What SAT score do I need for Grinnell College?

Grinnell College's middle 50% SAT range is 1410 to 1540. A score in or above that band keeps you in the conversation; below it, the rest of your application has to do more work.

What ACT score do I need for Grinnell College?

Middle 50% ACT range is 31 to 34. The top of that range or above is what most admitted students submit when they choose to send a score.

What is the acceptance rate at Grinnell College?

Grinnell College admits roughly 15% of applicants. That makes it a reach for nearly everyone, regardless of stats.

What does Grinnell College actually cost after financial aid?

Average net cost (after institutional aid) is about $17,648 per year. Net cost varies enormously by family income; run the school's net price calculator for an estimate that reflects your situation.

Is Grinnell College a reach, match, or safety for me?

Compare your stats to the middle 50% above. If you are at or below the 25th percentile, treat Grinnell College as a reach. If you are in the middle 50%, it is a match. Above the 75th percentile and the school accepts above 25% overall, it is closer to a safety. Selectivity below 20% should be treated as a reach for everyone, period.

Grinnell College

Grinnell, IA · Midwest

Acceptance rate: 14.5%
SAT mid-50: 1410-1540
Cost after aid: $17,648
Graduation rate: 88%

What Grinnell College says matters

How Grinnell College rates each admissions factor in its Common Data Set, with the full published numbers below.

Acceptance rate: 15%; 1,416 of 9,758
Yield: 31%; 438 enrolled
SAT mid-50: 1430-1520
ACT mid-50: 31-34
CDS year: 2024-25

Acceptance rate by gender

Men: 13%637 of 5,048
Women: 16%725 of 4,421

Very important

Rigor of secondary school record
Class rank
Recommendations

Important

Academic GPA
Standardized test scores
Application essay
Extracurricular activities
Talent or ability

Considered

Character or personal qualities
First generation
Alumni relation
Geographical residence
State residency
Volunteer work
Work experience
Level of applicant's interest

Not considered

Religious affiliation or commitment

The full Common Data Set

Every figure Grinnell College published for 2024-25, section by section.

First-Time, First-Year Admission71

Applications

Total first-time, first-year men who applied: 5,048
Total first-time, first-year women who applied: 4,421
Total first-time, first-year another gender who applied: 289
Total first-time, first-year unknown gender who applied: Total
Total first-time, first-year men who were admitted: 637
Total first-time, first-year women who were admitted: 725
Total first-time, first-year another gender who were admitted: 54
Total full-time, first-time, first-year men who enrolled: 211
Total full-time, first-time, first-year women who enrolled: 211
Total full-time, first-time, first-year another gender who enrolled: 16
Total part-time, first-time, first-year unknown gender who enrolled: Total
Total first-time, first-year students who applied: 9,758
Total first-time, first-year students who were admitted: 1,416
Total first-time, first-year students who enrolled: 438

Admissions Requirements

English: 4
Mathematics: 4
Science: 3
Of these, units that must be lab: 3
Foreign language: 3
Social studies: 3
History: 3
Visual/Performing Arts: Response Text

Basis for Selection

selective admission for out-of-state students: selective admission for out-of-state students
selective admission to some programs: selective admission to someprograms
other (explain):: other (explain):
Rigor of secondary school record: Very Important
Class rank: Very Important
Academic GPA: Important
Standardized test scores: Important
Application Essay: Important
Recommendation(s): Very Important
Extracurricular activities: Important
Talent/ability: Important
Character/personal qualities: Considered
First generation: Considered
Alumni/ae relation: Considered
Geographical residence: Considered
State residency: Considered
Religious affiliation/commitment: Not Considered
Volunteer work: Considered
Work experience: Considered
Level of applicant’s interest: Considered

First-time, first-year Profile

Submitting SAT Scores: 0.29
Submitting ACT Scores: 0.21
Submitting SAT Scores: 129
Submitting ACT Scores: 92
SAT Composite: 25th Percentile: 1,430
SAT Composite: 50th Percentile: 1,490
SAT Composite: 75th Percentile: 1,520
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 25th Percentile: 700
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 50th Percentile: 730
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 75th Percentile: 750
SAT Math: 25th Percentile: 710
SAT Math: 50th Percentile: 760
SAT Math: 75th Percentile: 16.3
ACT Composite: 25th Percentile: 31%
ACT Composite: 50th Percentile: 34%
ACT Composite: 75th Percentile: 34%
ACT Math: 25th Percentile: Score
ACT Math: 50th Percentile: 31%
ACT Math: 75th Percentile: 34%
ACT English: 25th Percentile: 31%
ACT English: 50th Percentile: 34%
ACT English: 75th Percentile: 35%
ACT Writing: 75th Percentile: Score
ACT Science: 75th Percentile: Score

