Grinnell College vs. Hamilton College

Selectivity is essentially the same. Grinnell's 14.5% acceptance rate and Hamilton's 13.6% are within a percentage point of each other. For an unhooked applicant, the difference is statistical noise. Apply to whichever you genuinely prefer.

Grinnell is significantly cheaper after aid. The average net price gap is $11,337 per year, $45,348 over four years. For most families that difference is the deciding factor when both schools admit you.

Hamilton graduates earn $15,581 more on average at the 10-year mark. This usually reflects major distribution more than school quality — schools that concentrate in CS, engineering, and finance pull higher medians than schools with more humanities and social science graduates. Grinnell grads' earnings within the same major category are typically comparable.

Geographic difference matters more than the campus tour suggests. Grinnell is in Grinnell, Iowa; Hamilton is in Clinton, New York. Climate, cost-of-living, and proximity to job markets in your target field shape the four-year experience and post-grad pipeline more than most prospective students realize.

Grinnell has a more international student body (21.0% non-resident students vs 8.2%). For applicants who value global exposure or have international academic interests, that mix shows up in classroom culture and alumni network.