Overview
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From Grinnell College
Mentors from day one? Yes. Passionate students? Of course. Beautiful campus? For sure.
Grinnell’s hallmark and greatest strength is the agency you have in shaping your own studies and career.
At Grinnell, you’ll love the freedom of our “individually advised curriculum.” We require only two courses outside your major. The rest of your four-year class schedule is up to you and your academic adviser to craft, based on your interests and aspirations. You can uncover what you truly care about, like diving into a new major or working on graduate-level research in your topic of choice. And, combined with our no-loan financial aid policy, Grinnell students graduate with less debt and more direction.
Every Grinnellian has access to study, work, and experiences in more than 30 countries. Even on campus, you’ll hear more than 70 languages spoken by students from every state and 60+ countries. Grinnellians come from all over the globe to attend this top-ranked national college.
Events & Resources
Junior Visit Day (March)
"Whether you’re a high school junior who is already in the thick of your college search or you’re looking to go on your very first college visit, we’ve designed a program just for you.
During our Junior Visit Day, you’ll be able to tour campus and get an overview of Grinnell’s personalized academic program, life beyond the classroom, and our admission and financial aid process. It’s a great opportunity to meet current students and start to think about if you might be a Grinnellian."
DATE: March 27, 2026
Junior Visit Day (Virtual)
During our Virtual Junior Visit Day, you’ll get an overview of Grinnell’s uniquely personalized academic program, learn more about life at a small, residential liberal arts college, and hear tips from the experts on navigating the college admission and financial aid process. You’ll also be able to take a live virtual tour of campus led by current students.
No-Loan Financial Aid
You’ll graduate with less debt, thanks to Grinnell’s no-loan policy for students with financial need.
Meeting 100% of Demonstrated Financial Need
We meet 100% of all admitted students' demonstrated financial need without loans — only a handful of colleges and universities among more than 4,000 in the United States can say that.
Liberal Arts
Town
Need Blind
100% Need
QuestBridge
Scholarships & Financial Aid
Affordability at Grinnell
From Grinnell
Grinnell continues to live up to its values of academic excellence in a diverse community dedicated to social responsibility by investing even more in you — our students. Grinnell is one of fewer than 10 colleges and universities nationwide that are need blind, meet 100% of demonstrated need, offer no-loan financial aid, and that are test optional.
What does that mean for you? It means a Grinnell education is financially accessible. We will evaluate your application based on your academic potential and your qualifications, not on your ability to pay. We also commit to meet your demonstrated financial need without loans — Grinnell offers additional grants rather than loans.
It means you can graduate and take on the next stage of your life without the burdens of student loan debt.
Scholarships at Grinnell
From Grinnell
All first-year applicants to Grinnell College are considered for merit scholarships. No separate application is required. Priority consideration for scholarships is given to students who submit their Common Application or QuestBridge Application by December 1.
$90,594
$72,822
$17,772
Cost Breakdown
Estimated Cost:
$90,594The sticker price at Grinnell is $90,594. This includes the cost of tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, and other miscellaneous expenses.
The cost of attendance can vary from year to year and will typically rise over your four years in college. That said, colleges will recalculate your financial aid every year to take price increases and changes in your financial situation into account.
College costs can look different for every student based on their financial situation. To get a more accurate picture of what tuition at Grinnell would look like for you, try entering your financial information into their Net Price Calculator.
Grinnell College Financial Aid
To apply for financial aid at Grinnell you’ll need to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as well as the CSS Profile.
The FAFSA and CSS Profile use financial information from the prior, prior year. That means you can submit the forms even if you or your parents haven’t filed last year’s taxes.
The FAFSA code for Grinnell is 001868 and the CSS Profile Code is 6252.
The FAFSA is completely free, while the CSS Profile charges a fee for each college you send it to. If you have demonstrated financial need, you may qualify for a CSS Profile fee waiver.
