Placement Metric
Highest Package
N/A
Represents the top salary package reported in the available placement information.
Grinnell College
6.5(1)
VerifiedPrivate (Not for Profit)Estd. 1846
Founded
1846
Type
Private (Not for Profit)
University Guide
About Grinnell College
Explore overview, courses, fees, admissions, campus life, scholarships and student accommodation guidance in one premium Admistay guide.
Grinnell College is a residential liberal arts college that enrolls around 1,700 students and has 175 full-time faculty where the majority of the faculty members hold a degree in their field of expertise. The college is famously known for its diligent pattern of education. Grinnell College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The college has the sixth-highest endowment-to-student ratio of liberal arts colleges. With an admission rate of 20% it is one of the most competitive Institutions in the US.
The college intakes are open in fall and spring semesters. As admission to Grinnell College is not easy, the aspirants should prepare a strong SOP and pay attention to the letters of recommendations, solely because they can play an important role along with an excellent academic record in securing a seat for them. The college has a test optional policy in place for the SAT or ACT scores but IELTS/TOEFL scores are required. Applicants must try and exceed the minimum score limits in order to have an edge over others.
Grinnell College Rankings
- The college is ranked number 13 in National Liberal Arts Colleges by the US News Ranking.
- The Grinnell College has a country rank of 412 and a world rank of 1110.
- It also has a rank of 7 in Best Undergraduate Teaching as well as in Best Value Schools.
- It is the 18 Most Innovative Schools.
Highlights
| Type of University | Private |
| Motto | Truth and Humanity |
| Location | Grinnell, Iowa, United States |
| Campus Setting | The rural setting and coed college |
| Faculty Members | 175 members |
| Number of Undergraduate seats | 1,733 seats |
| Annual Acceptance Rate | 20% - 30% |
| Test Scores accepted | TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo |
| Percentage of International students | 20% |
| Official Website | https://www.grinnell.edu/ |
| Application Fees | NIL |
| Graduation Rate | 84% |
Grinnell College Campus
Campus of Grinnell College is located in the town of Grinnell, Iowa. The campus is spread on a 120-acre land with 63 buildings. The campus is situated in Iowa city which is a hub of cultural inspirations such as galleries, markets, movies, etc.
The campus has a restaurant and dining area with about 30 different local eateries and dining options for almost anyone. It has various Pioneer Events like Men's Soccer, Women's Golf, etc for students who are interested in sports and athletics.
The Grinnell College Museum of Art provides an area to showcase the talents and inner artists of the students. The campus also has 100+ student organizations like Athletics, Multicultural, Political, and others. Burling Library on campus is a resource house for staff and students.
Grinnell College Residence
Housing for students in the USA at Grinnell's Residence Halls are divided into 3 parts: North Campus, East Campus, and South Campus. Grinnell's Marketplace provides garden-fresh, gluten-free meals. There are Athletic and Health and Wellness Centers for students in need.Each group hall has its own laundry facilities and computer labs.
Wireless internet connections, Well-equipped kitchens and well-furnished rooms are some of the highlights of the Grinnell's Residence Halls.
The room and board expenses at Grinnell, for 2023-2024, are 6,778 USD and 7,572 USD annually.
Grinnell College Programs
Grinnell College has an advised curriculum that provides the students with a perplexing academic ordeal. UG programs at Grinnell College include about 42 subjects with more than 500 classes on offer. The students can then make an individual curriculum and will always be helped by their mentors on the way.
Some of the common courses chosen by students in Grinnell College are American Studies, Anthropology, Chinese and Japanese, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, and many more.
Grinnell College International Admission process
Grinnell College is one of the most competitive and selective colleges in the USA with an annual acceptance rate of 20%-30%. So becoming a Grinnellian can be quite a hefty task.
