Grinnell College vs Brown University
Grinnell College and Brown University, two esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Grinnell, a liberal arts college in Iowa, boasts a tight-knit community and a focus on undergraduate teaching, while Brown, an Ivy League university in Rhode Island, is renowned for its research opportunities and interdisciplinary approach. With Grinnell's acceptance rate hovering around 18% and Brown's at 7%, both institutions are highly selective. Grinnell's student body is more diverse, with international students comprising 13% of the population compared to Brown's 10%. While Grinnell excels in the social sciences and humanities, Brown offers a wider range of majors, including engineering and applied mathematics. Both institutions boast impressive graduation rates, with Grinnell's at 88% and Brown's at 96%. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more distinctions and determine which institution aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Brown University |
![]() Grinnell College |
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Overview |
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Location | Providence, Rhode Island | Grinnell, Iowa |
Campus setting | City: Midsize | Town: Remote |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 98.0% | 93.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 5.5% | 10.5% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$75
Graduate:
$75
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SAT range | 1460 - 1570 | 1370 - 1530 |
ACT range | 33 - 35 | 30 - 34 |
Students submitting SAT score | 51.0% | 29.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 30.0% | 33.0% |
Total number of applicants | 46,568 | 10,513 |
Total number of admissions given out | 2,568 | 1,108 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,705 | 471 |
Yield rate | 66.4% | 42.5% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $82,570 | $76,098 |
Average net price | $25,028 | $37,423 |
Tuition | $60,944 | $58,156 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$10,054
Meal plan:
$6,292
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Room/dormitory:
$6,779
Meal plan:
$7,572
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
46.0%
Average amount $55,420 |
100.0%
Average amount $35,821 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
9.0%
Average amount $5,159 |
36.0%
Average amount $3,952 |
Students taking out private loans |
2.0%
Average amount $27,008 |
12.0%
Average amount $5,903 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
7,349
Men 48.1% Women 51.9% |
1,748
Men 47.5% Women 52.5% |
Graduate students |
3,347
Men 50.0% Women 50.0% |
N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Low
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Out-of-state students | 96.5% | 91.5% |
International students | 18.6% | 19.4% |
Campus local/setting | City: Midsize | Town: Remote |
Dormitory capacity | 5,013 | 1,450 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | Yes | Yes |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | New York California Mississippi New Jersey Texas | California Illinois Iowa Minnesota Texas |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 6:1 | 9:1 |
Institutional accreditation | New England Commission on Higher Education | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 95.8% | 86.9% |
Dropout rate | 3.7% | 12.9% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Applied Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Engineering, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Public Policy Analysis (Master's Degrees)
Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
International Relations and National Security Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Sociology (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
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