About Grinnell College

Founded in 1846, Grinnell College. is a Private college. Located in Iowa, which is a city setting in Iowa, the campus itself is Town. The campus is home to 1,699 full time undergraduate students, and 0 full time graduate students.

The Grinnell College Academic calendar runs on a Semester basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 9:1. There are 200 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at Grinnell College include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.

Quick Facts

Acceptance Rate20%
Application Deadline15-Nov
Application Fee0
SAT Range1320-1530
ACT Range30-33

Admissions at are considered Most Selective, with ,36% of all applicants being admitted.

In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 6 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.

99% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 88% were in the top quarter, and 62% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.

STUDENT LIFE

We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at Grinnell College.

1%
“We”re apathetic”
1%
“We know about current events and vote”
57%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
40%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
0%
“We save it for the classroom”
9%
“Sometimes, but not often”
30%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
61%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
1%
“I only go out in groups”
13%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
85%
“I feel extremely safe”
15%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
81%
“We bought the gear”
4%
“We live for the big game”
0%
“It”s not really our thing”
6%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
52%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
42%
“We”re a very artistic group”
0%
“Haven”t met them”
1%
“Available in class”
36%
“They keep regular office hours”
62%
“They”re always available”
99%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
1%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
0%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
0%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
0%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
6%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
66%
“We only party on weekends”
28%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
1%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
39%
“There might be people who do”
51%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
9%
“There”s a huge drug scene”
1%
“We”re apathetic”
1%
“We know about current events and vote”
57%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
40%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
0%
“We save it for the classroom”
9%
“Sometimes, but not often”
30%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
61%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
1%
“I only go out in groups”
13%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
85%
“I feel extremely safe”
15%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
81%
“We bought the gear”
4%
“We live for the big game”
0%
“It”s not really our thing”
6%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
52%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
42%
“We”re a very artistic group”
0%
“Haven”t met them”
1%
“Available in class”
36%
“They keep regular office hours”
62%
“They”re always available”
99%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
1%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
0%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
0%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
0%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
6%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
66%
“We only party on weekends”
28%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
1%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
39%
“There might be people who do”
51%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
9%
“There”s a huge drug scene”

Grinnell College REVIEWS

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  • How would you rate on-campus housing?

    51 Students rated on-campus housing 4.3 stars. 45 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate off-campus housing?

    32 Students rated off-campus housing 3.9 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus food?

    52 Students rated campus food 3.6 stars. 25 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus facilities?

    54 Students rated campus facilities 4.7 stars. 76 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate class size?

    54 Students rated class size 4.7 stars. 74 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate school activities?

    53 Students rated school activities 4.6 stars. 68 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate local services?

    53 Students rated local services 3.8 stars. 23 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate academics?

    54 Students rated academics 4.7 stars. 72 % gave the school a 5.0.

What's your overall opinion of Grinnell College?

14 Students rated Grinnell College

Regann - 12/28/2023

Kind of a banger to be honest. It is a big adjustment, there really is not much beyond the campus, but there are shuttles from time to time to the city. Everyone is quite nice, substantial party scene while still heavy on academics. The work load in some courses are not for the faint of heart.

anna - 08/25/2021

I was only on campus for my first two years because of covid and study abroad, but here’s my take: Grinnell is an awesome place for finding ways to grow your resume and get a great job after you graduate! However, most of the classes in my major were too niche to be of any practical use. Even intro classes across departments were like this, they never covered the basics. I don’t think I learned very much because of it, and it often made it hard to give a shit. Also, cancel culture is very, very, very real here: I’ve seen good, progressive people get shunned just for asking the wrong question in a sociology class. Word gets around fast, and campus is too small to ever escape that kind of reputation. It’s not a place to form your own opinion, that’s for sure. The social life is also rough as hell: there’s few campus traditions to bind people, cliques form early, and everyone is too busy doing homework to hang out, even on weekends. I wish I had transferred.

Santiago - 10/20/2020

Grinnell College is a top-notch school. The classes are challenging and small, and the professors are passionate and approachable. The students are diverse, both ethnically and socioeconomically, and down to earth. I was also very impressed with the beauty of the campus and the state-of-the-art sports facilities on campus. I hope to get accepted, so I can attend. Go, Pioneers!

