Colorado College vs Grinnell College

Colorado College and Grinnell College, both highly regarded liberal arts institutions, offer distinct educational experiences. Colorado College stands out with its block plan, where students focus on one course at a time, while Grinnell College follows a traditional semester system. Colorado College boasts a slightly higher acceptance rate and a larger student body, while Grinnell College has a slightly higher graduation rate. Both colleges offer a diverse range of popular majors, including social sciences, natural sciences, and humanities. To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table that delves into key aspects of these two exceptional institutions. Explore the table to discover which college better aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Colorado College logo

Colorado College

Grinnell College logo

Grinnell College

Overview

Location Colorado Springs, Colorado Grinnell, Iowa
Campus setting City: Large Town: Remote
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate
Students retention rate 96.0% 93.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 14.3% 10.5%
Application fees
SAT range N/A 1370 - 1530
ACT range N/A 30 - 34
Students submitting SAT score 29.0%
Students submitting ACT score 33.0%
Total number of applicants 10,975 10,513
Total number of admissions given out 1,564 1,108
Admitted students who chose to enroll 620 471
Yield rate 39.6% 42.5%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Not required Not required
Recommendation letters Required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Not required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $79,562 $76,098
Average net price $30,200 $37,423
Tuition $61,596 $58,156
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $8,052

Meal plan: $5,616
Room/dormitory: $6,779

Meal plan: $7,572
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

57.0%
Average amount $48,666
100.0%
Average amount $35,821
Students receiving federal student loan 26.0%
Average amount $5,010
36.0%
Average amount $3,952
Students taking out private loans 1.0%
Average amount $26,825
12.0%
Average amount $5,903

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 2,241
Men 43.5% Women 56.5%
1,748
Men 47.5% Women 52.5%
Graduate students 25
Men 20.0% Women 80.0%
N/A
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students N/A 91.5%
International students 6.6% 19.4%
Campus local/setting City: Large Town: Remote
Dormitory capacity 1,745 1,450
First year students are required to live on campus? No Yes
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A California Illinois Iowa Minnesota Texas

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Physical Science
  • Social Sciences
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Psychology
  • Natural Resources and Conservation
  • Social Sciences
  • Foreign Languages and Literatures
  • Physical Science
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Computer and Information Science
Students to faculty ratio 9:1 9:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 85.7% 86.9%
Dropout rate 2.2% 12.9%
Transferred out 11.5% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $45,092
  • Year 2: $46,087
  • Year 3: $59,954
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $24,396
  • Year 2: $20,482
  • Year 3: $29,045
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $21,826
  • Year 2: $20,140
  • Year 3: $16,137
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $31,555
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $21,508
  • Year 3: N/A
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $24,472
  • Year 2: $37,568
  • Year 3: N/A
Sociology (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $25,194
  • Year 3: N/A
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,661
  • Year 2: $52,941
  • Year 3: $55,487
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $31,893
  • Year 2: $34,704
  • Year 3: $49,481
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $20,499
  • Year 2: $29,141
  • Year 3: $41,882
Sociology (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $27,517
  • Year 2: $33,993
  • Year 3: $40,572
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $26,353
  • Year 3: $37,882
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $21,508
  • Year 3: $37,613
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $23,718
  • Year 2: $19,227
  • Year 3: $29,237
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $20,140
  • Year 3: $28,680
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $70,658
  • Year 2: $91,744
  • Year 3: N/A
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $29,239
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A

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