If you are looking for more information on how to complete the FAFSA or the CSS Profile, check out these resources:
Apply to these scholarships due soon
See more Iowa scholarshipsGrinnell College QuestBridge Scholarships
Grinnell is a member of QuestBridge, which is a prestigious scholarship program that supports high-achieving students from low-income backgrounds. Students who are “matched” to Grinnell College through QuestBridge receive a four year, full ride scholarship to the school. If you are interested in learning more about QuestBridge, you can check out our QuestBridge Scholarship guide.
Grinnell College’s 100% Need-Met Guarantee
Grinnell meets 100% of admitted students’ financial need. Using the FAFSA and/or CSS Profile, they calculate your need and offer a combination of scholarships and federal loans to cover any costs you and your family cannot pay.
No Loan Policy at Grinnell
Grinnell is a no-loan school, which means that their financial aid packages offer students grants and scholarships in place of the federal loans that are typically part of a package. This means that their financial aid is more generous than most, and they help bridge the gap between cost and student need. Some no-loan schools offer this policy for all accepted students while others only extend it to students below a specific income level, or to in-state students. Be sure to check Grinnell's website for details on their No-Loan policy.
National Merit Scholarships
If you scored exceptionally high on the PSAT/NMSQT, you may have been named a National Merit Scholarship Finalist. Did you know that this distinction could earn you a scholarship at Grinnell College? Grinnell offers scholarship money to National Merit Scholarship Finalists, although terms may vary. Some schools require you to list them as your first choice in order to receive the benefit, and others may impose additional need-based or academic requirements. Be sure to check Grinnell's website for more information!
Pell Grants at Grinnell College
19% of students at Grinnell College receive Pell Grants.
The federal government awards Pell Grants to undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need by filling out the FAFSA. Students with a bachelor’s or professional degree are not eligible. Pell Grants do not be repaid. If you receive a Pell Grant, the award amount should remain consistent at any college you gain admission to. You can learn more about Pell Grant eligibility here.
Outside Scholarships
Students can use outside scholarships to supplement their financial aid package at Grinnell. Outside scholarships are awards offered by private and non-profit organizations separate from their college. To browse vetted, reliable outside scholarships, check out our popular lists:
How do outside scholarships affect your financial aid package at Grinnell?
From Grinnell
Outside scholarships and other benefits provided for higher education expenses are funds with no affiliation to Grinnell College. Please see our Outside Scholarship Tip Sheet (PDF) for more information about Grinnell College’s policies on outside scholarships and tuition benefits. You are required to report all outside scholarships and other private sources of funding to the Office of Financial Aid. https://www.grinnell.edu/admission/financial-aid/types-aid/scholarships
Grinnell College Financial Aid Resources
For more information about financial aid at Grinnell, or for questions that are specific to your financial situation, we recommend that you reach out directly to the financial aid office!
Here’s how you can get in touch:
- Website: https://www.grinnell.edu/admission/financial-aid
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 641-269-3250
Admissions
Admissions at Grinnell
From Grinnell
Admission to Grinnell is highly selective, which simply means we get more applicants than we have room for in our classes. With that said, you can stand out from the rest by taking a challenging, balanced high school curriculum, and applying Early Decision can certainly increase your chances.
We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive community of scholars from a variety of backgrounds and with different worldviews. We believe that interacting with others of differing viewpoints can introduce you to new perspectives and expand your thinking — plus, it makes life more interesting.
11%
32
Do I qualify for an application fee waiver at Grinnell?
From Grinnell
There is no application fee for undergrads.
Does Grinnell College charge an application fee?
Good news! Grinnell College does not charge application fees, so you can apply for free. If you think there is any chance you’d like to attend Grinnell College, consider sending in an application since it will not cost you anything.
Is Grinnell test-optional?
Grinnell College is test-optional, which means that applicants are permitted, but not required, to submit their standardized test scores. If you choose not to submit your scores, admissions officers will weigh your grades, extracurriculars, essays, and interviews more heavily. If you aren’t sure whether to submit your standardized test scores, Scholarships360’s guide on whether to submit your test scores to test-optional schools can help.
