Caltech vs. Grinnell

Should I go to California Institute of Technology or Grinnell College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Caltech or Grinnell 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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California Institute of Technology vs. Grinnell College comparison
California Institute of Technology Grinnell College College 3 College 4
California Institute of Technology Grinnell College
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Overview

Caltech Grinnell
Location Pasadena, CA Grinnell, IA
Setting Midsize City Remote Town
Enrollment 2,401 1,759
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #5 #55
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website caltech.edu grinnell.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Caltech Grinnell
Tuition (In State) $58,479 $60,988
Tuition (Out of State) $58,479 $60,988
Room & Board $18,606 $15,048
Avg Net Price $20,755 $33,467
Avg Grant Aid $59,192 $42,231
% Receiving Grant Aid 57% 91%

Admission

Caltech Grinnell
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,626 9,997
Admitted 448 1,076
Acceptance Rate 2.7% 10.8%
Enrolled % 50% 40.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.97 3.89
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Exceptional
Applicant Competition Extreme Very High
ACT Range 35/36 31/34
SAT Range 1530/1580 1380/1530
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 3, 2024 Jan 15, 2024

Academics

Caltech Grinnell
Student to Faculty Ratio 3:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (41%)
  • Physical Sciences (25%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (11%)
  • Mathematics (11%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Social Sciences (27%)
  • Foreign Languages (12%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • History (8%)
  • Physical Sciences (8%)

Outcomes

Caltech Grinnell
Graduation Rate 87% 88%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $85,800 $59,500
Making Student Loan Payments - 87%
Median Student Loan Debt $14,350 $13,170
Median Loan Payment $148 $136

Diversity

Caltech Grinnell
% Men 61% 47%
% Women 39% 53%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 27% 56%
% Black 2% 6%
% Hispanic 12% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 5%
% International 8% 16%
% Unknown Race 0% 3%

Students

Caltech Grinnell
% In-State 29% 7%
% Out-of-State 58% 72%

Campus

Caltech Grinnell
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • California Institute of Technology is larger than than Grinnell based on total student enrollment (2,401 students vs. 1,759 students)

Caltech vs. Grinnell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Caltech or Grinnell?

  • Grinnell College is 4.3% more expensive to attend than Caltech for in-state tuition ($60,988.00 vs. $58,479.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4.3% higher at Grinnell than California Institute of Technology ($60,988.00 vs. $58,479.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California Institute of Technology than Grinnell ($20,755 vs. $33,467)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grinnell College are 23.6% lower than costs at California Institute of Technology ($15,048 vs. $18,606)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Grinnell College than California Institute of Technology (91% vs. 57%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California Institute of Technology students is 40.2% larger than aid received Grinnell College ($59,192 vs. $42,231)

Caltech vs. Grinnell Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at California Institute of Technology (1544) is 142 points higher than at Grinnell (1402)
  • Incoming Caltech students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (35) than students at Grinnell (32)
  • Accepted freshman Caltech students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at Grinnell (3.89)
  • Grinnell has a higher acceptance rate (10.8%) than Caltech (2.7%)

Caltech vs. Grinnell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Caltech or Grinnell? 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 Grinnell and Caltech.

  • The graduation rate at Grinnell is higher than California Institute of Technology (88% vs. 87%)
  • Graduates from California Institute of Technology earn on average $26,300 more per year than Grinnell graduates after ten years. ($85,800 vs. $59,500)
  • Grinnell College students graduate with a $1,180 lower median federal student loan debt than Caltech graduates. ($13,170 vs. $14,350)
  • Grinnell graduates are paying $12 less per month on federal student loans than Caltech graduates. ($136 vs. $148)

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