Grinnell College is a private nonprofit institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Grinnell, Iowa. It enrolls 1,729 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
84/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes93
Value76
Affordability38
Selectivity95
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 14.5%, Grinnell College is a selective institution.
Acceptance Rate
14.5%
Very Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1410 – 1540
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
31 – 34
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Grinnell College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
10.4 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Grinnell College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $17,648 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$17,648
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
18%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
13%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$68,106
Room & Board (on-campus)
$16,842
Books & Supplies
$800
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$1,850
Total Cost of Attendance
$83,440
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$9,970
$30,001 – $48,000
$7,789
$48,001 – $75,000
$9,669
$75,001 – $110,000
$19,348
Over $110,000
$37,725
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,50010%percentile
$7,75325%percentile
$17,500Medianpercentile
$19,50075%percentile
$25,50090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $12,775
↓ $4,725
No Pell $15,089
↓ $2,411
Female students $14,205
↓ $3,295
Male students $14,100
↓ $3,400
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($17,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
88% of full-time students who enrolled at Grinnell College graduate within six years, and 93% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
88%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
93%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Grinnell College earn a median of $62,830 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$62,830
Earning > $25K
83%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$55,000
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$67,200
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $12,200, about 18% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Stable ↑
1.9 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 92% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Grinnell College is home to 1,729 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
1,729
Part-Time
0%
First-Generation
18%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 48.4%837
International 21.0%363
Asian 9.7%168
Hispanic 8.7%151
Other 6.5%113
Black 4.7%81
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Grinnell College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: RemoteGrinnell, Iowa
Housing
Strongly residential1,450 beds for 1,729 students
Adult Learners
0%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Grinnell College offers
a varied set of programs:
28 distinct programs across
13 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Grinnell College is 9:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
9:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$2.7B
Strong financial cushion supports aid and stability
Avg Faculty Salary
$109,593
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
209 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
60
29%
$145,021
Associate Professors
63
30%
$113,011
Assistant Professors
69
33%
$85,896
Instructors
7
3%
$75,206
Lecturers
10
5%
$63,075
Pros & Cons of Grinnell College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Grinnell College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Highly selective, strong peer cohort
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Strong six-year graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Highly competitive admissions, many strong applicants are rejected
Very high published cost of attendance (full-pay families pay much more than the net-price average)
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Best for:
Based on the data, Grinnell College is a fit for
students seeking a highly selective peer group.
Frequently Asked Questions about Grinnell College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Grinnell College.
Is Grinnell College hard to get into?
Grinnell College is highly selective. Its acceptance rate is 14.5%, so admitted students generally have strong grades, competitive test scores, and a well-rounded application.
What is the acceptance rate at Grinnell College?
Grinnell College has an acceptance rate of 14.5%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Grinnell College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Grinnell College scored between 1410 and 1540 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Grinnell College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Grinnell College scored between 31 and 34 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Grinnell College cost?
The average net price after aid at Grinnell College is $17,648 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Grinnell College worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $62,830 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $17,648 per year. That's roughly 3.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Grinnell College known for?
Grinnell College is best known for its programs in Computer Science, Economics, Biology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Grinnell College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Grinnell College are $62,830, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Grinnell College accredited?
Yes. Grinnell College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Grinnell College?
Grinnell College enrolls 1,729 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Grinnell College?
Grinnell College graduates 88% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Grinnell College a public or private college?
Grinnell College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Grinnell College located?
Grinnell College is located in Grinnell, Iowa.
What programs does Grinnell College offer?
Grinnell College offers 28 distinct programs. The most popular include Computer Science, Economics, Biology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Grinnell College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Grinnell College is 9:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Iowa
Other colleges in Iowa share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Special Education
Business Administration
Teacher Education (K-12)
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