Grinnell has a student body of roughly 1,600, up from 1,400 a decade ago. Grinnellians believe that students self-select for the College. The admission office reports that a substantial number of applicants are introduced to Grinnell through word of mouth from both graduates and current students. Admitted applicants come for a liberal arts education where they can invent their own intellectual agenda, embark on a life of learning, and begin to fulfill a commitment to social justice. Grinnell appeals to students who hold high ideals for themselves and the world around them.

Grinnell has always had a high-quality student body, but it has had a relatively small applicant pool compared to its peers – until recently. Over the last decade students in growing numbers wish to come to Grinnell, with first-year applications rising 67 percent, and the admission rate improving from 52 percent in 1999 to 34 percent in 2009. The 378 new Grinnell students in the class of 2013 are decidedly diverse. They come from 42 states, the District of Columbia, and 28 other countries. Twenty-six percent are U.S. students of color (the largest percentage in Grinnell’s history), 13 percent are international, and 19 percent are first-generation college students. The overall first-year retention and four-year graduation rates are 94 percent and 84 percent, respectively.

Grinnell is justifiably proud of its talented students and the sincerity of their intellectual curiosity. As the College has become better known, it has taken pride in a record of improved diversity and selectivity in student admission. Grinnell believes that a great many potential students who are personally suited to Grinnell and who would thrive in Grinnell’s educational environment do not know about the College and therefore do not apply. Clearly the opportunity to pursue an exceptional liberal arts education at Grinnell College can become better known.