Admission Policies

Does your institution offer an early decision plan (an admission plan that permits students to apply and be notified of an admission decision well in advance of the regular notification date and that asks students to commit to attending if accepted) for first-time, first-year applicants for fall enrollment?: Yes
Other early decision plan closing date: 5-Jan
Other early decision plan notification date: 31-Jan
Number of early decision applications received by your institution: 828
Number of applicants admitted under early decision plan: 283

Transfer Admission25

Fall Applicants

Men: 40
Women: 45
Another Gender: 5
Total: 90
Total: 17
Men: 3
Women: 2
Another Gender: 3
Total: 8

Transfer Credit Policies

Number: Number
Unit Type: Unit Type per credit hour
Minimum number of credits that transfers must complete at your institution to earn a bachelor’s degree:: 62

Application for Admission

High school transcript: Required of All
College transcript(s): Required of All
Essay or personal statement: Required of All
Interview: Not Required
Standardized test scores: Required of All
Statement of good standing from prior institution(s): Required of All
List any other application requirements specific to transfer applicants:: # Internal
Fall: 1-Mar
Spring: 1-Nov
Fall: 15-May
Spring: 5-Dec
Fall: 1-Jun
Spring: 15-Dec

Academic Offerings and Policies12

Special Study Options

Accelerated program: x
Double major: x
Dual enrollment: x
Independent study: x
Internships: x
Liberal arts/career combination: x
Student-designed major: x
Study abroad: x
Teacher certification program: x
Undergraduate Research: x
Weekend college: Response Text
Other (specify):: x

Student Life23

Activities Offered

Campus Ministries: x
Choral groups: x
Concert band: x
Dance: x
Drama/theater: x
International Student Organization: x
Jazz band: x
Literary magazine: x
Model UN: x
Music ensembles: x
Pep band: x
Radio station: x
Student government: x

ROTC

Name of Cooperating Institution: Response Text
Marine Option (for Naval ROTC): Response 'x'
Name of Cooperating Institution: Response Text
On Campus: Response 'x'

Housing

Coed dorms: x
Special housing for disabled students: x
Cooperative housing: x
Theme housing: x
Living Learning Communities: Response Text
Other housing options (specify):: x

Annual Expenses19

Information

Please provide the URL of your institution’s net price calculator:: https://www.grinnell.edu/admissio n/financial-aid/estimate-aid
Please provide an approximate date (i.e., month/day) when your institution's final 2025-2026 academic year costs of attendance will be available:: Date

Private Tuition

Tuition: 71,788
Tuition: 71,788

Public Tuition

Tuition: Non-resident: Expenses in $

All Institutions Expenses

Food Only (on-campus meal plan):: Expenses in $ Expenses in $
Housing Only (on-campus):: Expenses in $

Tuition Policies

Do tuition and fees vary by year of study (e.g., sophomore, junior, senior)?: N
If yes, what percentage of full-time undergraduates pay more than the tuition and fees reported in G1?: tuition and fees reported in G1?

Estimated Expenses

Books and supplies:: 800
Transportation:: 503
Other expenses:: 1850
Transportation: 1850

Per-Credit-Hour Charges

PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS:: 2,444
PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS:: 2444
In-district:: 2,444
In-state (out-of-district):: 2,444
Out-of-state:: 2,444
NONRESIDENTS:: 2,444

Financial Aid50

Non-need-based Aid Awarded

Institutional: Endowed scholarships, annual gifts and tuition funded grants, awarded by the college, excluding athletic aid and tuition waivers (which are reported below).: 10,472,108
Scholarships/grants from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) not awarded by the college: 1,880,396
Total Scholarships/Grants: 12,362,146
Student loans from all sources (excluding parent loans): 0
State and other (e.g., institutional) work-study/employment (Note: Excludes Federal Work-Study captured above.): 1,723,716
Total Self-Help: 2,625,708
Parent Loans: 0
Tuition Waivers Note: Reporting is optional. Report tuition waivers in this row if you choose to report them. Do not report tuition waivers elsewhere.: 828,392
Athletic Awards: 0

