Grinnell College is located in the small town of Grinnell, Iowa, halfway between Des Moines and Cedar Rapids. Despite its somewhat remote location, this “Little School on the Prairie” has a lot to offer. From the G-Tones a cappella group for music lovers to the environmental group Free the Plant for tree huggers, Grinnell’s 100-plus student organizations appeal to a variety of interests. Grinnell’s busy social scene makes up for its lack of Greek life with an array of cultural activities and concerts occurring weekly on campus, from big-name acts to small student groups. A well-known, annual event is the Titular Head Film Festival, which showcases student films. The Grinnell Pioneers compete in the NCAA Division III Midwest Conference. In fact, the Pioneers played some of the first intercollegiate football and baseball games west of the Mississippi. All students are required to live on campus in residence halls located on South, North, or East campuses.

The school is known for its strong social activism, ranking top among schools of its size in sending volunteers to the Peace Corps. Grinnell’s social consciousness stems back to Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency, when several Grinnell graduates became influential New Deal administrators. Between 55 and 60 percent of students participate in study abroad programs during their time at Grinnell. Notable alumni include jazz musician and composer Herbie Hancock and Intel co-founder Robert Noyce, nicknamed “Mayor of Silicon Valley.”

Counselor’s Notes:

Grinnell is in a small town but has a very worldly population, gathering a majority of the students from outside of Iowa.  Part of the reason for this is their impressive financial aid.  Grinnell, per student, has one of the largest endowments of any university in the country.  Surprisingly, their basketball team is famous for being the highest scoring team in the country.

Basic Facts

Location:  Grinnell, IA

Number of Undergraduates:  1,600

Percentage of Black students:   6%

Percentage of Latino students:  9%

Overall 4 year graduation rate:  83%

Overall 5 year graduation rate: 83%

4 year Black female graduation rate: 75%

4 year Black male graduation rate:  60%

4 year Latina graduation rate: 91%

4 year Latino graduation rate: 33%

North Lawndale Alumni graduates: 0

North Lawndale Alumni persistence rate (returning to school beyond 4 semesters): n/a

Average % of financial need met:  100%

Estimated cost of attendance:  $53,318

Average indebtedness at graduation:  $15,000

Admission Contact: Corey McClain

Alumni Network Contact:

Current Alumni who attend Grinnell:  0

Academic Programs

Undergraduate Application for Admission

Academic Support/Admissions Programs:

Academic Resource Centers:  The Academic Resource Centers (ARC) are a network of professionals, from thirteen different offices or departments across campus, who have expertise in teaching a variety of academic skills. We work together to support your success.

Career Development Office: