Grinnell College vs Hillsdale College
Grinnell College and Hillsdale College, two esteemed institutions of higher learning, stand apart in their unique offerings and distinct academic environments. Grinnell, a liberal arts college in Iowa, boasts a diverse student body and a strong commitment to social justice, while Hillsdale, a private liberal arts college in Michigan, emphasizes a classical education rooted in Western tradition. With acceptance rates of 28% and 48%, respectively, both colleges offer a rigorous academic experience, though Grinnell's acceptance rate is more selective. While Grinnell students commonly pursue majors in social sciences, biological sciences, and English, Hillsdale students often choose majors in political science, economics, and history. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into further details about these institutions, including student body demographics, graduation rates, and more, to determine which college best aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Grinnell College |
![]() Hillsdale College |
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Overview |
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Location | Grinnell, Iowa | Hillsdale, Michigan |
Campus setting | Town: Remote | Town: Distant |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 93.0% | 94.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Undenominational | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 10.5% | 23.7% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$35
Graduate:
$25
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SAT range | 1370 - 1530 | 1340 - 1510 |
ACT range | 30 - 34 | 30 - 34 |
Students submitting SAT score | 29.0% | 22.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 33.0% | 38.0% |
Total number of applicants | 10,513 | 2,994 |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,108 | 709 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 471 | 397 |
Yield rate | 42.5% | 56.0% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $76,098 | $45,382 |
Average net price | $37,423 | $24,057 |
Tuition | $58,156 | $28,730 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$6,779
Meal plan:
$7,572
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Room/dormitory:
$6,020
Meal plan:
$6,120
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
100.0%
Average amount $35,821 |
100.0%
Average amount $20,535 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
36.0%
Average amount $3,952 |
0.0%
Average amount $0 |
Students taking out private loans |
12.0%
Average amount $5,903 |
34.0%
Average amount $10,497 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
1,748
Men 47.5% Women 52.5% |
1,515
Men 50.6% Women 49.4% |
Graduate students | N/A |
87
Men 67.8% Women 32.2% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
N/A |
Out-of-state students | 91.5% | N/A |
International students | 19.4% | N/A |
Campus local/setting | Town: Remote | Town: Distant |
Dormitory capacity | 1,450 | 1,124 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | Yes | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | California Illinois Iowa Minnesota Texas | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 9:1 | 8:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 86.9% | 87.6% |
Dropout rate | 12.9% | 8.3% |
Transferred out | N/A | 3.9% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
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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N/A |
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