Grinnell vs. Wellesley

Should I go to Grinnell College or Wellesley College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Grinnell or Wellesley 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. 

Barnard Carleton College Macalester College Vassar Tufts Oberlin Amherst BU Kenyon BC MHC NYU
Grinnell College vs. Wellesley College comparison
Grinnell College Wellesley College College 3 College 4
Grinnell College Wellesley College
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 Grinnell Wellesley
Location Grinnell, IA Wellesley, MA
Setting Remote Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,759 2,447
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #55 #17
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website grinnell.edu wellesley.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Grinnell Wellesley
Tuition (In State) $60,988 $61,584
Tuition (Out of State) $60,988 $61,584
Room & Board $15,048 $19,080
Avg Net Price $33,467 $21,362
Avg Grant Aid $42,231 $61,328
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 59%

Admission

 Grinnell Wellesley
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,997 8,491
Admitted 1,076 1,152
Acceptance Rate 10.8% 13.6%
Enrolled % 40.6% 50.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.89 3.86
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Elite
Applicant Competition Very High Very High
ACT Range 31/34 33/35
SAT Range 1380/1530 1430/1550
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 8, 2024

Academics

 Grinnell Wellesley
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 7:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (27%)
  • Foreign Languages (12%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • History (8%)
  • Physical Sciences (8%)
  • Social Sciences (28%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Ethnic Studies (9%)
  • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

 Grinnell Wellesley
Graduation Rate 88% 92%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $59,500 $68,100
Making Student Loan Payments 87% 86%
Median Student Loan Debt $13,170 $8,900
Median Loan Payment $136 $92

Diversity

 Grinnell Wellesley
% Men 47% 1%
% Women 53% 99%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 56% 40%
% Black 6% 6%
% Hispanic 7% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 6%
% International 16% 12%
% Unknown Race 3% 4%

Students

 Grinnell Wellesley
% In-State 7% 11%
% Out-of-State 72% 73%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Wellesley College is larger than than Grinnell based on total student enrollment (2,447 students vs. 1,759 students)

Grinnell vs. Wellesley Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Grinnell or Wellesley?

  • Wellesley College is 1% more expensive to attend than Grinnell for in-state tuition ($61,584.00 vs. $60,988.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 1% higher at Wellesley than Grinnell College ($61,584.00 vs. $60,988.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wellesley College than Grinnell ($21,362 vs. $33,467)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grinnell College are 26.8% lower than costs at Wellesley College ($15,048 vs. $19,080)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Grinnell College than Wellesley College (91% vs. 59%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wellesley College students is 45.2% larger than aid received Grinnell College ($61,328 vs. $42,231)

Grinnell vs. Wellesley Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Grinnell College (1402) is 33 points higher than at Wellesley (1369)
  • Incoming Grinnell students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at Wellesley (30)
  • Accepted freshman Grinnell students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at Wellesley (3.86)
  • Wellesley has a higher acceptance rate (13.6%) than Grinnell (10.8%)

Grinnell vs. Wellesley Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Wellesley is higher than Grinnell College (92% vs. 88%)
  • Graduates from Wellesley College earn on average $8,600 more per year than Grinnell graduates after ten years. ($68,100 vs. $59,500)
  • Wellesley College students graduate with a $4,270 lower median federal student loan debt than Grinnell graduates. ($8,900 vs. $13,170)
  • Wellesley graduates are paying $44 less per month on federal student loans than Grinnell graduates. ($92 vs. $136)
  • More Grinnell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wellesley students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 86%)

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