Grinnell College
Grinnell, IA
Grinnell College, founded in 1846, is a private, liberal arts college. It may at first appear indistinguishable from other acclaimed liberal arts colleges, but like the students it attracts, Grinnell is marked by an unusual blend of academic rigor, individualism, innovation, informality and social justice. Free from core requirements, students design their academic programs in engaged consultation with faculty advisors. Grinnellians feel empowered in and out of the classroom. Furthermore, residential life is largely self-governed. Student opinions are not only heard, but valued. Students from 50 states and 47 countries make Grinnell a cosmopolitan haven in America's heartland. Its 95-acre campus is located in Grinnell, 55 miles east of Des Moines.
Website: www.grinnell.edu/
Admission
- Entrance Difficulty
- Very difficult
- Overall Admission Rate
- 29% of 5,850 applicants were admitted
- Early Action Offered
- No
- Early Decision Offered
- Yes
- Regular Admission Deadline
- January 15
Qualifications of Enrolled Freshmen
- Average GPA
- Not reported
- SAT Math
- 670-770 range of middle 50%
- SAT EBRW
- 640-740 range of middle 50%
- ACT Composite
- 30-34 range of middle 50%
Money Matters
- Cost of Attendance
- $68,102
- Tuition and Fees
- $52,392
- Room and Board
- $12,810
- Average Percent of Need Met
- 100%
- Average Freshman Award
- $50,145
- Average Indebtedness of 2018 Graduates
- $18,694
Academics
- Academic Calendar System
- Semester
- General Education/Core Curriculum
- Not required for most or all students
- Full-Time Faculty Teaching Undergraduates
- 177
- Regular Class Size
- 2-9 students: 25% of classes
10-19 students: 44% of classes
20-29 students: 28% of classes
30-39 students: 3% of classes
Campus Life
- Grinnell Population
- 9,049
- Nearest Metropolitan Area
-
- Freshman Housing Guarantee
- Freshmen are guaranteed housing
- Students in College Housing
- 88% of all students
- Athletic Conferences
- NCAA Division III
- Mascot
- Sororities
- Fraternities
Students
- Ethnicity of Students from U.S.
- 0.0% American Indian/Alaskan Native
9.3% Asian
7.2% Black/African-American
8.6% Hispanic/Latino
5.4% Multi-race (not Hispanic/Latino)
0.0% Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander
62.8% White
6.7% Unknown - International Students
- 19.0% from 51 countries
- First-Year Students Returning
- 96.0%
- Students Graduating Within 4 Years
- 83.7%
- Graduates Offered Full-Time Employment Within 6 Months
- 24%
- Graduates Pursuing Advanced Study Directly
- Not reported
Freshman Admission Requirements
Entrance Difficulty
Very Difficult: More than 50% of freshmen were in the top 10% of their high school class and scored over 1230 on the SAT I or over 26 on the ACT; about 60% or fewer of all applicants accepted.
High School Preparation
- High School Graduation
- High school diploma required and GED is accepted
- High School Program
- College preparatory program is recommended
High School Units Required or Recommended
Subject | Required Units | Recommended Units |
---|---|---|
English | 4 | |
Mathematics | 4 | |
Science | 3 | |
Foreign Language | 3 | |
Social Studies | 3 | |
History | 3 | |
Academic Electives |
Examinations
Exam | Required Units | Scores Due in Admissions Office |
---|---|---|
SAT or ACT | Required | January 15 |
SAT Only | ||
ACT Only | ||
SAT and SAT Subject Tests, or ACT | ||
SAT Subject Tests Only | ||
SAT Essay Component Policy | Accepted with or without essay component | |
ACT Writing Test Policy | Accepted with or without writing component | |
ACT Writing Test Policy | SAT: Not used ACT: Not used |
Applying for Admission
Admissions Office
- Address
- 1103 Park Street
- City, State, Zip
- Grinnell, IA 50112-1690
- Phone
- (641) 269-3600
- Fax
- (641) 269-3408
- admission@grinnell.edu
Application Dates and Fees
- Regular Admisson Deadline
- January 15
- Application Fee
- No fee required
- Application Fee Waiver
- Not reported
- Regular Admission Notification
- April 1
- Accept Offer of Admission
- May 1
- Waiting List Used
- Yes
- Defer Admission
- Student can defer admission
- Transfer Admission
- Transfer applications accepted
Early Admission
- Early Decision Offered
- Yes
- Early Decision Deadline
- November 15, January 1
- Early Decision Notification
- December 15, February 1
- Early Action Offered
- No
- Early Action Deadline
- Early Action Notification
Application Form
- Common Application
