Grinnell vs. MHC

Deciding between Grinnell College and Mount Holyoke 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.

Grinnell College
Mount Holyoke College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Grinnell Grinnell, IA
  • MHC South Hadley, MA
  • Setting
  • Grinnell Remote Town
  • MHC Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Grinnell 1,788
  • MHC 2,275
  • Type
  • Grinnell Private 4 Year
  • MHC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Grinnell #57
  • MHC #81
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Grinnell -
  • MHC -
  • Status
  • Grinnell Non-profit
  • MHC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Grinnell
  • MHC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Grinnell $68,106
  • MHC $67,018
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Grinnell $68,106
  • MHC $67,018
  • Room & Board
  • Grinnell $16,842
  • MHC $19,684
  • Average Net Price
  • Grinnell $34,363
  • MHC $32,526
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Grinnell $49,077
  • MHC $52,418
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Grinnell 94%
  • MHC 77%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Grinnell 9,758
  • MHC 5,226
  • Admitted
  • Grinnell 1,416
  • MHC 1,883
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Grinnell 14.5%
  • MHC 36%
  • Enrolled
  • Grinnell 30.9%
  • MHC 27.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Grinnell 1480
  • MHC 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • Grinnell 32
  • MHC 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • Grinnell 3.89
  • MHC 3.87
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Grinnell A
  • MHC A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Grinnell Exceptional
  • MHC Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Grinnell Very High
  • MHC High
  • ACT Range
  • Grinnell 31/34
  • MHC 32/35
  • SAT Range
  • Grinnell 1410/1540
  • MHC 1380/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Grinnell Test optional
  • MHC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Grinnell Jan 15, 2027
  • MHC Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Grinnell 9:1
  • MHC 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Grinnell
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Foreign Languages (12%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • History (8%)
    • Physical Sciences (8%)
  • MHC
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Grinnell 88%
  • MHC 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Grinnell $59,500
  • MHC $50,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Grinnell 87%
  • MHC 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Grinnell $13,170
  • MHC $21,206
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Grinnell $136
  • MHC $219

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Grinnell 46%
  • MHC 1%
  • % Women
  • Grinnell 54%
  • MHC 99%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Grinnell High
  • MHC Very High
  • HBCU
  • Grinnell No
  • MHC No
  • % White
  • Grinnell 56%
  • MHC 45%
  • % Asian
  • Grinnell 7%
  • MHC 10%
  • % Black
  • Grinnell 6%
  • MHC 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Grinnell 7%
  • MHC 8%
  • % Native American
  • Grinnell 0%
  • MHC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Grinnell 0%
  • MHC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Grinnell 5%
  • MHC 4%
  • % International
  • Grinnell 16%
  • MHC 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Grinnell 3%
  • MHC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Grinnell 8%
  • MHC 19%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Grinnell 68%
  • MHC 63%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Grinnell College in Grinnell, IA with Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Mount Holyoke College is larger than Grinnell based on total student enrollment (2,275 students vs. 1,788 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Grinnell vs. MHC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Grinnell or MHC? 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 Mount Holyoke College than Grinnell ($32,526 vs. $34,363).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grinnell College are 14.4% lower than at Mount Holyoke College ($16,842 vs. $19,684).
  • Grinnell College is 1.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than MHC (about $1,088 more per year; $68,106.00 vs. $67,018.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.6% higher at Grinnell than at Mount Holyoke College (about $1,088 more per year; $68,106.00 vs. $67,018.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Grinnell College than at Mount Holyoke College (94% vs. 77%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mount Holyoke College students is 6.8% larger than aid received by Grinnell College students ($52,418 vs. $49,077).

Grinnell vs. MHC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Grinnell or MHC? 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 MHC and Grinnell.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Grinnell College (1480) is 20 points higher than at MHC (1460).
  • Incoming MHC students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 32 at Grinnell).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Grinnell College 1410/1540; Mount Holyoke College 1380/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Grinnell College 31/34; Mount Holyoke College 32/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Grinnell - Test optional; MHC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Grinnell Jan 15, 2027; MHC Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Grinnell students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at MHC (3.87).
  • MHC has a higher acceptance rate (36%) than Grinnell (14.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 30.9% at Grinnell vs. 27.2% at MHC.

Grinnell vs. MHC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Grinnell and MHC? 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 Mount Holyoke College's (85%).
  • Graduates from Grinnell College earn a median of about $9,500 more per year than MHC graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,500 vs. $50,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Grinnell College graduates have a $8,036 lower median loan debt than MHC graduates ($13,170 vs. $21,206).
  • Among borrowers, Grinnell graduates have an estimated $83 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MHC graduates ($136 vs. $219).
  • More Grinnell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MHC students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 77%)

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.