University

Grinnell College

Grinnell, Iowa, United States

Verified · last verified 2026-09-02

University details

Institution type: Private, nonprofit
Campus setting: Small town
Application platforms: Not available
Testing policy: Not available
In-state tuition: $68,106
Out-of-state tuition: $68,106
Cost of attendance: Not available (2024–2025)
Undergraduate enrollment: 1,729

Website

Common Data Set

Institution-reported facts by reporting cycle. Missing and withheld values are shown explicitly.

2024–2025 · most recent available

First-year admission rate

14.5%

Calculated from applications and admissions reported in CDS C1. This is a factual calculation, not a CollegePath rating.

First-year admission

High-school GPA distribution · GPA 4.0 (C11): Not reported by institution
High-school GPA distribution · GPA 3.75-3.99 (C11): Not reported by institution
High-school GPA distribution · GPA 3.50-3.74 (C11): Not reported by institution
High-school GPA distribution · GPA 3.25-3.49 (C11): Not reported by institution

Majors

Anthropology
Social Sciences
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Biology, General
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Chemistry
Physical Sciences
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
Computer Science
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft

Deadlines

Early decision · 2026–2027
2026-11-15 — First-year deadline listed in the Common App 2026–2027 Requirements Grid, updated 2026-08-14.
https://content.commonapp.org/Files/ReqGrid.pdf
Early decision II · 2026–2027
2027-01-05 — First-year deadline listed in the Common App 2026–2027 Requirements Grid, updated 2026-08-14.
https://content.commonapp.org/Files/ReqGrid.pdf
Regular decision · 2026–2027
2027-01-15 — First-year deadline listed in the Common App 2026–2027 Requirements Grid, updated 2026-08-14.
https://content.commonapp.org/Files/ReqGrid.pdf

Supplemental essays

How many responses?

The supplemental short answer is optional; the published response is 200–450 words.

2026–2027

Optional · First-year applicants
Grinnell’s core values include supporting a diverse community that is respectful, egalitarian, and committed to the common good. How might your background, respect for the lived experiences of others, and/or eagerness to be exposed to new perspectives equip you to thrive at Grinnell and serve the common good?
Limit: 450 words — Optional but recommended writing prompt; response should be 200–450 words and is submitted through the applicant portal.
https://www.grinnell.edu/admission/apply/first-year/requirements
Optional · First-year applicants; 200-word minimum; optional but recommended
Grinnell’s core values include supporting a diverse community that is respectful, egalitarian, and committed to the common good. How might your background, respect for the lived experiences of others, and/or eagerness to be exposed to new perspectives equip you to thrive at Grinnell and serve the common good?

Application requirements

2026–2027

Application fee · Required
Value: $0
First-year U.S. application fee listed in the Common App 2026–2027 Requirements Grid, updated 2026-08-28.
https://content.commonapp.org/Files/ReqGrid.pdf
Personal essay · Required
The Common App personal essay is marked required in the Common App 2026–2027 Requirements Grid, updated 2026-08-28.
https://content.commonapp.org/Files/ReqGrid.pdf
Supplemental essays · Optional
The supplemental short answer is optional; the published response is 200–450 words.
https://www.grinnell.edu/admission/apply/first-year/requirements

Sources

Direct sources supporting this university’s facts, with retrieval dates.

Secondary source · supports requirements:2026–2027
https://content.commonapp.org/Files/ReqGrid.pdf
Retrieved 2026-09-02 — Common App member-reported first-year fee, waiver, and personal-essay fields; grid updated 2026-08-28.
Official source · supports requirements:2026–2027:supplemental_essays
https://www.grinnell.edu/admission/apply/first-year/requirements
Retrieved 2026-09-02 — The supplemental short answer is optional; the published response is 200–450 words.
Common App 2026–2027 Requirements Grid · supports deadlines:2026–2027
https://content.commonapp.org/Files/ReqGrid.pdf
Retrieved 2026-08-20 — Common App member-reported first-year deadlines; grid updated 2026-08-14.
Official source
https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?153384

High-school GPA distribution · GPA 3.00-3.24 (C11)

Not reported by institution

High-school GPA distribution · GPA 2.50-2.99 (C11)

Not reported by institution

High-school GPA distribution · GPA 2.00-2.49 (C11)

Not reported by institution

High-school GPA distribution · GPA 1.00-1.99 (C11)

Not reported by institution

High-school GPA distribution · GPA below 1.0 (C11)

Not reported by institution

Average high-school GPA (C12)

Not reported by institution

First-year applications (C1)

9,758 applicants

IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS

First-year students admitted (C1)

1,416 students

IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS

First-year students enrolled (C1)

438 students

IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS

Academics and class size

Student-to-faculty ratio (I2): Not reported by institution

Enrollment

Undergraduate enrollment (B1): 1,788 students; IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS
Full-time undergraduate enrollment (B1): 1,729 students; IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS
Part-time undergraduate enrollment (B1): 59 students; IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS

Testing

Enrolled students submitting scores · SAT (C9): 29%; IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS
Enrolled students submitting scores · ACT (C9): 21%; IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing · 25th percentile (C9): 700 score; IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing · 75th percentile (C9): 750 score; IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS
SAT Math · 25th percentile (C9): 710 score; IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS
SAT Math · 75th percentile (C9): 790 score; IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS
ACT Composite · 25th percentile (C9): 31 score; IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS
ACT Composite · 75th percentile (C9): 34 score; IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS

Source: Grinnell College Common Data Set 2024-2025 (institutional data not reported) · Retrieved 2026-09-02

Open the official institutional source

Document ID: url:https://www.grinnell.edu/ · Import: cds-2026-09-v85

2024–2025 · earlier reporting cycle

First-year admission rate

14.5%

Calculated from applications and admissions reported in CDS C1. This is a factual calculation, not a CollegePath rating.

