Saint Mary's University of Minnesota vs Grinnell College
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota and Grinnell College, two esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Saint Mary's, a private Catholic university, boasts a 95% acceptance rate, while Grinnell, a private liberal arts college, has a highly selective 20% acceptance rate. Saint Mary's student body is predominantly female (63%), while Grinnell's is more evenly balanced (51% female, 49% male). Both institutions excel in academics, with Saint Mary's popular majors including nursing, business, and education, and Grinnell's strengths lying in social sciences, natural sciences, and humanities. While Saint Mary's boasts a higher graduation rate (70%) than Grinnell (66%), both universities prepare their graduates for successful careers or further education. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more about these two exceptional institutions and determine which one aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Grinnell College |
![]() Saint Mary's University of Minnesota |
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Overview |
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Location | Grinnell, Iowa | Winona, Minnesota |
Campus setting | Town: Remote | Town: Distant |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 93.0% | 79.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Catholic | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 10.5% | 97.8% |
Application fees | ||
SAT range | 1370 - 1530 | N/A |
ACT range | 30 - 34 | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | 29.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 33.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 10,513 | 1,587 |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,108 | 1,552 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 471 | 234 |
Yield rate | 42.5% | 15.1% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $76,098 | $53,010 |
Average net price | $37,423 | $21,606 |
Tuition | $58,156 | $38,780 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$6,779
Meal plan:
$7,572
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Room/dormitory:
$5,550
Meal plan:
$4,370
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
100.0%
Average amount $35,821 |
100.0%
Average amount $29,804 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
36.0%
Average amount $3,952 |
64.0%
Average amount $5,074 |
Students taking out private loans |
12.0%
Average amount $5,903 |
18.0%
Average amount $13,389 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
1,748
Men 47.5% Women 52.5% |
1,246
Men 43.9% Women 56.1% |
Graduate students | N/A |
3,455
Men 27.9% Women 72.1% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Low
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Out-of-state students | 91.5% | N/A |
International students | 19.4% | 1.7% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Remote | Town: Distant |
Dormitory capacity | 1,450 | 982 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | Yes | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | California Illinois Iowa Minnesota Texas | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 9:1 | 18:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 86.9% | 56.7% |
Dropout rate | 12.9% | 43.3% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Sociology (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Business/Commerce, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Information Science/Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degrees)
Human Resources Management and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
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