The application deadlines are as follows:
| Particulars | Early Decision 1 | Early Decision 2 | Regular Decision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application deadline | Nov 15 | Jan 1 | Jan 15 |
| Admission Notification deadline | min-late Dec | early Feb | late March/early April |
| Deposit Due | Jan 8 | Feb 15 | May 1 |
The application process for Grinnell College is as follows:
How to apply
Application Portal: Online
Application Fee: NIL
Application Requirements
- Official copy of secondary/high school transcript.
- International students must demonstrate their English proficiency by submitting a TOEFL iBt 104 / IELTS 6.5 / Duolingo score report.
- Secondary / High school counselor’s letters of recommendation.
- Evidence of funds availability
- Personal statement
- Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, freshman students are not required to submit SAT or ACT test scores.
Grinnell College Cost of Attendance
The cost of attendance is a total of tuition fees, room, board, comprehensive fees, etc. It helps in calculating the budget to study in the US. The cost of attendance is as follows:
| Academic Year | 2023 - 24 Annual Cost in USD | 2022 - 23 Annual Cost in USD |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | 58,156 | 56,188 |
| Activity Fee | 492 | 492 |
| Room | 6,778 | 6,548 |
| Board | 7,572 | 7,316 |
| Comprehensive Fee | 72,998 | 70,544 |
Other expenses include the following an approximate basis:
- Books and Supplies:900 USD
- Personal Expenses: 1,100 USD
Grinnell College Scholarships
The college offers various scholarships to international students:
- Merit Scholarships: Every freshman student applying to Grinnell College is considered for a Merit Scholarship. The last date to submit for this scholarship is December 1.
- Founder's Scholarships: This scholarship is awarded to admitted students based on their academic performances, special talents, etc.
- Early Decision Merit Aid and Grinnell Choice Scholarship: This depends on the student's commitment to Grinnell College. Domestic students receive $10,000 and Iowa students receive 12,000 USD.
- Grinnell College Harry Hopkins 1912 Grant: Awards amount based on need. There is a limit of 8 semesters of eligibility for transfer students.
- Outside Scholarships: International students in need of financial aid are required to search for such scholarships for studying in the USA.
Work And Study
Grinnell College provides a work-study program inside the campus, where the students can equally balance their academic work with a part-time job with no hassle inside the campus itself. Students get paid twice a month for the number of hours they work and they will receive a paycheque.
If the first-year students receive need-based financial aid from the college, they will be placed into the job position the summer before starting the course. They later can keep this job placement.
Students can also apply for other jobs if they are eligible to work in the United States.
Grinnell College Alumni
Grinnell College contains a handsome number of notable alumni. Many in the field of Public Service, Arts, Entertainment, Authors, Business, Government and many more.
Some significant and remarkable alumnus are:
- Norman F. Bates: Recipient of Medal of Honor in the Civil War.
- Louise Rosenfield Noun: Women's Rights Activist and President, Iowa Civil Liberties Union.
- Emily Bergl: Actor in film and television including TV's Desperate Housewives, etc.
- Gary Cooper: Oscar-winning Actor
- Rebecca Hill: Author of prize-winning book Blue Rise, and other books like Among Birches, Killing Time in St.Cloud.
- David Fisher: Chief Executive officer, G.W. Onthank Co.
- Michael Hager: President and CEO, San Diego Natural History Museum.
Grinnell College Placements
Grinnell College provides various platforms and guides students along the way to assist them in choosing the right career according to their potential and passion. They provide a Center For Careers, Life, and Service. This Center helps in connecting with successful alumni, have on and off-campus experiences, and many more.
Also, the students can opt to complete a Post Graduation or Research after their Under graduation from Grinnell College.There is a rate of 97% placement after Grinnell Life. Some of the placement employers are Microsoft, Miami Marlins, Public News Service, Black rock and Teach for America to name a few.
Some of the average annual salaries earned by the college graduates are as follows:
| Positions | Annual Average Salary in USD |
|---|---|
| Software Engineer | 95,000 |
| Product Manager | 70,000 |
| Senior Research Scientist | 120,000 |
| Senior Software engineer | 137,000 |
In a nutshell, Grinnell College is a fit and felicitous college for freshman students to reach a step closer to their aspirations by following the right academic path. It provides a great opportunity to students by providing standard and worthwhile forms of study methodologies. The United States is a country with a premium quality of education. And so, a degree earned by an international or resident student from the United States is of prominent value in any part of the world, as it is a mark of trust and excellence.