Students Awarded Aid

A. Number of degree-seeking undergraduate students (CDS Item B1 if reporting on Fall 2024 cohort): 438
B. Number of students in line a who applied for need-based financial aid: 348
C. Number of students in line b who were determined to have financial need: 298
D. Number of students in line c who were awarded any financial aid: 298
E. Number of students in line d who were awarded any need-based scholarship or grant aid: 298
F. Number of students in line d who were awarded any need-based self-help aid: 235
G. Number of students in line d who were awarded any non-need-based scholarship or grant aid: 59
H. Number of students in line d whose need was fully met (exclude PLUS loans, unsubsidized loans, and private alternative loans): 298
I. On average, the percentage of need that was met of students who were awarded any need-based aid. Exclude any aid that was awarded in excess of need as well as any resources that were awarded to replace EFC (PLUS loans, unsubsidized loans, and private alternative loans): 100%
J. The average financial aid package of those in line d. Exclude any resources that were awarded to replace EFC (PLUS loans, unsubsidized loans, and private alternative loans): 67,476
K. Average need-based scholarship and grant award of those in line e: 64,543
L. Average need-based self-help award (excluding PLUS loans, unsubsidized loans, and private alternative loans) of those in line f: 2,573
M. Average need-based loan (excluding PLUS loans, unsubsidized loans, and private alternative loans) of those in line f who were awarded a need-based loan: -
A. Number of degree-seeking undergraduate students (CDS Item B1 if reporting on Fall 2024 cohort): 1,726
B. Number of students in line a who applied for need-based financial aid: 1,231
C. Number of students in line b who were determined to have financial need: 1,129
D. Number of students in line c who were awarded any financial aid: 1,129
I. On average, the percentage of need that was met of students who were awarded any need-based aid. Exclude any aid that was awarded in excess of need as well as any resources that were awarded to replace EFC (PLUS loans, unsubsidized loans, and private alternative loans): 100%
J. The average financial aid package of those in line d. Exclude any resources that were awarded to replace EFC (PLUS loans, unsubsidized loans, and private alternative loans): $
K. Average need-based scholarship and grant award of those in line e: 63,391

Source Type Loan

A. Any loan program: Federal Perkins, Federal Stafford Subsidized and Unsubsidized, institutional, state, private loans that your institution is aware of, etc. Include both Federal Direct Student Loans and Federal Family Education Loans.: 49
B. Federal loan programs: Federal Perkins, Federal Stafford Subsidized and Unsubsidized. Include both Federal Direct Student Loans and Federal Family Education Loans.: 42
C. Institutional loan programs.: 18
D. State loan programs.: 0
A. Any loan program: Federal Perkins, Federal Stafford Subsidized and Unsubsidized, institutional, state, private loans that your institution is aware of, etc. Include both Federal Direct Student Loans and Federal Family Education Loans.: 15,946
C. Institutional loan programs.: $10,529 $8,188
D. State loan programs.: 0
E. Private student loans made by a bank or lender.: 56,491

Aid to Nonresidents

Institutional need-based scholarship or grant aid is available: x
Average dollar amount of institutional financial aid awarded to undergraduate degree-seeking nonresidents:: 56,853

Financial Aid Forms

FAFSA: x
CSS PROFILE: x
Noncustodial PROFILE: x
Business/Farm Supplement: Response Text
Other (specify):: Other (specify):

Financial Aid Deadlines

Priority date for filing required financial aid forms:: X
Deadline for filing required financial aid forms:: 1
No deadline for filing required forms (applications processed on a rolling basis): 15

Financial Aid Reply

Students must reply by (date):: 5
or within____weeks of notification.: 1

Institutional Aid

Academics: X

Disciplinary Areas of Degrees Conferred9

Diploma/Certificates

TOTAL (should = 100%): 100%

Associate

TOTAL (should = 100%): 100%

Bachelors

Area, ethnic, and gender studies: 3.523
Computer and information sciences: 12.524
Foreign languages, literatures, and linguistics: 8.415
English: 4.305
Biological/life sciences: 14.09
Mathematics and statistics: 5.284
TOTAL (should = 100%): 100%

