Grinnell vs. Washington and Lee

Should I go to Grinnell College or Washington and Lee University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Grinnell or Washington and Lee 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. Washington and Lee University comparison
Grinnell College Washington and Lee University College 3 College 4
Grinnell College Washington and Lee University
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Overview

Grinnell Washington and Lee
Location Grinnell, IA Lexington, VA
Setting Remote Town Distant Town
Enrollment 1,759 2,243
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #55 #30
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website grinnell.edu wlu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Grinnell Washington and Lee
Tuition (In State) $60,988 $60,590
Tuition (Out of State) $60,988 $60,590
Room & Board $15,048 $16,920
Avg Net Price $33,467 $24,733
Avg Grant Aid $42,231 $55,567
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 61%

Admission

Grinnell Washington and Lee
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,997 7,224
Admitted 1,076 1,225
Acceptance Rate 10.8% 17%
Enrolled % 40.6% 38.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.89 3.87
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Exceptional
Applicant Competition Very High Very High
ACT Range 31/34 32/34
SAT Range 1380/1530 1410/1533
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 1, 2025

Academics

Grinnell Washington and Lee
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 7:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (27%)
  • Foreign Languages (12%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • History (8%)
  • Physical Sciences (8%)
  • Social Sciences (21%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • History (7%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

Grinnell Washington and Lee
Graduation Rate 88% 91%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $59,500 $89,000
Making Student Loan Payments 87% 88%
Median Student Loan Debt $13,170 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $136 $222

Diversity

Grinnell Washington and Lee
% Men 47% 49%
% Women 53% 51%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 56% 82%
% Black 6% 2%
% Hispanic 7% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 3%
% International 16% 4%
% Unknown Race 3% 2%

Students

Grinnell Washington and Lee
% In-State 7% 18%
% Out-of-State 72% 73%

Campus

Grinnell Washington and Lee
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

  • Washington and Lee University is larger than than Grinnell based on total student enrollment (2,243 students vs. 1,759 students)

Grinnell vs. Washington and Lee Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Grinnell or Washington and Lee?

  • Grinnell College is 0.7% more expensive to attend than Washington and Lee for in-state tuition ($60,988.00 vs. $60,590.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 0.7% higher at Grinnell than Washington and Lee University ($60,988.00 vs. $60,590.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Washington and Lee University than Grinnell ($24,733 vs. $33,467)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grinnell College are 12.4% lower than costs at Washington and Lee University ($15,048 vs. $16,920)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Grinnell College than Washington and Lee University (91% vs. 61%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Washington and Lee University students is 31.6% larger than aid received Grinnell College ($55,567 vs. $42,231)

Grinnell vs. Washington and Lee Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Grinnell College (1402) is 7 points higher than at Washington and Lee (1395)
  • Incoming Grinnell students have at the same average ACT score (32) as students at Washington and Lee (32)
  • Accepted freshman Grinnell students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at Washington and Lee (3.87)
  • Washington and Lee has a higher acceptance rate (17%) than Grinnell (10.8%)

Grinnell vs. Washington and Lee Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Grinnell or Washington and Lee? 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 Washington and Lee and Grinnell.

  • The graduation rate at Washington and Lee is higher than Grinnell College (91% vs. 88%)
  • Graduates from Washington and Lee University earn on average $29,500 more per year than Grinnell graduates after ten years. ($89,000 vs. $59,500)
  • Grinnell College students graduate with a $8,330 lower median federal student loan debt than Washington and Lee graduates. ($13,170 vs. $21,500)
  • Grinnell graduates are paying $86 less per month on federal student loans than Washington and Lee graduates. ($136 vs. $222)
  • More Washington and Lee graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Grinnell students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 87%)

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