Grinnell vs. Davidson

Grinnell College and Davidson College side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Grinnell College
Davidson College

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Davidson (13.4% admitted vs 14.5%). Typical SAT 1470 vs 1480.
  • Cheaper after aid: Davidson. Average net price is $27,720 vs $34,363 at Grinnell.
  • Graduation: Grinnell 88% vs Davidson 92%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Grinnell $59,500 vs Davidson $63,500 (median).
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Key differences

Grinnell College Davidson College
Acceptance rate
Davidson more selective
Grinnell14.5%
Davidson13.4%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Grinnell higher
Grinnell1410-1540
Davidson1400-1530
Average net price
Davidson $6,643 less
Grinnell$34,363
Davidson$27,720
In-state tuition
Davidson $3,696 less
Grinnell$68,106
Davidson$64,410
Out-of-state tuition
Davidson $3,696 less
Grinnell$68,106
Davidson$64,410
Graduation rate
Davidson +4 pts
Grinnell88%
Davidson92%
Median earnings (10 years)
Davidson +$4,000
Grinnell$59,500
Davidson$63,500

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Grinnell 9,758
  • Davidson 8,114
  • Admitted
  • Grinnell 1,416
  • Davidson 1,085
  • Acceptance rate
  • Grinnell 14.5%
  • Davidson 13.4%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Grinnell 30.9%
  • Davidson 47.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Grinnell 1480
  • Davidson 1470
  • Typical ACT score
  • Grinnell 32
  • Davidson 32
  • Average high school GPA
  • Grinnell 3.89
  • Davidson 3.81
  • Typical high school grades
  • Grinnell A
  • Davidson A-
  • Admissions standards
  • Grinnell Exceptional
  • Davidson Exceptional
  • Applicant competition
  • Grinnell Very High
  • Davidson Very High
  • SAT range
  • Grinnell 1410-1540
  • Davidson 1400-1530
  • ACT range
  • Grinnell 31-34
  • Davidson 31-34
  • Submit test scores
  • Grinnell Test optional
  • Davidson Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Grinnell Jan 15, 2027
  • Davidson Jan 7, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Grinnell $68,106
  • Davidson $64,410
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Grinnell $68,106
  • Davidson $64,410
  • Room & board
  • Grinnell $16,842
  • Davidson $17,100
  • Average net price
  • Grinnell $34,363
  • Davidson $27,720
  • Average grant aid
  • Grinnell $49,077
  • Davidson $51,755
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Grinnell 94%
  • Davidson 65%
  • Graduation rate
  • Grinnell 88%
  • Davidson 92%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Grinnell $59,500
  • Davidson $63,500
  • Making student loan payments
  • Grinnell 87%
  • Davidson 89%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Grinnell $13,170
  • Davidson $17,000
  • Median loan payment
  • Grinnell $136
  • Davidson $175
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Grinnell 9:1
  • Davidson 8:1
  • Popular majors
  • Grinnell
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Foreign Languages (12%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • History (8%)
    • Physical Sciences (8%)
  • Davidson
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (11%)
    • English and Literature (11%)
  • Location
  • Grinnell Grinnell, IA
  • Davidson Davidson, NC
  • Setting
  • Grinnell Remote Town
  • Davidson Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Grinnell 1,788
  • Davidson 1,869
  • Type
  • Grinnell Private 4 Year
  • Davidson Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Grinnell #57
  • Davidson #32

Comparable Facts

Compare Grinnell College in Grinnell, IA with Davidson College in Davidson, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Davidson College is larger than Grinnell based on total student enrollment (1,869 students vs. 1,788 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Grinnell College is located in Grinnell, IA (Remote Town setting); Davidson College is in Davidson, NC (Large Suburban setting).
  • Grinnell College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Davidson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Grinnell College 9:1; Davidson College 8:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grinnell College are 1.5% lower than at Davidson College ($16,842 vs. $17,100).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5.7% higher at Grinnell than at Davidson College (about $3,696 more per year; $68,106 vs. $64,410).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Grinnell College than at Davidson College (94% vs. 65%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Davidson College students is 5.5% larger than aid received by Grinnell College students ($51,755 vs. $49,077).

Admissions details

  • Incoming Grinnell students have the same typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate; 32) as students at Davidson (32).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Grinnell and Davidson.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Grinnell Jan 15, 2027; Davidson Jan 7, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Grinnell average a 3.89 high school GPA, 0.08 higher than at Davidson (3.81).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 30.9% at Grinnell vs. 47.9% at Davidson.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Grinnell College graduates have a $3,830 lower median loan debt than Davidson graduates ($13,170 vs. $17,000).
  • Among borrowers, Grinnell graduates have an estimated $39 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Davidson graduates ($136 vs. $175).
  • More Davidson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Grinnell students, three years after graduation (89% vs. 87%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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