Grinnell College

Grinnell, IA · Private · Town (remote)

Private institution in Grinnell, IA · 1,705 undergraduates · 13% acceptance rate · $62,830 median earnings 10 years after entry.

Top 3%Acceptance rate
Top 5%Average SAT
Top 6%Graduation rate (4-year)
Top 6%Median ACT

Stats

College Scorecard figures, each with where this school sits nationally among institutions that report the same measure. A dash means the school does not report it.

Cost

Average net price: $15,608726th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
In-state tuition & fees: $64,8622,004th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Out-of-state tuition & fees: $64,8622,004th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Cost of attendance: $79,2281,902nd cheapest of 1,985 reporting
Median graduate debt: $17,500428th lowest of 1,880 reporting

Outcomes

Median earnings, 10 years after entry: $62,830444th highest of 1,969 reporting
Median earnings, 6 years after entry: $49,004593rd highest of 1,964 reporting
Graduation rate (4-year): 87.5%112th highest of 2,031 reporting
Full-time retention: 93.1%169th highest of 1,853 reporting

Admissions

Acceptance rate: 12.7%48th most selective of 1,608 reporting
Average SAT: 148648th highest of 1,024 reporting
Median ACT: 3258th highest of 954 reporting

Campus

Undergraduates: 1,7051,036th largest of 2,162 reporting
Student-faculty ratio: 9.0:1304th smallest of 2,159 reporting
Pell Grant share: 16.9%1,860th highest of 2,140 reporting

Nearest large-hub airport: 218 mi (MSP)

On 2 of our 111 lists

Every published ranking this school appears on, with its rank there.

Applying

EDNov 15
ED IIJan 5
RDJan 15

Common App member: Yes
Application fee: Free
Personal essay: Required
Writing supplement: No

Deadlines and essay flags come from the Common App Requirements Grid, joined by school name. Always confirm against the school’s own admissions page before applying.

Best-paying fields of study

Median earnings one and two years after graduating, by field. Showing 12 of 31 reported programs.

Field	Level	1 yr	2 yr
Computer Science	bachelors	$79,284	$91,744
EconomicsSocial Sciences	bachelors	$50,606	$52,941
MathematicsMathematics & Statistics	bachelors	$39,369	$39,369
Political Science and GovernmentSocial Sciences	bachelors	$37,208	$34,704
Biology, GeneralBiological Sciences	bachelors	$33,281	$31,799
English Language and Literature, GeneralEnglish Language & Literature	bachelors	$33,281	$29,141
Psychology, GeneralPsychology	bachelors	$31,851	$26,353
SociologySocial Sciences	bachelors	$29,685	$33,993
Romance Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsForeign Languages	bachelors	$28,960	$19,227
AnthropologySocial Sciences	bachelors	$28,598	$21,052
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group StudiesArea & Ethnic Studies	bachelors	$23,579	$21,508
History	bachelors	$23,351	$29,685

Campus facts

Founded in 1846source
Athletic nickname: "Pioneers"source
Competes in NCAA Division IIIsource
School colors: Scarlet and Blacksource
Mascot: Squirrel (unofficial)source
Motto: "(Latin)"source
Campus size: about 120 acressource
Formerly known as "Iowa College" (1846–1909)source
Athletic conference: Midwest Conferencesource
Fight song: ""Here Come the Pioneers!""source
Notable alum: Gary Coopersource
Notable alum: Yoweri Musevenisource
Notable alum: Herbie Hancocksource
Notable alum: Thomas Cechsource
Notable alum: Robert Noycesource

Athletics — 12 sports

NCAA Division III with football · NCAA Division III

Athletic scholarships not allowed · Athletic aid $0 (M $0 · W $0)

Self-reported EADA participants (2024-2025). Athletic aid is institution-level, not per sport. Athletic scholarships are not allowed by association rule; non-athletic merit or need-based aid may still be available.