- Accepted
- Universal College Application
- Not accepted
- Electronic Application
- Available
Other Application Requirements
- Interview
- Not Required
- Essay or Personal Statement
- Required for all freshmen
- Letters of Recommendation
- 3 required for all freshmen
- Other
- Financial Need
- Financial need is not a consideration in the admissions process
Selection of Students
Factor | Very Important | Important | Considered | Not Considered |
---|---|---|---|---|
Rigor of Secondary School Record | X | |||
Academic GPA | X | |||
Standardized Tests | X | |||
Class Rank | X | |||
Recommendations | X | |||
Essay | X | |||
Interview | X | |||
Level of Applicant's Interest | X | |||
Extracurricular Activities | X | |||
Volunteer Work | X | |||
Particular Talent/Ability | X | |||
Character/Personal Qualities | X | |||
First Generation to Attend College | X | |||
State Residency | X | |||
Geographic Residence | X | |||
Relation with Alumnus | X | |||
Religious Affiliation/Commitment | X | |||
Ethnicity | X | |||
Work Experience | X |
Profile of Fall Admission
- Overall Admission Rate
- 29% of 5,850 applicants were admitted
- Women
- 31% of 3,077 applicants were admitted
- Men
- 26% of 2,773 applicants were admitted
- Students Enrolled
- 450 (27%) of 1,689 admitted students enrolled
- Women
- 234 (24%) of 968 admitted students enrolled
- Men
- 216 (30%) of 721 admitted students enrolled
- Early Decision Admission Rate
- 61% of 322 applicants were admitted
- Early Action Admission Rate
- Students Offered Wait List
- 1,126
- Students Accepting Wait List Position
- 534
- Students Admitted From Wait List
- 12
Grade Point Average of Enrolled Freshmen (4.0 scale)
- Average GPA
- Not reported
- 3.75 and Above
- Not reported
- 3.50 - 3.74
- Not reported
- 3.25 - 3.49
- Not reported
- 3.00 - 3.24
- Not reported
- 2.50 - 2.99
- Not reported
- 2.00 - 2.49
- Not reported
SAT Scores of Enrolled Freshmen
- SAT Math
- 670-770 range of middle 50%
- Score of 700 - 800
- 64%
- Score of 600 - 700
- 30%
- Score of 500 - 600
- 6%
- Score of 400 - 500
- 0%
- Score of 300 - 400
- 0%
- Score of 200 - 300
- 0%
- SAT EBRW
- 640-740 range of middle 50%
- Score of 700 - 800
- 50%
- Score of 600 - 700
- 44%
- Score of 500 - 600
- 6%
- Score of 400 - 500
- 0%
- Score of 300 - 400
- 0%
- Score of 200 - 300
- 0%
ACT Scores of Enrolled Freshmen
- ACT Composite
- 30-34 range of middle 50%
- Score of 30 - 36
- 84%
- Score of 24 - 29
- 16%
- Score of 18 - 23
- 0%
- Score of 12 - 17
- 0%
- Score of 6 - 11
- 0%
- Score of 5 or Below
- 0%
Other Qualifications of Enrolled Freshmen
- High School Class Rank
- Top tenth: 69%
Top quarter: 91%
Top half: 99% - National Merit Scholar
- Not reported
- Valedictorian
- Not reported
- Class President
- Not reported
- Student Government Officer
- Not reported
Tuition and Expenses
- Cost of Attendance
- $68,102
- Tuition and Fees
- $52,392
- Room and Board
- $12,810
- Books and Supplies
- $900
- Other Expenses
- $2,000
- Payment Plans
- Installment plan
Applying for Financial Aid
Financial Aid Office
- finaid@grinnell.edu
- Web Site
- Financial Aid Web Site
- Net Price Calculator URL
- Net Price Calculator URL
Application Process
- Application Deadline
- Priority deadline January 15
Final deadline January 15 - Award Notification
- On or about April 1
- Methodology for Awarding Institutional Aid
- Federal and Institutional Methodologies
Forms Required | Cost to File |
---|---|
FAFSA Code is 001868 |
Free |
CSS/Financial Aid Profile | $25 for first college, $16 each additional |
Noncustodial (Divorced/Separated) Parent's Statement |
Profile of 2018 - 19 Financial Aid
Freshman
- Financial Aid Applicants
- 382 (81.2%) of freshmen
- Found to Have Financial Need
- 324 (79.9%) of applicants
- Received Financial Aid
- 324 (100.0%) of applicants with financial need
- Need Fully Met
- 324 (100.0%) of aid recipients
- Average Percent of Need Met
- 100%
- Average Award
- $50,145
- Need-Based Gift
- Received by 324 (100.0%) of aid recipients, average amount $45,007
- Need-Based Self-Help
- Received by 281 (86.6%) of aid recipients, average amount $5,062
- Merit-Based Gift
- Received by 43 (13.4%) of aid recipients
- Merit-Based Gift
- 74 (20.8%) of freshmen had no financial need and received merit aid, average amount $18,811
All Undergraduates
- Financial Aid Applicants
- 1,212 (72.1%) of undergraduates
- Found to Have Financial Need
- 1,103 (91.0%) of applicants
- Received Financial Aid