FAQS
Ques. Does Grinnell College provide need-based Scholarships to students?
Ans: Students are provided with a wide range of scholarships depending on their needs. By demonstrating their family's financial status the college provides apt financial aid that correctly meets the full annual cost of attending Grinnell College.
Ques. Can family members come to campus to help students move out of residence halls?
Ans: Due to the current Covid-19 pandemic, parents or other family members are not advised to come to the campus to limit the chances of widespread among students residing in the campus. The faculty and staff will help the students in such cases. Students can also opt for the help of their friends while moving out.
Ques. Will the library be open always and can students have full-time access to the libraries?
Ans: Physical access to the library will be limited due to the current situation. But the students will be having access to the digital and e-resources for academic purposes from the Burling Library.
Ques. Can students living outside the US work remotely on campus?
Ans: The students residing outside the US can work remotely on the campus if there is remote work available.
Ques. Will college staff accompany students if they have a hospital emergency?
Ans: If the students have a hospital emergency and need to go to the local hospital can only accompany their family members as college staff is not allowed to enter with them.
Courses & Fees
Compare courses in a cleaner, easier way
Explore tuition, duration, language, eligibility, and exam requirements without the clutter.
Courses
30
Fee from
₹65,03,539.8
Exams
IELTS · TOEFL
Showing 5 of 30 bachelors
Overview
Degree TypeBachelor
Duration4 years
Study ModeFull Time
LanguageEnglish
Fees
Tuition FeeINR 63.3 L/Yr
Native FeeUSD 67,560 /Yr
Fee trendTuition progression
Admission Guide
Admission Process
For Fall 2023 admissions at Grinnell College, the acceptance rate was 23% with 8004 applicants. Therefore, the admission process is very selective with strict eligibility criteria. Candidates are selected based on merit and extracurricular achievements. The retention rate for freshmen is 92%.
Grinnell College offers degrees in 27 major fields with 16 concentrations.
- Student population is 1,716 (undergraduates)
- 54% of the students are female and 17% of undergraduate students are from foreign countries.
- The student to faculty ratio is 9: 1 and each class has approximately 20 students.
- Grinnell College accepts ACT Composite scores (between 32 to 35) and SAT scores (between 760 - 800 in Maths and 650 - 720 in Evidence-based Reading, and Writings (ERW)). Essay Component (ACT and SAT) is optional.
- 89% of the total students receive financial aid in the form of loans, grants, scholarships, and campus employment.
- Grinnell College spends 93% in total grants and scholarships awarded to students, while the remaining 7% constitutes federal, private, and state aids awarded to international students.
- Admissions at Grinnell College are offered as Early Decision (I and II) and Regular Decision.
COVID-19 Update: Grinnell College
International Applicants looking to apply for admission for Fall 2023 can submit their final high school transcripts after consultation with the Office of Admission. First-year applicants do not need to present SAT/ACT scores. The college may revise this policy for spring admission. Students can keep track of any changes through the college website.
Highlights
| Application Portal | Common Application |
| Application Fee | Free |
| Average SAT score | 650-720 (SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing) 760-800 (SAT Math) |
| Average ACT score | 32-35 (ACT Composite) 32-35 (ACT English) 28-33 (ACT Math) |
| Intake Seasons | Fall and Spring |
| Academic Calendar | Semester -based |
| English Proficiency Tests | TOEFL/IELTS |
| Financial Aid | Scholarships and Grants, Campus Employment |
Grinnell College Admissions Deadlines
The application deadlines for international students are different from domestic applicants. Students are advised to apply early, preferably by mid or late December. The important dates and deadlines are tabulated below.
| Application | Deadline | Decision Release | Reapplying Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Decision I | November 15, 2023 | Mid-December | Mid-January |
| Early Decision II | January 1, 2024 | Late-January | Mid-February |
| Regular Decision | January 15, 2024 | Late-March | May 1, 2024 |
Grinnell College International Student Admissions
International Applicants need to consider the following when applying for admissions at Grinnell College.
