Grinnell College vs Middlebury College

Nestled in the heart of Iowa, Grinnell College, and Middlebury College, a gem of Vermont, stand as two beacons of academic excellence. While both institutions share a commitment to liberal arts education, they offer distinct experiences shaped by their unique characteristics. Grinnell, with its lower acceptance rate and emphasis on interdisciplinary studies, attracts students seeking a close-knit community and a personalized educational journey. Middlebury, known for its language programs and international focus, draws students eager to explore diverse cultures and perspectives. As you delve into the comparison table, discover the nuances that set these colleges apart, from their student body demographics and popular majors to their graduation rates and post-graduate opportunities. Whether you're seeking a transformative educational experience rooted in community or a globally-minded liberal arts education, this side-by-side analysis will guide you towards the college that best aligns with your aspirations.

	Grinnell College	Middlebury College
Overview
Location	Grinnell, Iowa	Middlebury, Vermont
Campus setting	Town: Remote	Town: Distant
College type	4 year	4 year
Control/business model	Private (Non Profit)	Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system	Semester	4-1-4
Degrees offered	Undergraduate	Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate	93.0%	94.0%
Common app member	Yes	Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission
Acceptance rate	10.5%	13.4%
Application fees		Undergraduate: $65 Graduate: $75
SAT range	1370 - 1530	1380 - 1530
ACT range	30 - 34	32 - 34
Students submitting SAT score	29.0%	31.0%
Students submitting ACT score	33.0%	23.0%
Total number of applicants	10,513	11,906
Total number of admissions given out	1,108	1,601
Admitted students who chose to enroll	471	680
Yield rate	42.5%	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)	Required	Not required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	$76,098	$78,820
Average net price	$37,423	$26,958
Tuition	$58,156	$59,330
Room & board	Room/dormitory: $6,779 Meal plan: $7,572	Room/dormitory: $9,600 Meal plan: $7,450
Available payment plans	Tuition payment plan	Prepaid tuition plan Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	100.0% Average amount $35,821	52.0% Average amount $49,988
Students receiving federal student loan	36.0% Average amount $3,952	25.0% Average amount $4,384
Students taking out private loans	12.0% Average amount $5,903	10.0% Average amount $7,858

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	1,748 Men 47.5% Women 52.5%	2,858 Men 46.4% Women 53.6%
Graduate students	N/A	79 Men 8.9% Women 91.1%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Low	Low
Out-of-state students	91.5%	94.7%
International students	19.4%	12.3%
Campus local/setting	Town: Remote	Town: Distant
Dormitory capacity	1,450	2,891
First year students are required to live on campus?	Yes	Yes
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	California Illinois Iowa Minnesota Texas	New York Mississippi California Connecticut Vermont

Academics
Popular study areas	Social Sciences Foreign Languages and Literatures Physical Science Visual & Performing Arts Computer and Information Science	Foreign Languages and Literatures Social Sciences Ethnic Studies English Language and Literature Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Students to faculty ratio	9:1	9:1
Institutional accreditation	Higher Learning Commission	New England Commission on Higher Education

Outcome
Graduation rate	86.9%	91.2%
Dropout rate	12.9%	1.7%
Transferred out	N/A	7.1%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	Economics (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $56,661 Year 2: $52,941 Year 3: $55,487 Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $31,893 Year 2: $34,704 Year 3: $49,481 English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $20,499 Year 2: $29,141 Year 3: $41,882 Sociology (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $27,517 Year 2: $33,993 Year 3: $40,572 Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $26,353 Year 3: $37,882 Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $21,508 Year 3: $37,613 Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $23,718 Year 2: $19,227 Year 3: $29,237 Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $20,140 Year 3: $28,680 Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $70,658 Year 2: $91,744 Year 3: N/A Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $29,239 Year 2: N/A Year 3: N/A	Economics (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $69,712 Year 2: $75,518 Year 3: $98,106 International Relations and National Security Studies (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $58,169 Year 2: $60,523 Year 3: $68,272 Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $51,074 Year 2: $41,025 Year 3: $62,953 International Business (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $65,380 Year 2: $55,512 Year 3: $62,186 Public Administration (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $51,883 Year 2: $56,544 Year 3: $61,255 Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $53,031 Year 2: $40,485 Year 3: $60,732 Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $57,928 Year 2: $52,941 Year 3: $57,550 Education, Other (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $42,155 Year 2: $46,869 Year 3: $50,725 Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $38,056 Year 2: $43,798 Year 3: $44,126 Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $34,769 Year 2: $42,682 Year 3: $41,771

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Grinnell College

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