Cost of Attendance and Net Price
Cost of Attendance
Also known as the student budget, the cost of attendance (COA):
- estimates a student's total educational expenses for a specific term (actual costs may vary);
- includes actual costs that appear on the billing statements from Grinnell (direct costs) and estimates of other educational expenses (indirect costs);
- is the starting point for determining demonstrated financial need and need-based financial aid eligibility; and
- is the limit of total financial aid a student can receive, including loans.
The default COA is outlined in the table below and is broken out for different living arrangements. Admitted and currently enrolled students can find their specific COA, used to determine their financial aid eligibility, in the online financial aid office (student login required).
Net Price
Paying for college is a big investment. This is where Grinnell's robust financial aid comes in. Net price:
- is what you actually pay for one year at Grinnell;
- equals cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships; and
- does not include loans or student employment since these sources of financial aid must be repaid or earned, respectively.
We recommend that prospective students who intend to apply for need-based financial aid use our net price calculators to estimate their need-based aid eligibility and their net price.
Admitted students receive a financial aid notice that outlines their cost of attendance, financial aid, and net price. Grinnell College is committed to using the principles and standards of the College Cost Transparency Initiative in its student financial aid offer.
| Living Arrangement | On Campus - Basic Room | On Campus - Apartment | Approved Off Campus | Off Campus with Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition* | $71,788 | $71,788 | $71,788 | $71,788 |
| Activity Fee | $558 | $558 | $558 | $558 |
| Housing** | $8,112 | $8,924 | $8,112 | $1,400 |
| Food^ | $9,236 | $9,236 | $9,236 | $2,600 |
| Miscellaneous Personal Expenses | $1,100 | $1,100 | $1,100 | $1,100 |
| Transportation^^ | $300+ | $300+ | $300+ | $300+ |
| Total Cost of Attendance | $91,094+ | $91,906+ | $91,094+ | $77,746+ |
*Books and essential course materials are included in the cost of tuition.
**Students who receive need-based financial aid and live in apartment-style housing will have their cost of attendance and need-based grant adjusted accordingly.
^Food for students living on campus or approved to live off campus reflects the cost of Meal Plan 1, which is the full meal plan that covers unlimited meals.
^^Transportation is determined based on the student's home address. The estimate used in the cost of attendance is between $300 and $850 for students from mainland U.S. and $1,300 for students from Alaska, Hawaii, or outside the U.S.
Additional Information About Cost of Attendance
A student may appeal for an adjustment to the cost of attendance by emailing the Office of Financial Aid with their request and submitting appropriate documentation. A successful appeal to adjust the cost of attendance does not mean that Grinnell will provide additional grants. Reasons to appeal for a cost of attendance adjustment may include a personal computer purchase, off-campus study (OCS) expenses not included in the standard OCS adjustments outlined on the Off-Campus Study webpage, disability-related educational expenses not covered by other assisting agencies, or dependent care while a student is enrolled.
Grinnell College issues bills by semester, and charges are generally split in half between fall and spring semesters. All students are billed by Grinnell College for tuition and the activity fee. Students living on campus are billed for housing and the meal plan they choose, and students approved to live off campus (not with family) are billed for the meal plan they choose. All other expenses do not typically appear on the billing statements from Grinnell and are instead estimates of what the student might incur throughout the academic year.
The fall semester bill includes a charge for student health insurance. The premium for 2024–25 is $2,410. If you are covered under a different plan that provides in-network benefits in Iowa, you may request a waiver online. Additional details are sent with the fall semester bill. If you are required to enroll in the health insurance policy offered by Grinnell College, you can find information about requesting financial assistance on the Student Health Insurance Assistance page of the online financial aid office (student login required).
| Living Arrangement | On Campus - Basic Room | On Campus - Apartment | Approved Off Campus | Off Campus with Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $67,560 | $67,560 | $67,560 | $67,560 |
| Activity Fee | $546 | $546 | $546 | $546 |
| Housing* | $7,876 | $8,664 | $7,876 | $1,400 |
| Food** | $8,966 | $8,966 | $8,966 | $2,240 |
| Books, Course Materials, Supplies, and Equipment | $800 | $800 | $800 | $800 |
| Miscellaneous Personal Expenses | $1,100 | $1,100 | $1,100 | $1,100 |
| Transportation^ | $250+ | $250+ | $250+ | $250+ |
| Total Cost of Attendance | $87,098+ | $87,886+ | $87,098+ | $73,896+ |
*Students who receive need-based financial aid and live in apartment-style housing will have their cost of attendance and need-based grant adjusted accordingly.
**Food for students living on campus or approved to live off campus reflects the cost of Meal Plan 1, which is the full meal plan that covers unlimited meals.
^Transportation is determined based on the student's home address. The estimate used in the cost of attendance is between $250 and $850 for students from mainland U.S. and $1,250 for students from Alaska, Hawaii, or outside the U.S.