Grinnell College

Grinnell College

(Grinnell)

Grinnell College is a highly selective liberal arts college in Iowa with one of the largest per-student endowments in the nation, enabling generous financial aid and extensive academic resources. Its Open Curriculum, strong social justice tradition, and emphasis on self-governance give students unusual freedom to shape their own education.

Mascot: Pioneer

Notable Alumni

Robert Noyce (co-founder of Intel)Gary Cooper (two-time Oscar-winning actor)Herbie Hancock (legendary jazz musician)

At a Glance

Acceptance Rate
11%
SAT (Optional)
1330–1510
Avg GPA
3.88
Enrollment
1.7K
Setting
Rural
Founded
1846

Cost

Tuition$61K
Room & Board$15K
Est. Annual Total$75K

Published sticker prices for 2025-2026. Actual cost after aid varies.

Top Programs & National Ranking

Approximate national ranking based on departmental rankings, research output, and program reputation.

Highlights

Open Curriculum
Massive endowment per student
Strong social justice tradition

Athletics

Division
NCAA Division 3
Conference
Midwest Conference
View on NCAA.com

Safety

Campus SafetySafe

Low on-campus crime with only a handful of criminal offenses reported annually. Campus Safety operates 24/7 with increased weekend staffing and late-night transportation.

Neighborhood SafetyVery Safe

Grinnell is a small, safe Iowa prairie town of about 9,000 people with crime rates well below state and national averages.

Based on Clery Act data, student surveys, and local crime statistics.

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