- 1,103 (100.0%) of applicants with financial need
- Need Fully Met
- 1,103 (100.0%) of aid recipients
- Average Percent of Need Met
- 100%
- Average Award
- $49,880
- Need-Based Gift
- Received by 1,103 (100.0%) of aid recipients, average amount $43,783
- Need-Based Self-Help
- Received by 974 (88.3%) of aid recipients, average amount $6,121
- Merit-Based Gift
- Received by 129 (11.7%) of aid recipients
- Merit-Based Gift
- 333 (20.4%) of undergraduates had no financial need and received merit aid, average amount $18,721
Borrowing
- 2018 Graduates Who Took Out Loans
- 60%
- Average Indebtedness of 2018 Graduates
- $18,694
- Parents of Students Receiving Aid
- Not reported
- Parents of Students Not Receiving Aid
- Not reported
Financial Aid Programs
Loans
- Federal Loans
- Direct subsidized Stafford loans, direct unsubsidized Stafford loans, direct PLUS loans
- State Loans
- Available
- Other Loans
- College/university loans
Scholarships and Grants
- Need-Based Available
- Federal Pell grants, SEOG, State scholarships, Institutional scholarships, Private scholarships, National Merit Scholarships, Dollars for Scholars Matching Funds
- Non-Need–Based Available
- None
Non-Need Awards
- Academic Interest/Achievement Award Areas
- Not reported
- Number of Awards
- Not reported
- Top Areas (By Money Awarded)
- Creative Arts/Performance Award Areas
- Not reported
- Number of Awards
- Not reported
- Top Areas (By Money Awarded)
- Special Achievements/Activities Award Areas
- Leadership
- Number of Awards
- Not reported
- Top Areas (By Money Awarded)
- Special Characteristics Award Areas
- Local/State Students
- Number of Awards
- Not reported
- Top Areas (By Money Awarded)
Employment
- Work-Study Programs
- Federal work study available, other work study available
- Average Earnings from On-Campus Employment
- Not reported
- Academic Calendar System
- Semester
- Summer Session
- Not offered
- General Catalog/Bulletin
- Online Catalog
Undergraduate Education
Undergraduate Majors
- Anthropology
- Art/Art Studies, General
- Biochemistry
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General
- Chemistry, General
- Chinese Language and Literature
- Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General
- Computer Science
- Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General
- Economics, General
- English Language and Literature, General
- Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies, Other
- Fine/Studio Arts, General
- French Language and Literature
- German Language and Literature
- History, General
- Mathematics, General
- Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General
- Music, General
- Philosophy
- Physics, General
- Political Science and Government, General
- Psychology, General
- Religion/Religious Studies
- Russian Language and Literature
- Sociology
- Spanish Language and Literature
- Most Popular Disciplines
- Social sciences, Biological/life sciences, Physical sciences
- Combined Liberal Arts/Professional Degree Programs
- Engineering, architecture with Washington University in St. Louis, law at Columbia University
- Special Programs
- Accelerated program, Student-designed major, Double major, Independent study, Internships, Study abroad
- Study Abroad
- Offered
- Online Degrees
- No online degree programs
Curriculum and Graduation Requirements
- General Education/Core Curriculum
- Not required for most or all students
- Computer
- Students not required to own/lease a computer
- Foreign Language
- Not required
- Math/Science
- Not required
Faculty and Instruction
- Full-Time Faculty
- 177
- Part-Time Faculty
- 32
- Full-Time Faculty with Ph.D./Terminal Degree
- 84%
- Regular Class Size
- 2-9 students: 25% of classes
10-19 students: 44% of classes
20-29 students: 28% of classes
30-39 students: 3% of classes - Discussion Section/Lab Class Size
- 2-9 students: 29% of discussion sections/labs
10-19 students: 57% of discussion sections/labs
20-29 students: 14% of discussion sections/labs
Advanced Placement
- International Baccalaureate
- Accepted
- Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations
- Accepted for placement and credit
- Sophomore Standing
- Available through AP examinations
Academic Resources
- Library Available on Campus
- Yes
- Holdings
- 981,074
- Computer Ownership
- Students not required to own/lease a computer
- Computers Available on Campus
- 200
- Internet/E-mail Access
- Not reported
