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Grinnell College

Grinnell, Iowa · Private · 1,729 undergrads

Grinnell admits 15% of applicants (fall 2024, federal IPEDS data), is test-optional for fall 2027, and regular decision is due Jan 15, 2027.

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Can I get into Grinnell?

15% of applicants get in

Grades and essays carry this one; most strong applicants still hear no. The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent scores had 1410–1540 on the SAT.

Add your SAT to see where you sit

Likely: even the low end of our estimate is 60% or more, and the college admits at least 25% of applicants. Target: our estimate is 30% or more. Reach: our estimate is under 30%, or the college admits under 15%. Long shot: our estimate is under 12%, or the college admits under 12%. Estimates use the college's admit rate and score range plus your grades and scores. They are not a promise.

9,758 applied, 1,416 admitted, fall 2024 (IPEDS).

What does Grinnell cost?

$15,203 a year

What students who got federal aid paid on average after grants, 2024-25. The sticker price, with housing and food, is $87,598.

Tap your family income:

Average paid after grants by family income
under $30,000$8,161
$30,000–$48,000$10,181
$48,000–$75,000$8,994
$75,000–$110,000$14,345
over $110,000$41,634

Own a business or have divorced parents? Run Grinnell's own calculator.

Net price 2024-25, College Scorecard.

When is Grinnell due?

6 days left

6days
Early decisionBinding
Due Sunday, Nov 15, 2026
57days
Early decision IIBinding
Due Tuesday, Jan 5, 2027
67days
Regular decision
Due Friday, Jan 15, 2027
Add to calendar Every Grinnell deadline

Checked on grinnell.edu Nov 5, 2026. See the source

Does Grinnell need the SAT or ACT?Optional

No.

Test-optional for fall 2027. 29% of enrolled first-years sent the SAT. Send your SAT if it's 1480 or higher, the middle of what enrolled first-years scored.

Which colleges require scores

Checked on grinnell.edu Nov 2, 2026. See the source

What it's like

1,729
undergrads. Small, so classes are small and you'll know a lot of faces.
Town
Campus setting in Grinnell, IA.
93%
of first-years come back for year two.
74%
finish in four years. 87% within six.
$72.1k
median pay 10 years after starting.
$8.8k
median federal debt at graduation.

Lists Grinnell is on

Test-optional collegesColleges due Nov 15Colleges due Jan 5Colleges due Jan 15Early decision II collegesDeadlines after Jan 1Most selective in IowaCheapest after aid in IowaColleges for a 1500 SATColleges for a 1450 SATColleges for a 32 ACT

Questions people ask

Is Grinnell College test-optional for fall 2027?
Yes. Grinnell is test-optional for students entering in fall 2027, so you choose whether to send SAT or ACT scores. Checked on grinnell.edu on Nov 2, 2026.
What is Grinnell College's acceptance rate?
15% for fall 2024: 1,416 of 9,758 applicants were admitted (IPEDS).
What SAT score do you need for Grinnell College?
The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent SAT scores had 1410 to 1540 (IPEDS, fall 2024). A quarter scored higher and a quarter lower, so a score in that range is typical, not a cutoff.
How much does Grinnell College cost for a family earning $60,000?
Families earning $48,000–$75,000 paid an average of $8,994 a year after grants in 2024-25 (students who got federal aid). The sticker price is $87,598.
When is the Grinnell College application deadline for fall 2027?
Early decision is due Nov 15, 2026. Early decision II is due Jan 5, 2027. Regular decision is due Jan 15, 2027. Checked on grinnell.edu on Nov 5, 2026.
Does Grinnell College have early decision?
Yes. 283 of 828 early decision applicants were admitted (34%) in fall 2024. Early decision is binding: if you're admitted, you go.