Enrollment

Undergraduate enrollment (B1): 1,788 students; Official CDS B1 total undergraduate enrollment: 1,788 students.
Full-time undergraduate enrollment (B1): 1,729 students; Official CDS B1 full-time undergraduate enrollment: 789 men plus 940 women.
Part-time undergraduate enrollment (B1): 59 students; Official CDS B1 part-time undergraduate enrollment: 30 men plus 29 women.

First-year admission

First-year applications (C1): 9,758 applicants; Official CDS C1 total first-time, first-year applicants for Fall 2024.
First-year students admitted (C1): 1,416 students; Official CDS C1 total first-time, first-year admits for Fall 2024.
First-year students enrolled (C1): 438 students; Official CDS C1 total first-time, first-year enrollees for Fall 2024.
High-school GPA distribution · GPA 4.0 (C11): Not reported by institution; Official CDS C11 reports 0.00% and no available GPA distribution; preserved as not_reported.
High-school GPA distribution · GPA 3.75-3.99 (C11): Not reported by institution; Official CDS C11 reports 0.00% and no available GPA distribution; preserved as not_reported.
High-school GPA distribution · GPA 3.50-3.74 (C11): Not reported by institution; Official CDS C11 reports 0.00% and no available GPA distribution; preserved as not_reported.
High-school GPA distribution · GPA 3.25-3.49 (C11): Not reported by institution; Official CDS C11 reports 0.00% and no available GPA distribution; preserved as not_reported.
High-school GPA distribution · GPA 3.00-3.24 (C11): Not reported by institution; Official CDS C11 reports 0.00% and no available GPA distribution; preserved as not_reported.
High-school GPA distribution · GPA 2.50-2.99 (C11): Not reported by institution; Official CDS C11 reports 0.00% and no available GPA distribution; preserved as not_reported.
High-school GPA distribution · GPA 2.00-2.49 (C11): Not reported by institution; Official CDS C11 reports 0.00% and no available GPA distribution; preserved as not_reported.
High-school GPA distribution · GPA 1.00-1.99 (C11): Not reported by institution; Official CDS C11 reports 0.00% and no available GPA distribution; preserved as not_reported.
High-school GPA distribution · GPA below 1.0 (C11): Not reported by institution; Official CDS C11 reports 0.00% and no available GPA distribution; preserved as not_reported.
Average high-school GPA (C12): Not reported by institution; Official CDS C12 reports 0.00 and no available average GPA; no average was inferred.

Testing

Enrolled students submitting scores · SAT (C9): 29%; Official CDS C9 percent of enrolled first-year students submitting SAT scores.
Enrolled students submitting scores · ACT (C9): 21%; Official CDS C9 percent of enrolled first-year students submitting ACT scores.
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing · 25th percentile (C9): 700 score; Official CDS C9 SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 25th percentile.
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing · 75th percentile (C9): 750 score; Official CDS C9 SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 75th percentile.
SAT Math · 25th percentile (C9): 710 score; Official CDS C9 SAT Math 25th percentile.
SAT Math · 75th percentile (C9): 790 score; Official CDS C9 SAT Math 75th percentile.
ACT Composite · 25th percentile (C9): 31 score; Official CDS C9 ACT Composite 25th percentile.
ACT Composite · 75th percentile (C9): 34 score; Official CDS C9 ACT Composite 75th percentile.

Academics and class size

Student-to-faculty ratio (I2): 9:1; Official CDS I2 reports a Fall 2024 student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, based on 1,749 students and 197 faculty.

Source: Grinnell College Common Data Set 2024-2025 · Retrieved 2026-09-02

Open the official institutional source

Document ID: url:https://www.grinnell.edu/sites/default/files/docs/2025-03/Grinnell-2024-2025-Common-Data-Set.pdf · Import: cds-2026-09-v120-grinnell

Visual and Performing Arts

East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Economics

Social Sciences

English Language and Literature, General

English Language and Literature/Letters

Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies

Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies

Fine and Studio Arts

Visual and Performing Arts

Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

Mathematics

Mathematics and Statistics

Mathematics and Statistics, Other

Mathematics and Statistics

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

Music

Visual and Performing Arts

Philosophy

Philosophy and Religious Studies

Physics

Physical Sciences

Political Science and Government

Social Sciences

Psychology, General

Psychology

Psychology, Other

Psychology

Religion/Religious Studies

Philosophy and Religious Studies

Research and Experimental Psychology

Psychology

Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Sociology

Social Sciences

Limit: 450 words — Verbatim prompt recorded from the official first-party source; cycle wording should be rechecked when the institution updates its application.

Retrieved 2026-06-10