Key differences on Getting in
- 1
Grinnell is 3.0× more selective than Occidental
Acceptance rate - 2
Grinnell's yield is 13 pts higher than Occidental's
Yield rate - 3
Grinnell's SAT midpoint is 25 points higher than Occidental's
SAT midpoint
Admissions
Getting in, fall 2024
Acceptance and yield, test score ranges, test policy, and what each college weighs.
The funnel
Quad's selectivity
- OccidentalVery selective
- GrinnellHighly selective
Men and women
Acceptance rate for men and women who applied, where a college reports admissions by sex.
Test scores
SAT total,
Axis runs 1300–1600. The dark tick marks the national median midpoint.
ACT composite,
Axis runs 27–36. The dark tick marks the national median midpoint.
Test policy
- OccidentalTest-optional
- GrinnellTest-optional
How they read a record
Occidental
Class rank is considered.
Grinnell
The high school record is required; GPA, class rank, and a college-prep program are considered.
What they look at
| Factor | Occidental | Grinnell |
|---|---|---|
| High school GPA | Considered | Considered |
| High school record | Required | Required |
| Class rank | Considered | Considered |
| College-prep program | Considered | Considered |
| Recommendations | Considered | Considered |
| Essay | Required | Required |
| Legacy status | Not considered | Considered |
| Work experience | Considered | Considered |
| Demonstration of competencies | Considered | Considered |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other tests | Not considered | Considered |
Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;Occidental College Common Data Set 2023–24, Fall 2025 applicants;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023;College Scorecard, most recent releaseAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why