Grinnell vs. Williams

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

Grinnell College
Williams College

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Williams (8.3% admitted vs 14.5%). Typical SAT 1530 vs 1480.
  • Cheaper after aid: Williams. Average net price is $15,894 vs $34,363 at Grinnell.
  • Graduation: Grinnell 88% vs Williams 95%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Grinnell $59,500 vs Williams $73,600 (median).
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Key differences

Grinnell College Williams College
Acceptance rate
Williams more selective
Grinnell14.5%
Williams8.3%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Williams higher
Grinnell1410-1540
Williams1490-1570
Average net price
Williams $18,469 less
Grinnell$34,363
Williams$15,894
In-state tuition
Grinnell $454 less
Grinnell$68,106
Williams$68,560
Out-of-state tuition
Grinnell $454 less
Grinnell$68,106
Williams$68,560
Graduation rate
Williams +7 pts
Grinnell88%
Williams95%
Median earnings (10 years)
Williams +$14,100
Grinnell$59,500
Williams$73,600

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Grinnell 9,758
  • Williams 15,411
  • Admitted
  • Grinnell 1,416
  • Williams 1,272
  • Acceptance rate
  • Grinnell 14.5%
  • Williams 8.3%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Grinnell 30.9%
  • Williams 43%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Grinnell 1480
  • Williams 1530
  • Typical ACT score
  • Grinnell 32
  • Williams 34
  • Average high school GPA
  • Grinnell 3.89
  • Williams 3.94
  • Typical high school grades
  • Grinnell A
  • Williams A
  • Admissions standards
  • Grinnell Exceptional
  • Williams Elite
  • Applicant competition
  • Grinnell Very High
  • Williams Extreme
  • SAT range
  • Grinnell 1410-1540
  • Williams 1490-1570
  • ACT range
  • Grinnell 31-34
  • Williams 34-35
  • Submit test scores
  • Grinnell Test optional
  • Williams Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Grinnell Jan 15, 2027
  • Williams Jan 10, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Grinnell $68,106
  • Williams $68,560
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Grinnell $68,106
  • Williams $68,560
  • Room & board
  • Grinnell $16,842
  • Williams $17,260
  • Average net price
  • Grinnell $34,363
  • Williams $15,894
  • Average grant aid
  • Grinnell $49,077
  • Williams $68,966
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Grinnell 94%
  • Williams 54%
  • Graduation rate
  • Grinnell 88%
  • Williams 95%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Grinnell $59,500
  • Williams $73,600
  • Making student loan payments
  • Grinnell 87%
  • Williams 83%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Grinnell $13,170
  • Williams $14,582
  • Median loan payment
  • Grinnell $136
  • Williams $150
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Grinnell 9:1
  • Williams 6:1
  • Popular majors
  • Grinnell
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Foreign Languages (12%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • History (8%)
    • Physical Sciences (8%)
  • Williams
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • History (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Location
  • Grinnell Grinnell, IA
  • Williams Williamstown, MA
  • Setting
  • Grinnell Remote Town
  • Williams Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Grinnell 1,788
  • Williams 2,164
  • Type
  • Grinnell Private 4 Year
  • Williams Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Grinnell #57
  • Williams #14

Comparable Facts

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

Williams College is larger than Grinnell based on total student enrollment (2,164 students vs. 1,788 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Grinnell College is located in Grinnell, IA (Remote Town setting); Williams College is in Williamstown, MA (Distant Town setting).
  • Grinnell College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Williams College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Grinnell College 9:1; Williams College 6:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grinnell College are 2.4% lower than at Williams College ($16,842 vs. $17,260).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.7% higher at Williams than at Grinnell College (about $454 more per year; $68,560 vs. $68,106).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Grinnell College than at Williams College (94% vs. 54%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Williams College students is 40.5% larger than aid received by Grinnell College students ($68,966 vs. $49,077).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 2 points higher at Williams than at Grinnell (34 vs. 32, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Grinnell and Williams.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Grinnell Jan 15, 2027; Williams Jan 10, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Williams average a 3.94 high school GPA, 0.05 higher than at Grinnell (3.89).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 30.9% at Grinnell vs. 43% at Williams.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Grinnell College graduates have a $1,412 lower median loan debt than Williams graduates ($13,170 vs. $14,582).
  • Among borrowers, Grinnell graduates have an estimated $14 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Williams graduates ($136 vs. $150).
  • More Grinnell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Williams students, three years after graduation (87% vs. 83%).

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

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