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Grinnell, IA · Decorah, IA
| Grinnell College | Luther College | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $17,648/yr | $23,097/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $9,970/yr | $12,517/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $17,500 | $27,000 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $7,789/yr | $12,835/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $9,669/yr | $19,351/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $19,348/yr | $22,204/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $37,725/yr | $29,376/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $186/mo | $286/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $16,842/yr | $11,530/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | No data reported | $11,530/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $800/yr | $1,040/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $1,850/yr | $3,015/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $83,440/yr | $65,461/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $68,106/yr | $52,120/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $68,106/yr | $52,120/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 18% | 20% |
| Students taking federal loans | 13% | 65% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 15% | 72% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1410–1540 | 1078–1406 |
| SAT average | 1486 | 1218 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 31–34 | 22–29 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 31–35 · Math 28–34 | English 20–29 · Math 20–28 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 9,988 | 2,447 |
| Students accepted | 1,266 | 1,793 |
| Students who enrolled | 457 | 352 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 36% | 20% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 30% | 11% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 21% | 28% |
| High-school GPA | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Required | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Recommendation letters | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Class rank | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Demonstrated competencies | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Work experience | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 88% | 71% |
| Freshmen who come back | 93% | 77% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $62,830/yr | $59,850/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $38,836–$90,289 | $42,196–$82,716 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 89% | 74% |
| White students graduating | 88% | 72% |
| Black students graduating | 95% | 40% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 85% | 56% |
| Asian students graduating | 93% | 83% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $49,004/yr | $49,541/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 79% | 81% |
| Graduate on time | 75% | 61% |
| Pell students who graduate | 90% | 58% |
| First-gen students who finish | 87% | 60% |
| Low-income students who finish | No data reported | 51% |
| Students who transfer out | No data reported | 13% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $58,562/yr | $52,207/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Social Sciences 29% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 17% · Computer & Information Sciences 13% | Visual & Performing Arts 15% · Health Professions 15% · Business, Management & Marketing 10% |
| Most popular program | Social Sciences — 29% of degrees | Visual & Performing Arts — 15% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 17% of degrees | Health Professions — 15% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Computer & Information Sciences — 13% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 10% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Psychology — 9% of degrees | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 10% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Physical Sciences — 7% of degrees | Computer & Information Sciences — 7% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Computer Science — $84,449/yr | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $75,533/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 42% | 22% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 1,729 | 1,379 |
| Students per professor | 9 : 1 | 9 : 1 |
| Average professor pay | $12,576/mo | $8,115/mo |
| Full-time professors | 81% | 88% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
| Median family income | $74,916 | $92,364 |
| Setting | Town (remote) | Town (remote) |
| Location | Grinnell, IA | Decorah, IA |
| Region | Plains | Plains |
| Founded | 1846 | 1861 |
| Public or private | Private (nonprofit) | Private (nonprofit) |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus | Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 21% | 15% |
| Men | 46% | 48% |
| Women | 54% | 52% |
| White students | 48% | 71% |
| Black students | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 8.7% | 6.4% |
| Asian students | 9.7% | 1.2% |
| Two or more races | 6.4% | 0% |
| Other / not reported | 1.1% | 2.4% |
| Special type | None | Religiously affiliated |
| First-generation students | 18% | 13% |
| Part-time students | 0.2% | 0.8% |
| Students age 25+ | 0.2% | 0.5% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $32,882/yr | $17,234/yr |
| Endowment | $2.7B | $204.5M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 1,450 | 2,156 |
| Required to live on campus | Yes — for first-year students | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $7,500/yr | $5,280/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $8,378/yr | $5,900/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | 20 meals/week | 19 meals/week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Four-one-four plan |
| Religious affiliation | No data reported | Evangelical Lutheran Church |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | Yes |
| ROTC | No | No |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | Yes |
| Credit for life experience | No | No |
| Online classes | No | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | No | No |
| Weekend & evening classes | No | No |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | No |
| On-campus day care | No | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | No | No |
| Student veteran organization | No | No |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division III with football | NCAA Division III with football |
| Football team | Yes | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 20 | 19 |
| Student athletes | 434 | 529 |
| Athletic scholarships | $0 | $0 |
| Athletics budget | $4.8M | $4.8M |
| Athletics revenue | $4.8M | $5.0M |
| Recruiting spend | $60,861 | $68,582 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.