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Carleton College William & Mary Davidson University of Richmond UVA Macalester College Oberlin Lehigh Emory Kenyon Villanova Colgate| Grinnell College | Washington and Lee University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Grinnell | Washington and Lee | ||
| Location | Grinnell, IA | Lexington, VA | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 1,775 | 2,277 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #55 | #28 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | grinnell.edu | wlu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Grinnell | Washington and Lee | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $64,342 | $63,315 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $64,342 | $63,315 | ||
| Room & Board | $15,878 | $17,685 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $33,446 | $24,667 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $45,782 | $58,323 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 92% | 63% |
Admission |
Grinnell | Washington and Lee | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 9,988 | 6,820 | ||
| Admitted | 1,266 | 1,184 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 12.7% | 17.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 36.1% | 42.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.89 | 3.87 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Elite | Elite | ||
| Applicant Competition | Very High | Very High | ||
| ACT Range | 31/34 | 32/35 | ||
| SAT Range | 1418/1550 | 1410/1530 | ||
| 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 | Washington and Lee | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 9:1 | 8:1 | ||
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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 | 2% | 9% | ||
| % Women | 2% | 8% | ||
| 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 | 8% | 17% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 69% | 75% | ||
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 (2,277 students vs. 1,775 students)
Grinnell vs. Washington and Lee Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Grinnell or Washington and Lee?
- Grinnell College is 1.6% more expensive to attend than Washington and Lee for in-state tuition ($64,342.00 vs. $63,315.00)
- Out of state tuition is 1.6% higher at Grinnell than Washington and Lee University ($64,342.00 vs. $63,315.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Washington and Lee University than Grinnell ($24,667 vs. $33,446)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grinnell College are 11.4% lower than costs at Washington and Lee University ($15,878 vs. $17,685)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Grinnell College than Washington and Lee University (92% vs. 63%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Washington and Lee University students is 27.4% larger than aid received Grinnell College ($58,323 vs. $45,782)
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 (17.4%) than Grinnell (12.7%)
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/