Can students submit their SAT or ACT Superscore to Grinnell?
Yes, applicants can submit their SAT or ACT Superscore when they apply to Grinnell College. You should be able to find your superscore for either test on your student portal. Keep in mind that some colleges only allow Superscores for one of the two tests, so be sure to check their website for exact details on the Superscore policy.
What is the application deadline at Grinnell?
Early Decision I
Early Decision II
Regular Decision
Is Grinnell College need-blind?
Yes, Grinnell College has need-blind admissions, which means they do not take financial need into account when they decide who to accept. If your FAFSA and/or CSS Profile indicate that you would need substantial financial aid, you will still be on equal footing with applicants who do not require any aid at all.
Academics
Student/Faculty Ratio
9:1
Graduation Rate
88%
Popular Majors
Percent of Students
Social Sciences
22%
22% of graduates
Biological & Biomedical Sciences
20%
20% of graduates
Computer & Information Sciences
10%
10% of graduates
Mathematics
7%
7% of graduates
Physical Sciences
7%
7% of graduates
Psychology
6%
6% of graduates
English Language & Literature
6%
6% of graduates
Languages & Literatures
6%
6% of graduates
Visual & Performing Arts
5%
5% of graduates
History
3%
3% of graduates
Philosophy & Religious Studies
3%
3% of graduates
Area, Ethnic, Cultural, & Gender Studies
2%
2% of graduates
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies.
2%
2% of graduates
Student Body
Undergraduate Students
1,709
Pell Grant 17%
Part-Time Undergrad Students 0%
Undergrad Students Over 25 0%
Percent Male / Female 47% / 53%
Ethnic Diversity at Grinnell
53% White
20% International / Non-Citizen
8% Hispanic
8% Asian / Pacific Islander
5% Multiracial
4% Black
3% Unknown
Student Outcomes
Outcomes at Grinnell
From Grinnell
Inquiry-based learning, individualized advising, global perspectives, and a rigorous curriculum equip Grinnellians to move confidently in a complex world, to think globally, and to live with purpose.
Our graduates work in major financial institutions, for leading museums and media outlets, and at tech giants and cutting-edge start-ups. They make cartoons at Nickelodeon and discoveries at the National Institutes of Health; they teach in classrooms around the world. Grinnell grads work with nonprofits of all stripes, and in public service from the Peace Corps to the White House. Grinnellians go on to study physics at CalTech, law at Harvard, medicine at Johns Hopkins, finance at London School of Economics, plant pathology at Cornell, divinity at University of Chicago, engineering at Northwestern, international relations at University of Geneva, mathematical modeling at Oxford, journalism at NYU, and music composition at Yale. If you can think of it, a Grinnellian has done it.
Graduate Income
$62,830
Median Debt $17,500
Debt 10 years after graduation $186
Graduation Rate 88%
What is the graduation rate at Grinnell College?
88% of students who start at Grinnell College finish their degree within six years of enrolling. This is 30% more than the national median. A higher graduation rate indicates that students have better experiences at an institution.
How much do graduates of Grinnell College go on to earn?
The median income of students 10 years after starting at Grinnell College is $62,830. This is $12,439 more than the national median.
This data is from the College Scorecard, which only surveys students from Grinnell College who received federal financial aid.
Graduate earnings can vary widely based on many factors other than school choice. Major and career path are two important factors in how much a student goes on to earn. For more information, check out Scholarships360’s article on the average starting salary out of college.
How much do students at Grinnell take out in loans?
Graduates of Grinnell take out a median of $17,500 in federal student loans. As you make decisions about your college loans, be sure to inform yourself on the advantages and disadvantages of each loan option. Scholarships360’s guide to navigating these different options is a great place to start.
Data Sources
We strive to provide users with the most up-to-date information and source data from publicly available sources, including the College Scorecard and directly from the colleges. College statistics can change throughout the year, but we do our best to update them as quickly as possible. If you see an error, feel free to contact us.
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Grinnell College