Tuition and Financial Aid

Making a Grinnell education possible.

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. Have questions or concerns? We encourage you to reach out to us--we are here to help and answer.

Affording Grinnell

Choosing which college to attend is a big financial decision. Through a multitude of support options.

86% 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 award of $46,609.
Iowa high school graduates have access to a specialized need-based financial aid program, the Iowa Access Initiative.
$20,093 is the average indebtedness for students that borrowed during their enrollment at Grinnell and graduated May 2019.
Grinnell funds 93% of the $58.6 million in total grants and scholarships awarded to students this year. The remaining 7% is funded by federal, state, and private sources.

How to Afford Grinnell

Cost & Net Price

Tuition and fees. Room and board. Textbooks and travel. Here’s a breakdown of what makes up the cost of your education and tools to calculate your Net Price.

Find more information on cost & net price

How We Calculate Need

Your eligibility for financial assistance is based on the difference between two numbers: the cost of your education and the calculated ability of you and your family to meet that cost.

Learn more
Grants, Scholarships, and Awards

Let’s connect your hard work with the resources that support it. From merit-based to need-based scholarships and grants, we have options to help make your Grinnell education attainable.

Explore what's available
Loans and Financing

We award educational loans primarily from federal loan programs, which offer you and your parents long-term, low-interest loans with various options for repayment.

See your options
Student Employment

A student job is a great way to earn some extra money toward your education, but with our wide variety of opportunities, you’ll benefit far beyond the paycheck.

Review details and wage rates

Applying for Aid

Among more than 4,000 U.S. colleges and universities, only a small number meet the gold standard for financial aid. Grinnell is among them. Using a combination of grants, loans, and campus jobs, we create a custom offer that’s specific to your unique needs and financial situation, but first you need to apply. Look through the instructions below and we’re happy to answer any questions you might have.

Apply For Aid

Prospective Students

Whether you’re a U.S., international, or transfer student, we’d like to help get you all the information you need, help ease your potential worries, and answer your questions. If you’d like to apply for financial aid, we have a few forms specific to your situation.

Apply for aid
Current Students

Grinnellians, welcome back. Let’s make sure you have everything you need, including having all the financial aid steps completed, so you’re good to go when you come back to campus. Studying off-campus? We’ve got you covered.

Re-apply for aid
Federal Aid Verification

If you qualify for federal aid and your FAFSA is selected for Federal Verification, we provide detailed instructions and the forms required to complete this process.

Start the Federal Verification process

Understanding Your Award

Whether you’re curious about the full scope of the award package or you’re looking for more information to understand your aid options, we’re always here to help and talk you through it.

What Your Award Means

Frequently Asked Questions

There’s a lot to keep track of with the college application process. That’s why we’ve gathered some questions that new students and their families often ask, along with our responses. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, contact us. We’ll be happy to answer your specific questions.

Get the answers
Terms and Conditions of Your Award

Terms and conditions of your award and other policies - it's important you read and understand it all.

Look here for the conditions of your award
Loan Application Process

There are several different kinds of loans available to prospective and returning students, and we’ll walk you through the process step by step.

Follow along
Special Programs

There are several programs for which you may qualify to help with small or large costs, from textbooks to repayment of student loans.

Find out if you qualify
Consumer Information

Here’s more information from the Office of Financial Aid. We’re also happy to help you locate anything you can’t find.

Find resources
Contact the Financial Aid Team

The financial aid process can be confusing, but we have a team prepared to help you every step of the way.

Reach out to us