The “super score” set by Grinnell College is done by taking the highest subscores earned by the applicant in each official score report sent to the College in the likelihood of creating a higher ACT composite score/combines SAT Evidence-based reading and writing (ERW) and Math score than one appearing on an official score report.
Application Portal: Common Application; Preliminary Application/Questbridge Application
Application Fee: Not charged
Admission Requirements
- Teacher Recommendation Forms (Preferred): 2 Teacher evaluations required
- Recommendation Form (Preferred): from the Secondary/High School Counselor
- Secondary School Report
- Original stamped, signed, or sealed official copy of Secondary/High School transcript
- Standardized Testing:
- Essay Component for both, ACT and SAT is optional.
- SAT/ACT official score report directly sent from the College Board (SAT code 6252, ACT code 1318)
- SAT/ACT verified test scores appearing on Applicant’s official high school transcript
- An email with a verified SAT/ACT score report be sent from High School Counselor
- Guidance Counselors/Registrars can send the Applicant’s official test scores and or transcripts by attaching to email: [email protected]
- Official TOEFL/IELTS score to demonstrate English proficiency. (Mid 50% range of these scores is given below)
- Appropriate Financial forms
Note: Preliminary Application is the optional part of the application process, for applying as a First-Year for Fall 2023. The office will keep the Applicant apprised of the timelines, college search process, and scholarships
English Language Proficiency
The scores for English Language Proficiency Tests for admitted International Students for August 2023 is presented in the form of a table.
| Test | Score |
|---|---|
| TOEFL - Mid-50% range | 104-111 |
| SAT I (Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (ERW)) - Mid-50% range | 650-720 |
| SAT I (Math) - Mid-50% range | 760-800 |
| ACT - Mid-50% range | 32-35 |
| IELTS (preferred) | 6.5 |
How to fund your education at Grinnell
International students can apply for financial aid to meet the expenses of studying in the U.S. The following table mentions the deadlines to apply for financial aids.
| Application | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Early Decision I | November 15, 2023 |
| Early Decision II | January 1, 2024 |
| Regular Decision | January 15, 2024 |
Also, applicants have to consider the following guidelines:
- Need-Based Aid: Applicants need to indicate if they do not need financial assistance.
- The applicant needs to upload a completed Certification of Finances form to the application portal along with an attachment of the Bank Statement, showing funds covering the cost of attendance for first-year, in case the concerned bank official does not sign the Certificate of Finance.
- Financial Aid for International Students will not be considered after admittance.
- Applicants seeking financial aid must complete the process, accurately and thoroughly by completing the CCS Profile(fee waivers not provided by Grinnell)
- If the applicant is unable to complete the CCS profile, the International Student Financial Aid Application (ISFAA) must be filled and uploaded to the Grinnell Application Portal (created upon submission of the Common Application).
- Email the Office of Financial Aid for assistance or call them at 641-269-3250
Visa Process
International students require an F-1 visa for studying in the US. The application fee for an F-1 visa is USD 160.
Application Requirements:
- DS-160 Form (Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application)
- Valid passport: for travel to the US with a validity date at least six months beyond the intended period of stay in the country
- Photograph: (2x2 inches/51x51 mm), taken within the last six months
- Visa issuance reciprocity fee (subject to the applicant’s nationality)
- Approved I-20 form from applicant’s U.S. school/program
- An interview appointment letter confirming your appointment booking.
- Supporting documents for the information provided to the consular officer.
For further information regarding information, applicants can refer to the US Visa application website.
Admitted International Students
Grinnell College encourages International Students to get in touch with the Office of International Student Affairs which is a part of the International Student Organization (ISO) to facilitate a quality educational experience. Admitted students will be notified via email about receiving financial aid/notification of eligibility for scholarships.
