Colby vs Grinnell
What each college publishes, side by side. Cost, admission, graduation, earnings and debt come from federal data.
A+Compass Score: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Colby CollegeWaterville, MECompass Score: Exceptional · Top 3%A+Compass Score: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Grinnell CollegeGrinnell, IACompass Score: Exceptional · Top 4%
At a glance
- For families earning $48,001 to $75,000, Colby has the lower price after aid: $3,666 a year, against $9,669 at Grinnell.
- Median earnings ten years after entry are higher at Colby: $80,490, against $62,830 at Grinnell.
- Colby admits 7% of applicants, and Grinnell admits 15%.
Scores
Compass Score
A+Compass Score: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. Top 3%
A+Compass Score: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. Top 4%
Academic Excellence
A+Academic Excellence: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. Top 3%
A+Academic Excellence: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. Top 3%
Value
AValue: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. Top 5%
A-Value: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. Top 14%
The college
Category
Liberal arts colleges
Liberal arts colleges
Location
Waterville, ME
Grinnell, IA
Setting
Town
Town
Students
2,284
1,775
Sports
NCAA Division III · New England Small College Athletic Conference
NCAA Division III · Midwest Conference
Admission
Admission rate
7%
15%
Average SAT
1501
1486
ACT middle 50%
32–34
31–34
Outcomes
Graduation rate
89%
88%
First-year retention
94%
93%
Median earnings 10 years after entry
$80,490
$62,830
Median debt
$19,157
$17,500
Cost
Average price after aid
$17,180
$17,648
Price after aid, by family income
Up to $30,000
$4,049
$9,970
$30,001–$48,000
$1,251
$7,789
$48,001–$75,000
$3,666
$9,669
$75,001–$110,000
$12,106
$19,348
Over $110,000
$46,511
$37,725
Top majors by graduate earnings
Bachelor's majors
- Economics $103,491
- Political science $96,621
- Area studies $64,207
- Natural resources and conservation $55,719
- Economics $110,724
- Computer science $109,892
- Political science $68,518
- Liberal arts $59,638
- Experimental psychology $57,752
Compare with another college
The Compass Score and grades are College Compass Guide’s own ratings. Cost, admission, graduation, earnings and debt are federal data. This comparison doesn’t rank the two colleges; the figures are shown as published.