Enrollment And Persistence158

Institutional Enrollment

Degree-seeking, first-time first-year students: men: Degree-seeking, first-time first-year students:men
Degree-seeking, first-time first-year students: women: Degree-seeking, first-time first-year students:women
Degree-seeking, first-time first-year students: another gender: Degree-seeking, first-time first-year students: another gender
Degree-seeking, first-time first-year students: unknown: Degree-seeking, first-time first-year students: unknown
Other first-year, degree-seeking: men: Other first-year, degree-seeking:men
Other first-year, degree-seeking: women: Other first-year, degree-seeking:women
Other first-year, degree-seeking: another gender: Other first-year, degree-seeking: another gender
Other first-year, degree-seeking: unknown: Other first-year, degree-seeking: unknown
All other degree-seeking: another gender: All other degree-seeking: another gender
All other degree-seeking: unknown: All other degree-seeking: unknown
Total degree-seeking: men: Total degree-seeking:men
Total degree-seeking: women: Total degree-seeking:women
Total degree-seeking: another gender: Total degree-seeking: another gender
Total degree-seeking: unknown: Total degree-seeking:unknown
All other undergraduates enrolled in credit courses: men: All other undergraduates enrolled in credit courses:men
All other undergraduates enrolled in credit courses: women: All other undergraduates enrolled in credit courses:women
All other undergraduates enrolled in credit courses: another gender: All other undergraduates enrolled in credit courses: another gender
All other undergraduates enrolled in credit courses: unknown: All other undergraduates enrolled in credit courses: unknown
Total undergraduate Full-Time Students: men: Total undergraduate Full-Time Students:men
Total undergraduate Full-Time Students: women: Total undergraduate Full-Time Students:women
Total undergraduate Full-Time Students: another gender: Total undergraduate Full-Time Students: another gender
Total undergraduate Full-Time Students: unknown: Total undergraduate Full-Time Students:unknown
Degree-seeking, first-time first-year students: men: Degree-seeking, first-time first-year students:men
Degree-seeking, first-time first-year students: women: Degree-seeking, first-time first-year students:women
Degree-seeking, first-time first-year students: another gender: Degree-seeking, first-time first-year students: another gender
Degree-seeking, first-time first-year students: unknown: Degree-seeking, first-time first-year students: unknown
Other first-year, degree-seeking: men: Other first-year, degree-seeking:men
Other first-year, degree-seeking: women: Other first-year, degree-seeking:women
Other first-year, degree-seeking: another gender: Other first-year, degree-seeking: another gender
Other first-year, degree-seeking: unknown: Other first-year, degree-seeking: unknown
All other degree-seeking: men: 1
All other degree-seeking: women: 3
Total degree-seeking: men: 1
Total degree-seeking: women: 3
Total degree-seeking: another gender: 0
Total degree-seeking: unknown: 0
All other undergraduates enrolled in credit courses: men: 29
All other undergraduates enrolled in credit courses: women: 26
Total undergraduate Part-Time Students: men: 30
Total undergraduate Part-Time Students: women: 29
Total undergraduate Part-Time Students: another gender: 0
Total undergraduate Part-Time Students: unknown: 0
Total undergraduate students: men: 819
Total undergraduate students: women: 969
Total undergraduate students: another gender: 0
Total undergraduate students: unknown: 0
Total graduate Part-Time Students: men: 0
Total graduate Part-Time Students: women: 0
Total graduate Part-Time Students: another gender: 0
Total graduate Part-Time Students: unknown: 0
Total Graduate Students: men: 0
Total Graduate Students: women: 0
Total Graduate Students: another gender: 0
Total Graduate Students: unknown: 0
Total All Students: men: 819
Total All Students: women: 969
Total All Students: another gender: 0
Total All Students: unknown: 0
Total all undergraduates: 1,788
Total all graduate: 0
Grand Total All Students: 1,788

All

Total graduate Full-Time Students: another gender: 0
Total graduate Full-Time Students: unknown: 0

