Connecticut College vs. Grinnell

Deciding between Connecticut College and Grinnell College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Connecticut College
Grinnell College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Connecticut College New London, CT
  • Grinnell Grinnell, IA
  • Setting
  • Connecticut College Small City
  • Grinnell Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Connecticut College 1,990
  • Grinnell 1,788
  • Type
  • Connecticut College Private 4 Year
  • Grinnell Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Connecticut College #93
  • Grinnell #57
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Connecticut College -
  • Grinnell -
  • Status
  • Connecticut College Non-profit
  • Grinnell Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Connecticut College
  • Grinnell
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Connecticut College $67,242
  • Grinnell $68,106
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Connecticut College $67,242
  • Grinnell $68,106
  • Room & Board
  • Connecticut College $18,558
  • Grinnell $16,842
  • Average Net Price
  • Connecticut College $45,700
  • Grinnell $34,363
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Connecticut College $38,932
  • Grinnell $49,077
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Connecticut College 100%
  • Grinnell 94%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Connecticut College 7,950
  • Grinnell 9,758
  • Admitted
  • Connecticut College 2,945
  • Grinnell 1,416
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Connecticut College 37%
  • Grinnell 14.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Connecticut College 15.3%
  • Grinnell 30.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Connecticut College 1430
  • Grinnell 1480
  • Typical ACT score
  • Connecticut College 31
  • Grinnell 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Connecticut College 3.7
  • Grinnell 3.89
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Connecticut College A-
  • Grinnell A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Connecticut College Exceptional
  • Grinnell Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Connecticut College High
  • Grinnell Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Connecticut College 30/33
  • Grinnell 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Connecticut College 1350/1500
  • Grinnell 1410/1540
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Connecticut College Test optional
  • Grinnell Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Connecticut College Jan 1, 2027
  • Grinnell Jan 15, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Connecticut College 9:1
  • Grinnell 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Connecticut College
    • Social Sciences (33%)
    • Biology (15%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Ethnic Studies (6%)
  • Grinnell
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Foreign Languages (12%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • History (8%)
    • Physical Sciences (8%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Connecticut College 84%
  • Grinnell 88%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Connecticut College $60,700
  • Grinnell $59,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Connecticut College 90%
  • Grinnell 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Connecticut College $23,550
  • Grinnell $13,170
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Connecticut College $243
  • Grinnell $136
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Connecticut College 39%
  • Grinnell 46%
  • % Women
  • Connecticut College 61%
  • Grinnell 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Connecticut College Medium
  • Grinnell High
  • HBCU
  • Connecticut College No
  • Grinnell No
  • % White
  • Connecticut College 71%
  • Grinnell 56%
  • % Asian
  • Connecticut College 4%
  • Grinnell 7%
  • % Black
  • Connecticut College 4%
  • Grinnell 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Connecticut College 9%
  • Grinnell 7%
  • % Native American
  • Connecticut College 0%
  • Grinnell 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Connecticut College 0%
  • Grinnell 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Connecticut College 3%
  • Grinnell 5%
  • % International
  • Connecticut College 6%
  • Grinnell 16%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Connecticut College 3%
  • Grinnell 3%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Connecticut College 13%
  • Grinnell 8%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Connecticut College 82%
  • Grinnell 68%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Connecticut College Yes
  • Grinnell Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Connecticut College Yes
  • Grinnell Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • Connecticut College Yes
  • Grinnell Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Connecticut College No
  • Grinnell No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Connecticut College Yes
  • Grinnell No

Comparable Facts

Compare Connecticut College in New London, CT with Grinnell College in Grinnell, IA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Connecticut College is larger than Grinnell based on total student enrollment (1,990 students vs. 1,788 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Connecticut College is located in New London, CT (Small City setting); Grinnell College is in Grinnell, IA (Remote Town setting).
  • Connecticut College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Grinnell College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Connecticut College 9:1; Grinnell College 9:1.

Connecticut College vs. Grinnell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Connecticut College or Grinnell? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Grinnell College than Connecticut College ($34,363 vs. $45,700).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grinnell College are 9.2% lower than at Connecticut College ($16,842 vs. $18,558).
  • Grinnell College is 1.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Connecticut College (about $864 more per year; $68,106.00 vs. $67,242.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.3% higher at Grinnell than at Connecticut College (about $864 more per year; $68,106.00 vs. $67,242.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Connecticut College than at Grinnell College (100% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Grinnell College students is 26.1% larger than aid received by Connecticut College students ($49,077 vs. $38,932).

Connecticut College vs. Grinnell Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Connecticut College or Grinnell? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Grinnell and Connecticut College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Grinnell College (1480) is 50 points higher than at Connecticut College (1430).
  • Incoming Grinnell students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 31 at Connecticut College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Connecticut College 1350/1500; Grinnell College 1410/1540.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Connecticut College 30/33; Grinnell College 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Connecticut College - Test optional; Grinnell - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Connecticut College Jan 1, 2027; Grinnell Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Grinnell students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at Connecticut College (3.7).
  • Connecticut College has a higher acceptance rate (37%) than Grinnell (14.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.3% at Connecticut College vs. 30.9% at Grinnell.

Connecticut College vs. Grinnell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Connecticut College and Grinnell? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Grinnell College's six-year graduation rate (88%) is higher than Connecticut College's (84%).
  • Graduates from Connecticut College earn a median of about $1,200 more per year than Grinnell graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,700 vs. $59,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Grinnell College graduates have a $10,380 lower median loan debt than Connecticut College graduates ($13,170 vs. $23,550).
  • Among borrowers, Grinnell graduates have an estimated $107 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Connecticut College graduates ($136 vs. $243).
  • More Connecticut College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Grinnell students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 87%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.