Grinnellians map their own academic journeys.
With our individually advised curriculum, you’ll prove it. Here at Grinnell, the First-Year Tutorial is your only required class. The rest is up to you. Because as you sharpen your strengths and your passions, you’ll also discover all the places your academic interests can lead you. This requires the freedom to explore, along with focused guidance and mentorship for support. So take the lead shaping your studies—and know we’ll always have your back.
Liberal Arts Foundation
An education that reflects on its own process.
As a Grinnellian, the only answers that scare you are the easy ones. Because to you, learning includes questioning the expected, deconstructing theories, and uncovering deeper meaning. Here you’ll find opportunities to think creatively and critically at every turn. So explore the breadth of a liberal arts education. You’ve got over 500 courses to peruse.
Off-Campus Study
Let your learning take you further.
Your education can unlock experiences you’ve never imagined. At Grinnell, you can navigate the world’s complexities and responsibly contribute to your community and the world-at large. With our rich off-campus study and global learning opportunities, you’ll use your academic interests to thrive in settings all over the world. Join a long legacy of Grinnellians who have studied abroad. In fact, over 50 percent of each graduating class participates in semester- or yearlong study off campus.
World-Class Faculty
They purposefully choose Grinnell, just like you.
Our professors are driven to contribute to the collective intellect of this academic community. In small classes (which average 17 students), they enjoy getting to know what you’re interested in and readily mentor students in advanced research. With their diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and methods, they’ll push you to think bigger and dive deeper into intellectual inquiry.
An evolving, engaging, empowering education.
Grinnellians are flexible and nimble in their academic pursuits. Your interests will likely grow and veer in uncharted directions, and we believe that’s where new opportunities take hold.
It’s your education. Discover what happens when you steer its course.
Individually Advised Curriculum
More than 35 topics to choose from, and the only required class you’ll find at Grinnell.
Spend a semester or a summer conducting advanced research or producing original creative work with expert faculty.