Rankings

We think that our story speaks for itself. But it’s also nice to hear what others have said about us.

Grinnell is among the very best liberal arts colleges in the nation. Because, well, we’ve got a lot to offer. However, there’s a lot more to the story. And like the cover of a book, you can’t completely judge a college based on one number. So be sure to check out multiple rankings and sources. Look for a school that gets high marks in the categories that matter to you. Then, narrow your field from there.

Best Liberal Arts College

A
Niche.com Overall Grade
#16
Nation's Best Liberal Arts Colleges, U.S. News & World Report
Best Alt-Ivies
Ranked among "best alt-ivies" by Town & Country Magazine

Best Academics

A+
Academics, Niche.com
A
Professors, Niche.com
#6
Best Undergraduate Teaching, U.S. News & World Report

Best Value

#3
Best Financial Aid, Princeton Review
#8
Best Value, U.S. News & World Report
#11
Best Colleges with No Application Fee, Niche.com

Best Students

A+
Diversity, Niche.com
#11
Most International, U.S. News & World Report
#22
LGBTQ-friendly, Princeton Review

Keep in mind where those numbers come from.

It’s your college experience and your perspective. So know that what you’re looking for may vary greatly from what your peers are seeking. Sometimes, the ratings can give a skewed picture. For example, a school that emphasizes public service could be ranked relatively low in alumni giving. Or a school with many adult students who come and go might be penalized for low graduation rates. However, rankings can be very helpful. You can see how Grinnell nets out with some of the most-used rankings.

Carnegie Classification

The Carnegie Classifications have long been a hallmark of institutions that excel in research and practice. Grinnell holds the classification of Research College and University, reflecting the College’s ongoing commitment to scholarly inquiry and impactful research.

A round seal reads "Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education: Research Colleges and Universities (R.C.U.)

We use cookies to enable essential services and functionality on our site, enhance your user experience, provide better service through personalized content, collect data on how visitors interact with our site, and enable advertising services.

To accept the use of cookies and continue on to the site, click "I Agree." For more information about our use of cookies and how to opt out, please refer to our website privacy policy.