The financial aid application process runs concurrently with the admission process, and there are forms to complete and deadlines to keep in mind.
Merit Scholarships
Dec. 1 is Grinnell's priority Common Application deadline for merit scholarships. No separate scholarship application is required.
Need-Based Financial Aid
|
Admission Round |
Early Decision I | Early Decision II | Regular Decision | 2022 Fall Transfer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Financial Aid Deadline |
Nov. 15 | Jan. 1 | Jan. 15 | April 1 |
|
Aid Notification |
mid-late December | early February | late March / early April | mid-May |
Financial aid deadlines correspond with admission deadlines. See below for a step-by-step guide on applying for need-based financial aid at Grinnell College.
How to Apply for Financial Aid
The table below provides an overview of what is required to apply for need-based financial aid. Click on the status that applies to you for more information.
| FAFSA | CSS Profile |
Parent Federal |
Grinnell Renewal |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
X |
X |
X |
||
|
X |
X |
|||
|
X |
X |
Returning international and domestic noncitizen students are not required to submit documents for renewal since aid is based on the CSS Profile from their first year.
Applicants completing only the FAFSA will be considered for the following types of financial aid:
- Iowa Tuition Grant
- Federal Pell Grant
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
- Federal Subsidized Direct Loan (if requested)
- Federal Unsubsidized Direct Loan (if requested)
- Federal PLUS Loan (if requested)
The 2023–24 FAFSA and CSS Profile will use income from two years prior (2021) as the basis for calculations. This will allow students/families to complete the 2023–24 forms as early as Oct. 1, 2022.
Tax data reported should come directly from your 2021 federal tax documents. On the FAFSA we ask that, when prompted, you use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to download tax information directly from the IRS. However, keep in mind that not all tax filers are eligible to use this tool. The instructions of each form reference the tax return line numbers that you need to report.
If your family is experiencing unusual circumstances and the 2021 income does not accurately reflect your current situation, please feel free to provide additional information and documentation directly to the Office of Financial Aid using our secure site.
All other information requested on the CSS Profile and FAFSA, including marital status and assets, should be reported as of the date the application is submitted.