Grinnell College: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Grinnell, Iowa · Private nonprofit · Highly selective · CDS 2024-2025
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Grinnell College is a private nonprofit university in Grinnell, Iowa that admits about 15% of applicants, making it a highly selective school. The average family pays about $17,648 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Computer Science, Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology and Mathematics, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 88% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 6.4 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Grinnell College is a private institution located in Grinnell, Iowa and one of the highly selective schools in the country. For the most recent reporting cycle, Grinnell College admits between 1 in 10 and 1 in 4 applicants, with an overall admission rate of 15%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1490 and an ACT composite around 32. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $17,648 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Grinnell College?
Most admitted students at Grinnell College present unweighted GPAs in the 3.85–4.0 range with five or more AP or honors courses across high school.
What does Grinnell College weight in admissions?
Grinnell College reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). What the weights mean
- • Rigor of secondary school record
- • Class rank
- • Recommendations
- • Academic GPA
- • Standardized test scores
- • Application essay
- • Extracurricular activities
- • Talent/ability
SAT and ACT scores Grinnell College typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 710–790, with an EBRW midpoint near 710. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 31–34. Scores below the 25th-percentile mark are accepted occasionally, but the realistic submission target for most families is the school's middle-50 floor or higher.
| 25th percentile | 1430 |
| 50th percentile | 1490 |
| 75th percentile | 1520 |
| % submitting SAT | 29% |
| 25th percentile | 31 |
| 50th percentile | 33 |
| 75th percentile | 34 |
| % submitting ACT | 21% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Policy detail: Considered if submitted
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 56.2% |
| Top 25% of class | % |
| Top 50% of class | % |
| % submitting class rank | % |
How much does Grinnell College actually cost?
Published tuition is $68,106 for in-state students and $68,106 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $16,842 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $17,648 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 18% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $71,788 |
| Room and board | $17,348 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $17,648 |
| Application fee | $0 |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Grinnell College
| Regular deadline | January 15 |
| Notification date | April 1 |
| Reply deadline | May 1 |
| Offers Early Decision | Yes |
| ED deadline | November 5 |
| Offers Early Decision II | Yes |
| ED II deadline | January 5 |
| ED acceptance rate (all rounds) | 34% |
Will my child graduate from Grinnell College?
These predict outcomes at Grinnell College better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Grinnell College
The most popular undergraduate programs at Grinnell College, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Computer Science, Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology and Mathematics. Across all programs, Grinnell College confers roughly 339 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Computer Science program report a median income of about $122,922 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | 56 | $122,922 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 48 | $78,143 |
| Mathematics | 48 | — |
| Economics | 46 | $78,815 |
| Biology, General | 40 | $64,851 |
| Political Science and Government | 38 | $60,366 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 33 | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 30 | $58,680 |
Is Grinnell College safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Grinnell College disclosed 11 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 6.4 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 1 violent offenses and 2 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
Other colleges in Iowa parents ask about
Colleges that admit at a similar rate
Next steps for Grinnell College
Common questions parents ask about Grinnell College
What GPA do I need for Grinnell College?
Most admitted students at Grinnell College present unweighted GPAs in the 3.85–4.0 range with five or more AP or honors courses across high school.
What SAT or ACT score does Grinnell College typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 710–790, with an EBRW midpoint near 710. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 31–34.
How much does Grinnell College actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Grinnell College after grants and scholarships is $17,648 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $68,106. Budget against the net figure.
Is Grinnell College realistic for my child?
Grinnell College admits 15% of applicants, so 710–790 SAT Math is target range and below 710 is a reach. Then check the $17,648 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Grinnell College?
Grinnell College accepts about 15% of applicants out of roughly 9,758 who apply each year. That makes it a highly selective school.
Is Grinnell College test-optional?
Yes. Grinnell College is test-optional, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at Grinnell College?
About 88% of students at Grinnell College graduate within six years, and 75% finish in four years. 93% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
Does applying Early Decision improve my chances at Grinnell College?
Grinnell College's Early Decision acceptance rate is about 34%, compared with its overall rate of 15%. Applying ED can meaningfully improve admission odds, but it is a binding commitment to enroll if accepted.
What does Grinnell College look for in applicants?
Grinnell College rates course rigor, class rank and recommendations as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Grinnell College a public or private school, and where is it located?
Grinnell College is a private nonprofit institution located in Grinnell, Iowa.
What are the most popular majors at Grinnell College?
The largest undergraduate majors at Grinnell College by annual graduates are Computer Science, Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology and Mathematics. The school awards about 339 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Grinnell College safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Grinnell College reported 11 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 6.4 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
Sources: the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by Grinnell College, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers