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.