First-Generation Students

If neither of your parents has completed a four-year degree, then Grinnell College considers you a first-generation student. Even if that isn’t exactly your situation, all of the resources described below are available to you.

Why is the first-generation identity important?

Navigating the college search process, completing applications, filling out financial aid forms — these tasks are challenging for everyone. But when you don’t have a parent or guardian with experience doing this work, it falls mostly on you. That’s a lot.

A few tips related to money and financial aid:

There’s no application fee to apply to Grinnell.
Grinnell is need-blind — that means when you apply for admission, your ability to pay tuition isn’t part of our decision making (for US students).
We meet 100% of your demonstrated need with scholarships, grants, and work-study. Loans aren’t part of our aid packages because we want you to graduate debt-free.

A Student’s View

“As a first-generation college student, I found the college application process hard to navigate. When I found Grinnell, I felt an immediate sense of relief. Between the faculty mentorships, vast academic resources, and a large first-generation community on campus, I knew I would succeed at Grinnell.” — Tori Thomas '25 (Crystal, Minn.)

Faculty and Staff Views

Grinnell College recognizes that your experience as a first-gen college student is different. Plenty of our faculty and staff were first-generation students themselves. They understand and want to help.

Your Dedicated Staff Ally

Maggie Bell is the associate director of first-generation and low-income programs at Grinnell, and she hosts events throughout the year to help FGLI students get connected to the Grinnell College community. Maggie also runs the student food pantry and Low-Income Lending Library.

Students bouncing in a bounce house on campus

Health and Wellness

Student Health and Wellness: You’ll have access to physical and mental health services on campus at no additional cost and help connecting with off-campus healthcare providers as needed.
Health insurance: You can continue to be covered by your family’s insurance or purchase student health insurance.

Student has hand raised in a classroom, viewed from behind

Learning

Accessibility and Disability Resources: If you have a learning, physical, psychiatric, or sensory disability, Grinnell wants to support you.
Science Learning Center: Receive one-on-one tutorial or group mentoring when you take courses in biology, biological chemistry, chemistry, neuroscience, physics, and psychology.
Writing, Reading, and Speaking Center: Full-time professional instructors will help you at any stage of your project and work with you in individual sessions.

Two students lift a folding table from a stack of them to help set up for reunion

Paying for College

Student employment: A campus job may be part of your financial aid or a way to earn some spending money.
No-loan initiative: If you receive need-based financial aid, a loan will not be part of the award. The goal is to help students graduate debt-free.

Get to Know Grinnell

To determine if Grinnell is a place where you will feel a sense of belonging, we encourage you to

Take a virtual visit

Ask current students your questions

Funding for Internships, Fellowships, and More

Center for Careers, Life, and Service grants and funding: Prepare yourself for a career that matters and get help along the way.
Fellowships and awards: Imagine winning a fellowship that pays you to spend a year teaching English as a second language after you graduate from Grinnell. Grinnellians prepare themselves exceptionally well for opportunities like this.

First-Generation Students

Do you identify as a first-generation student?

Why is the first-generation identity important?

We See You