Grinnell vs. Smith College

Should I go to Grinnell College or Smith College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Grinnell or Smith College 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 MHC Macalester College Oberlin Kenyon Bryn Mawr Haverford College Cornell WUSTL Reed Davidson Swarthmore
Grinnell College vs. Smith College comparison
Grinnell College Smith College College 3 College 4
Grinnell College Smith College
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Grinnell Smith College
Location Grinnell, IA Northampton, MA
Setting Remote Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,759 2,873
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #55 #68
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website grinnell.edu smith.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Grinnell Smith College
Tuition (In State) $60,988 $58,480
Tuition (Out of State) $60,988 $58,480
Room & Board $15,048 $20,340
Avg Net Price $33,467 $30,790
Avg Grant Aid $42,231 $49,109
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 64%

Admission

Grinnell Smith College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,997 7,269
Admitted 1,076 1,662
Acceptance Rate 10.8% 22.9%
Enrolled % 40.6% 37.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.89 4.0
Typical High School Grades A- A/A+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Exceptional
Applicant Competition Very High Very High
ACT Range 31/34 31/34
SAT Range 1380/1530 1370/1520
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2024 Jan 15, 2024

Academics

Grinnell Smith College
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 8:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (27%)
  • Foreign Languages (12%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • History (8%)
  • Physical Sciences (8%)
  • Social Sciences (22%)
  • Foreign Languages (12%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Ethnic Studies (9%)

Outcomes

Grinnell Smith College
Graduation Rate 88% 85%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $59,500 $48,900
Making Student Loan Payments 87% 80%
Median Student Loan Debt $13,170 $19,000
Median Loan Payment $136 $196

Diversity

Grinnell Smith College
% Men 47% 2%
% Women 53% 98%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 56% 45%
% Black 6% 5%
% Hispanic 7% 10%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 5%
% International 16% 14%
% Unknown Race 3% 8%

Students

Grinnell Smith College
% In-State 7% 11%
% Out-of-State 72% 76%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Smith College is larger than than Grinnell based on total student enrollment (2,873 students vs. 1,759 students)

Grinnell vs. Smith College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Grinnell or Smith College?

  • Grinnell College is 4.3% more expensive to attend than Smith College for in-state tuition ($60,988.00 vs. $58,480.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4.3% higher at Grinnell than Smith College ($60,988.00 vs. $58,480.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Smith College than Grinnell ($30,790 vs. $33,467)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grinnell College are 35.2% lower than costs at Smith College ($15,048 vs. $20,340)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Grinnell College than Smith College (91% vs. 64%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Smith College students is 16.3% larger than aid received Grinnell College ($49,109 vs. $42,231)

Grinnell vs. Smith College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Smith College students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Grinnell (3.89)
  • Smith College has a higher acceptance rate (22.9%) than Grinnell (10.8%)

Grinnell vs. Smith College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Grinnell or Smith College? 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 Smith College and Grinnell.

  • The graduation rate at Grinnell is higher than Smith College (88% vs. 85%)
  • Graduates from Grinnell College earn on average $10,600 more per year than Smith College graduates after ten years. ($59,500 vs. $48,900)
  • Grinnell College students graduate with a $5,830 lower median federal student loan debt than Smith College graduates. ($13,170 vs. $19,000)
  • Grinnell graduates are paying $60 less per month on federal student loans than Smith College graduates. ($136 vs. $196)
  • More Grinnell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Smith College 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/