Willamette University vs Grinnell College

Willamette University and Grinnell College, both esteemed liberal arts institutions, offer distinct educational experiences. Willamette, located in Salem, Oregon, boasts a higher acceptance rate (69%) compared to Grinnell's selective 28%. With a larger student body, Willamette fosters a diverse community, while Grinnell's smaller size cultivates a close-knit atmosphere. Both institutions excel in academics, with popular majors ranging from biology and psychology to economics and political science. While Grinnell's graduation rate slightly edges out Willamette's, both colleges ensure their students are well-prepared for their post-graduate endeavors. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more about these exceptional institutions and determine which one aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Grinnell College logo

Grinnell College

Willamette University logo

Willamette University

Overview

Location Grinnell, Iowa Salem, Oregon
Campus setting Town: Remote City: Midsize
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% 80.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 10.5% 79.6%
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 3,680
Total number of admissions given out 1,108 2,930
Admitted students who chose to enroll 471 260
Yield rate 42.5% 8.9%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Not required Required
Recommendation letters Required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $76,098 $60,106
Average net price $37,423 $37,400
Tuition $58,156 $43,500
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $6,779

Meal plan: $7,572
Room/dormitory: $7,150

Meal plan: $6,650
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

100.0%
Average amount $35,821
99.0%
Average amount $30,413
Students receiving federal student loan 36.0%
Average amount $3,952
50.0%
Average amount $5,145
Students taking out private loans 12.0%
Average amount $5,903
7.0%
Average amount $15,973

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 1,748
Men 47.5% Women 52.5%
1,236
Men 42.2% Women 57.8%
Graduate students N/A 549
Men 49.2% Women 50.8%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students 91.5% N/A
International students 19.4% 2.4%
Campus local/setting Town: Remote City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity 1,450 1,228
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

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Social Sciences
  • Foreign Languages and Literatures
  • Physical Science
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Social Sciences
  • Legal Profession
  • Business
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Natural Resources and Conservation
Students to faculty ratio 9:1 12:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Outcome

Graduation rate 86.9% 72.0%
Dropout rate 12.9% 28.0%
Transferred out N/A N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
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
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,562
  • Year 2: $73,530
  • Year 3: $85,115
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,741
  • Year 2: $49,102
  • Year 3: $65,240
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $31,509
  • Year 2: $39,909
  • Year 3: $57,544
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $33,011
  • Year 2: $36,848
  • Year 3: $48,905
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $20,615
  • Year 2: $31,133
  • Year 3: $41,516
Chemistry (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $31,482
  • Year 2: $27,204
  • Year 3: $39,994
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $29,357
  • Year 2: $28,055
  • Year 3: $36,208
Anthropology (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $21,508
  • Year 3: $33,257
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $23,292
  • Year 2: $32,925
  • Year 3: $32,785
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $25,658
  • Year 3: $29,070

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