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Grinnell, IA · Physics & astronomy

Physics & astronomy at Grinnell College

Grinnell College graduates about 17 physics & astronomy majors a year, 4% of its graduating class. That puts it 53rd of 525 schools we score for physics & astronomy, a standout program at 85 out of 100.

85/100Standout#53 of 525 for physics & astronomy →
Graduates a year174% of the class
Research in the field$273Ka year, NSF
Admit rate15%whole school
SAT middle 50%1380–1530whole school

Around Grinnell College

Band autographs in the green room of the Harris Center at Grinnell College
Band autographs in the green room of the Harris Center at Grinnell College 08 (cPhoto: Mattsjc · CC BY 4.0 · source
MacEachron (Mac) Field at Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa
MacEachron (Mac) Field at Grinnell College in Grinnell, IowaPhoto: Mattsjc · CC BY 4.0 · source
Grinnell College reunion after a serious windstorm came through
Grinnell College reunion after a serious windstorm came throughPhoto: Mattsjc · CC BY 4.0 · source
Grinnell College reunion outside Noyce after a serious windstorm came through
Grinnell College reunion outside Noyce after a serious windstorm came throughPhoto: Mattsjc · CC BY 4.0 · source

Where physics & astronomy happens

Buildings on campus that fit the field: Gale Observatory, Noyce Science Center.

Named buildings on the campus map: Dorm 22 · Academic 10 · Offices 4 · Chapel 2 · Arts 2 · Athletics 1.

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Nearby in the physics & astronomy ranking

  1. University of Wisconsin–Madison 85
  2. New York University 85
  3. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 85
  4. University of Southern California 85
  5. Smith College 85
  6. Emory University 85
  7. The University of Texas–Austin 84
  8. The Ohio State University 84

Other strong majors at Grinnell College

How the score works

The score is out of 100 and compares Grinnell College with every school we score in physics & astronomy. It weighs the school's overall strength; how many students graduate in the major and what share of the class they are; research spending in the field (NSF); early pay against the same major nationally; how many courses the catalog lists; and test scores. 80+ is a standout program, 65+ strong, 45+ solid. Sources: US Department of Education (College Scorecard, IPEDS), NSF HERD, each school's current course catalog, OpenStreetMap and Wikimedia Commons.

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