Academic Support Services
- Remedial Instruction
- Not Offered
- Tutoring
- Available
- Services for Learning Disabled Students
- Available
- Services for Physically Disabled Students
- Hearing impaired services, speech disorders services, visually impaired services, wheelchair access
Graduate/Professional School Education
Master's Degrees Offered
Not reported
Master's Programs of Study
- Not reported
Doctoral Degrees Offered
Not reported
Doctoral Programs of Study
- Not reported
Location and Setting
- Grinnell Population
- 9,049
- Nearest Metropolitan Area
- Campus Size
- 120 acres
Weather
- Temperature
- 10.7 average low in January, 82.2 average high in September
- Rain
- 108 rainy days per year
Getting Around
- Campus Map
- Map
- Nearest Bus Station
- 4 mile(s) from campus in Grinnell
- Nearest Train Station
- 56 mile(s) from campus in Ottumwa
Housing
- College Housing
- College offers housing to students
- Types of Housing
- Coed housing, cooperative housing, disabled student housing
- Students in College Housing
- 88% of all students
- Housing Requirements
- Freshmen and sophomores are required to live on campus
- Freshman Housing Guarantee
- Freshmen are guaranteed housing
- Students Living Off Campus/Commuting
- 12%
- Off-Campus Housing Assistance
- Assistance in locating off-campus housing is available
Security
- 24-Hour Emergency Phone/Alarm Devices
- Available
- 24-Hour Security Patrols
- Available
- Late-Night Transport/Escort Services
- Available
- Electronically Operated Housing Entrances
- Available
- Other
Personal Support Services
- Health Service
- Offered
- Personal Counseling
- Offered
- Child Care
- Not offered
Sports and Recreation
Intercollegiate Athletics
- Athletic Conferences
- NCAA Division III
- Mascot
- School Colors
- Scarlet and black
Intercollegiate Sports Offered
Sports | Women | Men | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Offered | Scholarships | Offered | Scholarships | |
Baseball | x | |||
Basketball | x | x | ||
Cross-Country Running | x | x | ||
Football | x | |||
Golf | x | x | ||
Soccer | x | x | ||
Softball | x | |||
Swimming And Diving | x | x | ||
Tennis | x | x | ||
Track And Field | x | x | ||
Volleyball | x |
Women's Sports | Offered | Scholarships |
---|---|---|
Baseball | ||
Basketball | x | |
Cross-Country Running | x | |
Football | ||
Golf | x | |
Soccer | x | |
Softball | x | |
Swimming And Diving | x | |
Tennis | x | |
Track And Field | x | |
Volleyball | x |
Mens's Sports | Offered | Scholarships |
---|---|---|
Baseball | x | |
Basketball | x | |
Cross-Country Running | x | |
Football | x | |
Golf | x | |
Soccer | x | |
Softball | ||
Swimming And Diving | x | |
Tennis | x | |
Track And Field | x | |
Volleyball |
- Women's Club Sports
- Men's Club Sports
Recreational Sports
- Intramural Sports
- badminton, basketball, soccer, softball, tennis, ultimate Frisbee, volleyball, water polo
Student Activities
- Activities and Organizations
- choral groups, drama theatre, radio station, student newspaper, concerned black students, international student organization, student organization of latinas/latinos, campus democrats, ultimate frisbee
- Sororities
- Fraternities
- ROTC
Student Body
- Coeducational
- Yes
- All Undergraduates
- 1,712
- Women
- 910 (53.2%)
- Men
- 802 (46.8%)
- Full-Time Undergraduates
- 1,662
- Ethnicity of Students from U.S.
- 0.0% American Indian/Alaskan Native
9.3% Asian
7.2% Black/African-American
8.6% Hispanic/Latino
5.4% Multi-race (not Hispanic/Latino)
0.0% Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander
62.8% White
6.7% Unknown - International Students.
- 19.0% from 51 countries
- Average Age
- 20
- All Graduate Students
- Not reported
Undergraduate Retention and Graduation
- First-Year Students Returning
- 96.0%
- Students Graduating Within 4 Years
- 83.7%
- Students Graduating Within 5 Years
- 86.4%
- Students Graduating Within 6 Years
- 87.0%
After Graduation
- Graduates Offered Full-Time Employment Within 6 Months
- 24%
- Average Starting Salary
- 24%
- Graduates Pursuing Advanced Study Directly
- Not reported
- Disciplines Pursued
- Business 1.5%
Engineering 0.3%
Law 3%
Theology 0.6%
Dentistry 0.3%
Arts and Sciences 12%
Medicine 3%
Veterinary Medicine 0.3%
Education 9%
A portion of the College Profile data is provided under license by:
Peterson's Undergraduate and Undergraduate Financial Aid Databases, copyright © 2019 Peterson's, a Nelnet company. All rights reserved."