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.

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collegeType
Private
studentType
Coed
1,788
Undergraduates
819
Men - 45.8%
970
Women - 54.2%
Admissions iconAdmissions
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Admissions iconAdmissions
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Entrance Difficulty
Most difficult
Overall Admission Rate
15% of 9,758 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
744 average
710-790 range of middle 50%
SAT EBRW
724 average
700-750 range of middle 50%
ACT Composite
32 average
31-34 range of middle 50%
Financials iconFinancials
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Financials iconFinancials
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Cost of Attendance
$91,894
Tuition and Fees
$72,346
Average Percent of Need Met
100%
Average Freshman Award
$67,476
Average Indebtedness of 2024 Graduates
$15,946
Academics iconAcademics
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Academics iconAcademics
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Academic Calendar System
Semester
General Education/Core Curriculum
Not required for most or all students
Full-Time Faculty Teaching Undergraduates
186
Regular Class Size (Students)
2-9
21%
10-19
43%
20-29
33%
30-39
3%
40-49
0%
50-99
0%
Campus life iconCampus Life
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Campus life iconCampus Life
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Grinnell Population
9,096
Nearest Metropolitan Area
Des Moines
Freshman Housing Guarantee
College offers housing to students
Athletic Conferences
NCAA Division III
Sororities
Not reported
Fraternities
Not reported
Students iconStudents
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Students iconStudents
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Ethnicity of Students from U.S.
American Indian/Alaskan Native
0.1%
Asian
12.3%
Black/African-American
5.9%
Hispanic/Latino
11.1%
Multi-race (not Hispanic/Latino)
8.1%
Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander
0.1%
White
61.3%
Unknown
1.2%
International Students
20.3% from 66 countries
First-Year Students Returning
93.0%
Students Graduating Within 4 Years
74.5%
Graduates Offered Full-Time Employment Within 6 Months
62%
Graduates Pursuing Advanced Study Directly
24.0%
Undergraduate and Undergraduate Financial Aid data displayed on CollegeData’s college profiles is from the 2024-25 academic year.
A portion of the College Profile data is provided under license by:
Peterson's Undergraduate and Undergraduate Financial Aid Databases, copyright © 2025 Peterson's LLC. All rights reserved.