Very selective
Bates College
Lewiston, ME
13% admitted · $27,390/yr after aid
Grinnell College
Grinnell, IA · Private nonprofit · Remote town · Website
- Admission rate
- 14%
- Very selective
- Average net price
- $15,203
- per year, after aid
- Graduation rate
- 87%
- Median earnings
- $72,106
- 10 years after enrolling
Summary
Grinnell College is a private nonprofit college in Grinnell, IA with 1,729 undergraduates. It admits 14% of applicants, and admitted students average 1486 on the SAT. The average net price after aid is $15,203 per year ($8,161 for families earning under $30,000). 87% of students graduate, and graduates earn a median of $72,106 ten years after enrolling.
private nonprofit college
Admissions
- Admission rate
- 14%
- Fall 2024
- Testing policy
- Test optional
- Fall 2024
- Applicants
- 9,988
- Fall 2023
- Admitted
- 1,266
- Fall 2023
- Yield
- 36%
- of admitted students enrolled
Middle 50% of admitted students (Fall 2024). A quarter scored below the band and a quarter above.
SAT Reading & Writing700–750
200800
SAT Math710–790
200800
ACT Composite31–34
136
What Grinnell College looks at
As reported by the college to IPEDS (Fall 2023).
- High school recordRequired
- High school GPAConsidered
- College-prep courseworkConsidered
- Class rankConsidered
- Essay or personal statementRequired
- RecommendationsConsidered
- Demonstrated competenciesConsidered
- Legacy statusConsidered
- Work experienceConsidered
- English proficiency testRequired
Cost
- Cost of attendance
- $87,598
- sticker price, per year
- Tuition & fees
- $72,346
Net price by family income
Average yearly cost after grants and scholarships for students receiving federal aid.
- $0–30k$8,161
- $30–48k$10,181
- $48–75k$8,994
- $75–110k$14,345
- $110k+$41,634
Get a personal estimate with Grinnell College's net price calculator
Outcomes
- Graduation rate
- 87%
- Freshman retention
- 93%
- Median earnings
- $72,106
- 10 yrs after enrolling
- Median debt
- $8,750
- at graduation
Students
- Undergraduates
- 1,729
- Student–faculty ratio
- 9:1
- Receive Pell grants
- 22%
- White48%
- Hispanic9%
- Black5%
- Asian10%
Grinnell College FAQ
What is Grinnell College's acceptance rate?+
Grinnell College admits 14% of applicants, which makes it very selective.
What SAT score do you need for Grinnell College?+
The middle 50% of admitted students scored 700–750 on SAT Reading and Writing and 710–790 on SAT Math; the average total is 1486.
What ACT score do you need for Grinnell College?+
The middle 50% ACT composite range for admitted students is 31–34.
Is Grinnell College test optional?+
Test optional (considered if submitted).
How many students apply to Grinnell College?+
In Fall 2023, 9,988 students applied to Grinnell College and 1,266 were admitted; 457 enrolled.
Does Grinnell College consider legacy status?+
Yes. Grinnell College reported that legacy status is considered in admissions (Fall 2023).
Does Grinnell College require an essay?+
Grinnell College reported that an essay or personal statement is required for admission (Fall 2023).
How much does Grinnell College cost?+
The sticker cost of attendance is $87,598 per year, but the average net price after grants and scholarships is $15,203.
What is Grinnell College's graduation rate?+
87% of full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.
Sources
- Admission rate, test scores, cost, students, and outcomes: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (Most Recent Institution-Level Data), released 2026-10-15. Admissions figures are for Fall 2024, costs for 2024-25, and earnings are measured in 2023.
- Applicants, admitted, yield, and admission factors: IPEDS Admissions survey (ADM2023), Fall 2023.
- IPEDS unit ID 153384 · How we use this data
Similar colleges
Closest in selectivity and size