Daria

"Where's that?" "You got into Cornell?!" Those were the two most common responses I heard when I mentioned Grinnell to others. But my visit to campus showed me that the lack of name recognition for this tiny school in Iowa is entirely undeserved. From its small class sizes and faculty dedicated to students, to its friendly Midwest vibe and bustling campus life, the school offers all that a big-name liberal arts college on the East Coast would. The only possible drawback is its location - an hour from Des Moines. But if you're willing to experience a more rural form of life, rest assured that the college provides more than enough on-campus events to satisfy even those that moved there from Chicago or NYC.

Grinnell College FAQS

  1. What is the Acceptance Rate at Grinnell College?

    The fall 2020 acceptance rate for Grinnell College is 20%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020 , _____ students were offered admission. The number of males who applied was _____ vs the number of females which was _____.

  2. Describe the students at your school.

    They're caring, engaging, liberal, incredibly socially-active and enthusiastic about learning.

    Read all  65 answers
  3. What are the academics like at your school?

    Grinnell is rigorous. Yes, I did the whole "International Baccalaureate/Honors" thing in high school, and it might have prepared me a little--but high school is still no comparison to this college. The good news is the professors are very interesting and approachable, and if you need help it is VERY available: all professors have long office hours outside of class, and the college pays for mentors and tutors in every subject. Sometimes, you will need that support.

    Read all  59 answers
  4. Is the stereotype of students at your school accurate?

    Sort of. The vast majority of Grinnellians are liberal, even militantly so, and extremely intolerant of anyone who may share a different worldview of their own.

    Read all  57 answers
  5. What is the stereotype of students at your school?

    Grinnellians are brilliant, work hard and change the world.

    Read all  57 answers
  6. What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

    I've learned how to better deal with others, but most importantly I've developed my critical thinking ability to the point where I firmly believe I can tackle any mental obstacle.

    Read all  57 answers
  7. What is your overall opinion of this school?

    I absolutely love this place. Classes are small and often discussion-based, so you get to develop pretty close relationships with professors. This can be annoying when you're tempted to skip your morning class, but you know the professor will email you to ask where you were...but it's also very helpful when you're trying to find a prof to do summer research with, or write a recommendation letter, or just ask about some difficult concepts outside of class. Some pros: small classes, friendly, intelligent classmates and professors, interesting and rigorous academics, huge endowment (you can get funding for everything from clubs and events to stipends on unpaid internships, and the financial aid and scholarships are FANTASTIC). Some cons: small student body (you will know nearly everyone in your year by the time you're a senior), small town (there's movies, bowling, some restaurants--and that's just about it. I'm from Phoenix and I like Grinnell's town just fine, but some people from big cities get bored.)

    Read all  56 answers
  8. What are the most popular student activities/groups?

    Grinnell is a bubble of rabid liberalism way the hell in the middle of nowhere. The average Grinnellian has some form of mental illness, usually depresssion, though the Grinnell atmosphere usually leads to some form of more serious mental disturbances, mainly insomnia and crippling anxiety. The mental health services are sparse, and mainly concerned with preventing suicides, though they fail at even that task.

    Read all  52 answers
  9. Here's your chance: Say anything about your college!

    Grinnell College is a school that truly cares about the student: this is especially shown from the core concept of academic freedom, in which the only required class is a writing tutorial for the first semester. The academics at Grinnell are simply phenomenal. Further, the social life at Grinnell is better than expected. Myself included, most think that there is nothing to do in the small town of Grinnell. However, this is not true. The campus brings bands, comedians, art shows, movies, and much more to the campus, giving its students the same opportunities others at larger schools would have.

    Read all  38 answers
  10. What do you consider the worst thing about your school? Why?

    The worst thing about my school is that it is located in a rural town far away from big cities like chicago, and that it is in my home town.

    Read all  17 answers
  11. What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about freshman year?

    I wish I had known more about the weather at Grinnell. Coming from a warm climate, it was really hard to adjust to the bitter cold and wind that is characteristic of Grinnell in the winter months. I also wish I had understood how living in such a small town would impact the social atmosphere at the college.

