Financial Aid and Cost of Attendance

This is an investment in you.

You’re looking at Grinnell because you want to blaze your intellectual trail at an institution that brings together students from many backgrounds and gives you the support to create your own academic journey. We’ll do everything we can to make sure that the cost of a Grinnell education doesn’t get in your way — and that you’ll be able to graduate without student debt, which can be a burden that slows you down as you pursue your goals post-graduation.

Our Commitment to YOU

Grinnell continues to live up to its values of academic excellence in a diverse community dedicated to social responsibility by investing even more in you — our students. Grinnell is one of fewer than 10 colleges and universities nationwide that are need-blind, meet 100% of demonstrated need, offer no-loan financial aid, and that are test optional.

What does that mean for you? It means a Grinnell education is financially accessible. We will evaluate your application based on your academic potential and your qualifications, not on your ability to pay. We also commit to meet your demonstrated financial need without loans — Grinnell offers additional grants rather than loans.

It means you can graduate and take on the next stage of your life without the burdens of student loan debt.

YOU can afford a Grinnell education.

We value you for you, not how much your family can contribute to the cost of your education. So when you apply for admission, we don’t consider your ability to pay — that’s what we call need-blind admission*.

We also meet 100% of your demonstrated need without loans — only a handful of colleges and universities among more than 4,000 in the United States can say that.

See for yourself with our Net Price Calculator.

* Domestic applicants only

Group of students holds up another student

We succeed when YOU succeed.

We are committed to college access, equity, and success from admission through commencement. To apply, you won’t have any application fees, supplements, or additional essays to worry about. You’ll decide whether to send us your standardized test scores. Your application will be evaluated holistically — with consideration for your background. Our intentional, diverse community welcomes students from around the world — and sends them to global study, research, and internship locations as well. Armed with a rich set of personally-designed intellectual, practical, and international experiences, Grinnellians are leaders in their communities wherever their passions lead them.

Student celebrates after receiving degree

We invest in YOUR future.

A Grinnell education is worth so much more than the cost of attendance. In concert with Grinnell’s distinctive individually-advised curriculum — which you will design — you’ll connect with faculty and career advisers who will help you develop the knowledge and skills to help you meet your academic and career goals. You’ll put your theoretical knowledge to work through hands-on learning experiences, such as research, internships, externships, and service opportunities. You’ll gain practical experience and new perspectives to connect your ideas to action and make an impact in our globally-connected world.

89%

of our students receive aid to help pay for their years at Grinnell.

65%

of Grinnell students receive need-based aid with an average grant/scholarship eligibility of $52,847.

$66.6 million

total grants and scholarships provided to students this year.

Take the Next Step

Calculate Your Net Price

Apply for Aid

Contact the Financial Aid Team

Individually Advised Learning

“You’re really in charge of your learning and you get to take out of college whatever you want.”

Becoming a Change Agent

“You change as a person. Grinnell allows you to blossom into that leader, into that change agent that you’ve always wanted to become but maybe didn’t know that you were capable of being.”

Global Opportunities

“I’m going to be a student who is going to be traveling to Washington, D.C., in my second semester of my third year. In that program, not only do I get to be in an environment where I’m surrounded by like-minded peers, but I’m also able to engage in an internship.”