About

About Grinnell College

open curriculumneed blind admissionssmall liberal artsself governed students

Grinnell College is a private liberal arts college in Grinnell, IA, known for its open curriculum, need blind admissions, and small liberal arts. With an acceptance rate of 11%, Grinnell College is highly selective, typically enrolling around 437 students each year. Grinnell College is test optional; students who submit scores are typically admitted with SATs between 1430–1520, though many competitive applicants choose not to submit. Grinnell College meets 100% of demonstrated financial need and has replaced loans with grants.

Admissions

Grinnell College acceptance rate and admitted student profile

highly selective

11%
Overall Accept Rate
1475
Median Admitted SAT
SATSubmitted score range: 1430 – 1520 (test optional)

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ACTScore range: 31 – 34

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ED advantage at Grinnell College: ED acceptance rate is 34% vs 11% regular decision, more than double. If Grinnell Collegeis your first choice and you've confirmed the financial fit, Early Decision is one of the highest-leverage decisions you can make.

Application Strategy

Strategy tips for applying to Grinnell College

The first 2 tips apply to all applicants. Your personalized strategy requires your profile — build your free list to unlock it.

Essay Strategy
Grinnell has no core requirements and students design their own academic paths with a faculty adviser, so use your essays to show genuine intellectual curiosity and explain how that self-directed model fits the way you actually think and learn.
Essay Strategy
Grinnell has a strong institutional identity around social responsibility and civic engagement, so connect your extracurricular work or academic interests to how you want to contribute to communities beyond yourself, not just to your own achievement.

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Financial Aid & Cost

What Grinnell College actually costs your family

Average net prices by income bracket from College Scorecard data.

Loan-free financial aid: Grinnell College has replaced all loans with grants. Grinnell College's sticker price of ~$76k/year bears almost no resemblance to what most families pay.
Family IncomeSticker PriceEst. Net Cost / yr
0-30k~$76k/yr$10.0k
30k-48k~$76k/yr$7.8k
48k-75k~$76k/yr$9.7k
75k-110k~$76k/yr$19.3k
110k+~$76k/yr$37.7k

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Outcomes & Campus

Student outcomes and campus profile

88%
6-Year Graduation Rate
$49k
Median Earnings (6 yrs)
8:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
1,724
Undergrad Enrollment
Grinnell College Acceptance Rate & Admissions | SpearMatch