Enrollment by Racial/Ethnic Category

Nonresidents: 98
Hispanic/Latino: 43
Black or African American, non-Hispanic: 20
White, non-Hispanic: 189
American Indian or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic: 0
Asian, non-Hispanic: 55
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic: 1
Two or more races, non-Hispanic: 31
Race and/or ethnicity unknown: 1
TOTAL: 438
Nonresidents: 363
Hispanic/Latino: 151
Black or African American, non-Hispanic: 81
White, non-Hispanic: 837
American Indian or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic: 1
Asian, non-Hispanic: 168
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic: 1
Two or more races, non-Hispanic: 111
Race and/or ethnicity unknown: 16
TOTAL: 1,729
Nonresidents: 365
Hispanic/Latino: 152
Black or African American, non-Hispanic: 85
White, non-Hispanic: 859
American Indian or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic: 1
Asian, non-Hispanic: 169
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic: 1 116
TOTAL: 1,788

Persistence

Bachelor's degrees: 383

Graduation Rates

Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant: 100
Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant: 116
Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan: 247
Total: 2,018
Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant: 0
Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant: 0
Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan: 0
Total: 0
Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant: 100
Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant: 116 247 463
Total: 100
Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant: 75
Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant: 98
Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan: 172
Total: 75
Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant: 13
Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant: 11
Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan: 36
Total: 31
Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant: 2
Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant: 0
Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan: 0
Total: 2,023
Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant: 90
Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant: 109
Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan: 208
Total: 90
Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant: 0.9
Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant: 0.94
Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan: 0.84
Total: 90
Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant: 75
Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant: 126
Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan: 246
Total: 2,017
Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant: 0
Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant: 0
Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan: 0
Total: 0
Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant: 75
Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant: 126
Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan: 246
Total: 75
Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant: 54
Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant: 100
Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan: 178
Total: 54
Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant: 31
Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant: 2,021
Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan: 34
Total: 51
Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant: 2
Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant: 1
Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan: 5
Total: 2,023
Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant: 63
Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant: 111
Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan: 217
Total: 63
Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant: 0.84
Recipients of a Subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant: 0.88
Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan: 0.88
Total: 2,017
2021 Cohort: 2,020
2021 Cohort: 2,021
2021 Cohort: 150

Instructional Faculty And Class Size19

Student to Faculty Ratio

Fall 2024 Student to Faculty ratio: 9
based on ____ students: 1,749
and ____ faculty: 197

Undergraduate Class Size

2-9: 90
10-19: 187
20-29: 146
30-39: 12
40-49: 2
50-99: 2
100+: 0
Total: 439
2-9: 13
10-19: 16
20-29: 6
30-39: 0
40-49: 0
50-99: 0
100+: 0
Total: 35

Source: Grinnell College's Common Data Set 2024-25

About Grinnell College

Grinnell College is a very small private university in Grinnell, IA, in a city setting.

What Grinnell College looks for

Grinnell College accepts roughly 15%, which means a strong application is necessary but not sufficient. Most admitted students are at or above the mid-50 in test scores and have at least one extracurricular thread that AOs read as substantive. The supplements matter. The "why us" essay is where many otherwise-strong applications fall apart, because it reads as a Mad Libs of the school's website rather than a real plan.

Frequently asked

What SAT score do I need for Grinnell College?
Grinnell College's middle 50% SAT range is 1410 to 1540. A score in or above that band keeps you in the conversation; below it, the rest of your application has to do more work.
What ACT score do I need for Grinnell College?
Middle 50% ACT range is 31 to 34. The top of that range or above is what most admitted students submit when they choose to send a score.
What is the acceptance rate at Grinnell College?
Grinnell College admits roughly 15% of applicants. That makes it a reach for nearly everyone, regardless of stats.
What does Grinnell College actually cost after financial aid?
Average net cost (after institutional aid) is about $17,648 per year. Net cost varies enormously by family income; run the school's net price calculator for an estimate that reflects your situation.
Is Grinnell College a reach, match, or safety for me?
Compare your stats to the middle 50% above. If you are at or below the 25th percentile, treat Grinnell College as a reach. If you are in the middle 50%, it is a match. Above the 75th percentile and the school accepts above 25% overall, it is closer to a safety. Selectivity below 20% should be treated as a reach for everyone, period.

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