University is larger than than Grinnell based on total student enrollment (13,456 students vs. 1,775 students)
Grinnell vs. Vanderbilt Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Grinnell or Vanderbilt?
- Grinnell College is 4.4% more expensive to attend than Vanderbilt for in-state tuition ($64,342.00 vs. $61,618.00)
- Out of state tuition is 4.4% higher at Grinnell than Vanderbilt University ($64,342.00 vs. $61,618.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Vanderbilt University than Grinnell ($26,689 vs. $33,446)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grinnell College are 32.6% lower than costs at Vanderbilt University ($15,878 vs. $21,054)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Grinnell College than Vanderbilt University (92% vs. 66%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Vanderbilt University students is 26.1% larger than aid received Grinnell College ($57,723 vs. $45,782)
Grinnell vs. Vanderbilt Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Grinnell or Vanderbilt? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Vanderbilt or Grinnell .
- The average SAT score at Vanderbilt University (1498) is 96 points higher than at Grinnell (1402)
- Incoming Vanderbilt students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (34) than students at Grinnell (32)
- Accepted freshman Grinnell students have at the same average high school GPA (3.89) as students at Vanderbilt (3.89)
- Grinnell has a higher acceptance rate (12.7%) than Vanderbilt (6.3%)
Grinnell vs. Vanderbilt Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Grinnell or Vanderbilt? 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 Vanderbilt and Grinnell.
- The graduation rate at Vanderbilt is higher than Grinnell College (92% vs. 88%)
- Graduates from Vanderbilt University earn on average $23,600 more per year than Grinnell graduates after ten years. ($83,100 vs. $59,500)
- Grinnell College students graduate with a $830 lower median federal student loan debt than Vanderbilt graduates. ($13,170 vs. $14,000)
- Grinnell graduates are paying $8 less per month on federal student loans than Vanderbilt graduates. ($136 vs. $144)
- More Grinnell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Vanderbilt students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 83%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/