Grinnell vs. EMU

Should I go to Grinnell College or Eastern Mennonite University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Grinnell or EMU 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.
Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

Carleton College Macalester College Oberlin Kenyon Haverford College Cornell WUSTL Reed Davidson Swarthmore Colby College Amherst
Grinnell College vs. Eastern Mennonite University comparison
Grinnell College Eastern Mennonite University College 3 College 4
Grinnell College Eastern Mennonite University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 Grinnell EMU
Location Grinnell, IA Harrisonburg, VA
Setting Remote Town Small City
Enrollment 1,759 1,334
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #55 #215
Religious Affiliation - Mennonite Church - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website grinnell.edu emu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Grinnell EMU
Tuition (In State) $60,988 $40,590
Tuition (Out of State) $60,988 $40,590
Room & Board $15,048 $12,240
Avg Net Price $33,467 $23,783
Avg Grant Aid $42,231 $30,460
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 96%

Admission

 Grinnell EMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,997 1,144
Admitted 1,076 1,138
Acceptance Rate 10.8% 99.5%
Enrolled % 40.6% 17.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.89 3.7
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Elite
Applicant Competition Very High
ACT Range 31/34 25/34
SAT Range 1380/1530 1040/1590
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2024

Academics

 Grinnell EMU
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (27%)
  • Foreign Languages (12%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • History (8%)
  • Physical Sciences (8%)
  • Health Professions (30%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (5%)
  • General Studies (5%)

Outcomes

 Grinnell EMU
Graduation Rate 88% 66%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $59,500 $43,900
Making Student Loan Payments 87% 80%
Median Student Loan Debt $13,170 $23,450
Median Loan Payment $136 $242

Diversity

 Grinnell EMU
% Men 47% 34%
% Women 53% 66%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 56% 71%
% Black 6% 10%
% Hispanic 7% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 3%
% International 16% 3%
% Unknown Race 3% 2%

Students

 Grinnell EMU
% In-State 7% 68%
% Out-of-State 72% 27%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Grinnell College is larger than than EMU based on total student enrollment (1,759 students vs. 1,334 students)

Grinnell vs. EMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Grinnell or EMU?

  • Grinnell College is 50.3% more expensive to attend than EMU for in-state tuition ($60,988.00 vs. $40,590.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 50.3% higher at Grinnell than Eastern Mennonite University ($60,988.00 vs. $40,590.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Eastern Mennonite University than Grinnell ($23,783 vs. $33,467)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Eastern Mennonite University are 22.9% lower than costs at Grinnell College ($12,240 vs. $15,048)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Eastern Mennonite University than Grinnell College (96% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Grinnell College students is 38.6% larger than aid received Eastern Mennonite University ($42,231 vs. $30,460)

Grinnell vs. EMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Grinnell College (1402) is 393 points higher than at EMU (1009)
  • Incoming Grinnell students have a 10 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at EMU (22)
  • Accepted freshman Grinnell students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at EMU (3.7)
  • EMU has a higher acceptance rate (99.5%) than Grinnell (10.8%)

Grinnell vs. EMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Grinnell is higher than Eastern Mennonite University (88% vs. 66%)
  • Graduates from Grinnell College earn on average $15,600 more per year than EMU graduates after ten years. ($59,500 vs. $43,900)
  • Grinnell College students graduate with a $10,280 lower median federal student loan debt than EMU graduates. ($13,170 vs. $23,450)
  • Grinnell graduates are paying $106 less per month on federal student loans than EMU graduates. ($136 vs. $242)
  • More Grinnell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former EMU students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 80%)

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