    Read all  13 answers
  12. What kind of person should not attend this school?

    UT Arlington has an ethnic diverisity in its population. People with ethnocentric feelings will not be very comfortable because we have almost every varierty of ethnicity here on campus. Besides, people who are not open to new ideas and and challanges should not attend this college because it woud be hard for them to adjust in here as long as they will stick to their own thoughts and are not ready to adapt and change, for the better ofcourse.

    Read all  10 answers
  13. What kind of person should attend this school?

    Someone who wants a lot of academic wiggle-room, someone who's concerned with the general state of things, someone who wants to be challenged, someone who is hopefully dedicated to social justice, someone who is looking for something different

    Read all  9 answers
  14. What do you brag about most when you tell your friends about your school?

    How alive the campus is and how much freedom the administration allows us to govern our own social and academic lives. Even though we're in the middle of nowhere the school more than makes up for it by frequently providing free entertainment on the weekends.

    Read all  8 answers
  15. Describe your favorite campus traditions.

    In the academic world it is very well known for producing good graduate school students; in the student world it is known for its laid-back approach to student life and its liberal attitude.

    Read all  7 answers
  16. What's unique about your campus?

    Best thing about my school is the diversity of students on campus and the level of expertise of the professors. Students from all over the world and from different cultures come to share their experience with other students. The sharing of backgrounds makes everyone more understanding and knowledgable about differences between people in the world. Also the professors work in the field and are experts in their field of knowledge. They are also always there to help you directly with homework, projects, or off campus studying

    Read all  7 answers
  17. Describe how your school looks to someone who's never seen it.

    Grinnell is a laid back, all inclusive, open minded, progressive, intentional community.

    Read all  6 answers
  18. What are your classes like?

    Mattie Clay Brown '08 describes her science experience at Grinnell College, which provided a strong foundation for her educational philosophy as a member of Teach For America in Leland, MS.

    Read all  4 answers
  19. What's the most frustrating thing about your school?

    Few individuals are the only frustrating part of the school. I've come accross a guy who makes verbal attacks against the freshmen class on a networking site, and a person or people who sent out hate mail to the gay community on campus. I don't let that reflect badly on the college, however, because every campus has its share of that. Plus, the supportive community of the College counters that.

    Read all  2 answers
  20. Why did you decide to go to this school?

    5 students talk about why they chose Grinnell

    Read all  2 answers
  21. What is the stereotype of students at your school? Is this stereotype accurate?

    Quirky, liberal, individualistic, partiers, into social justice and academics. All of these stereotypes are true to some extent, although being stereotypes they obviously don't apply to everyone here.

    Read all  2 answers

Student Body

Students

55%

female

45%

male

1,699

Total Undergrad Enrollment

N/A

Total Grad Students

65%

Out-Of-State

9%

In-State

26%

International

Organizations

240

Student Organizations

N/A

Fraternities

N/A

Sororities

Housing

Yes

On-Campus Housing

79%

of students living on campus

Student Diversity

% American Indian/Alaskan Native
N/A
% Asian/Pacific Islander
8%
% Black or African-American
6%
% Hispanic/Latino
7%
% White or Caucasian
52%

TUITION & AID

All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA. Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.

92% of students attending Grinnell College receive some sort of financial aid. 19% were awarded federal grants. While 42% received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.

Cost Out of State

$48,758

Tuition and fees(Out of state)

$900

Books and Supplies

$11,980

Room and Board

61,638

Total On Campus

Actual Cost By Income Level(W/Financial Aid)

Family Income
Cost
$0 - $30K
$13,774
$30 - $48K
$10,160
$48 - $75K
$17,563
$75 - $110K
$24,776
$110K & UP
$35,726

We use student reviews and the most current publicly available data on our school pages. As such, we don't typically remove or edit college information. Sources for school statistics and data include the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. Portions of college data include copyrighted material, which is reproduced on this website by permission of Wintergreen Orchard House, a division of Carnegie Communications. © 2009-2016 by Wintergreen Orchard House. All rights reserved.

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