Iowa Wesleyan University vs Grinnell College
Iowa Wesleyan University and Grinnell College, both esteemed institutions of higher learning in Iowa, offer distinct educational experiences. Iowa Wesleyan, a private university in Mount Pleasant, boasts a 90% acceptance rate, welcoming a diverse student body of over 800 undergraduates. Grinnell College, a private liberal arts college in Grinnell, is highly selective, with an acceptance rate of 20% and a student body of around 1,700 undergraduates. While Iowa Wesleyan offers popular majors in business, education, and nursing, Grinnell College emphasizes interdisciplinary studies, with popular majors in social sciences, natural sciences, and humanities. Both institutions offer a supportive learning environment, but Grinnell College's higher graduation rate of 84% compared to Iowa Wesleyan's 48% may be a key differentiator for prospective students. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more distinctions between these two exceptional institutions and make an informed decision about your academic journey.
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![]() Grinnell College |
![]() Iowa Wesleyan University |
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Overview |
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Location | Grinnell, Iowa | Mount Pleasant, Iowa |
Campus setting | Town: Remote | Town: Remote |
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% | 51.0% |
![]() |
Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | Methodism | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 10.5% | 81.9% |
Application fees | ||
SAT range | 1370 - 1530 | 820 - 1020 |
ACT range | 30 - 34 | 15 - 20 |
Students submitting SAT score | 29.0% | 9.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 33.0% | 22.0% |
Total number of applicants | 10,513 | 3,934 |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,108 | 3,222 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 471 | 267 |
Yield rate | 42.5% | 8.3% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $76,098 | $42,840 |
Average net price | $37,423 | $34,988 |
Tuition | $58,156 | $32,550 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$6,779
Meal plan:
$7,572
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Room/dormitory:
$4,410
Meal plan:
$6,930
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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 |
97.0%
Average amount $12,333 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
36.0%
Average amount $3,952 |
92.0%
Average amount $4,286 |
Students taking out private loans |
12.0%
Average amount $5,903 |
7.0%
Average amount $6,430 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
1,748
Men 47.5% Women 52.5% |
758
Men 57.9% Women 42.1% |
Graduate students | N/A |
67
Men 52.2% Women 47.8% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Moderate
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Out-of-state students | 91.5% | N/A |
International students | 19.4% | 11.3% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Remote | Town: Remote |
Dormitory capacity | 1,450 | 568 |
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 | 12:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 86.9% | 22.5% |
Dropout rate | 12.9% | 32.5% |
Transferred out | N/A | 44.2% |
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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Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
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