Grinnell College Undergraduate Admission
Admission is selective into Grinnell College, and it is recommended to applying candidates to ensure that their program for secondary school is equivalent to:
- English: 4 Years
- Mathematics (at least through pre-calculus): 4 Years
- Social Studies: 3 Years
- Lab Science: 3 Years
- Foreign Language: 3 Years
Grinnell College selects an applicant after considering secondary school grades, test scores, and recommendations, extracurricular activities, and leadership skills.
Admission Requirements
- Common Application - Username and further instructions will be delivered to the applicant upon the College receiving the application.
- SAT/ACT scores
- The preferred SAT score is in the range of 650-720 in SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and 760-800 in SAT Math
- The preferred ACT score is in the range of 32 - 35 in ACT composite
- Teacher Evaluations
- High School transcripts
- Interview (not mandatory)
FAQs
Ques. Are A-level exams required, despite having taken O-levels?
Ans. Yes. For admission at Grinnell College, A-levels are required. Candidates who are A-level are to produce Advanced Subsidiary or equivalent results, and A-level predictions which are indicated in the Secondary School Report/Letter of Recommendation by the Headmaster or Counselor. This is applicable to all international students with similar education paths. Example: India (ISSCE followed by the ISSE or ICSE followed by the ISC).
Ques. Is it compulsory to submit all application documents at the same time?
Ans. No. Documents can be submitted as and when available. However, each of the documents must contain the applicant’s full name and DoB for assigning them correctly to their application file.
Ques. When is the notification of admission or financial aid is given and how?
Ans. The decision made on Applicant’s admission and financial aid is showcased on their Grinnell Application Portal aka the applicant status page. Regular Decision Applicants get notified no later than April 1 and admitted students will receive their letters for admission and or financial aid (if applied) via FedEx. As for the waitlist and students denied admission, they will get their decision letters via application portal only, and not get letters via postal mail.
Placements & Recruiters
Grinnell College Placement Details
Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa, United States placement details include salary insights, top recruiters, and hiring trends to help students understand career outcomes and campus opportunities.
Students usually compare highest package, average package, and recruiter profile before applying. This section gives a compact overview of career outcomes and placement visibility in Grinnell, Iowa, United States.
Recruiters
N/A
Salary Metrics
0/2
Placement Metric
Average Package
N/A
Shows the typical package range students may expect based on the available average salary data.
Placement information is currently limited.
More salary or recruiter data may be updated later for this college.
Rankings over the years
Year-wise highlights from global and country rankings available for this university.
2019
Highlights
2019
2019
- Best overall country rank: #73
- Overall: #73 in country
- Top source: FORBES
- 1 ranked streams
- Focus areas: Overall
- 2 ranking records in 2019
2020
Highlights
2020
2020
- Best overall country rank: #253
- Overall: #253 in country
- Top source: CWUR
- 1 ranked streams
- Focus areas: Overall
- 1 ranking record in 2020
2021
Highlights
2021
2021
- Best overall country rank: #253
- Overall: #253 in country
- Top source: CWUR
- 1 ranked streams
- Focus areas: Overall
- 1 ranking record in 2021
2022
Highlights
2022
2022
- Best overall country rank: #248
- Overall: #248 in country
- Top source: CWUR
- 1 ranked streams
- Focus areas: Overall
- 1 ranking record in 2022
2025
Highlights
2025
2025
- Best overall country rank: #265
- Overall: #265 in country
- Top source: CWUR
- 1 ranked streams
- Focus areas: Overall
- 1 ranking record in 2025
Contact Information
Student Reviews & Ratings
Overall sentiment and category-wise rating summary
Overall score
6.5/10
Top Rated
Based on 1 rating
Rating Breakdown
Visual summary of rating distribution and categories
Live Summary
Academic
8.0/10
Faculty
8.0/10
Infrastructure
7.0/10
Accommodation
8.0/10
Placement
8.0/10