Prospective Students

Find the deadline to apply for need-based financial aid based on your admission round in the table below.

Grinnell College practices need-blind admission for applicants who are U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens. Need-blind admission means that admission decisions are made without consideration of a student's ability to pay for college. Grinnell College is also committed to meeting 100% of each admitted student’s financial need with grants, scholarships, and student employment. Financial need is the difference between the cost of attending Grinnell and the amount the Office of Financial Aid determines your family can pay. 

By the appropriate deadline, complete the following steps to apply for need-based aid from Grinnell.

Step 1: Common Application

Indicate your intent to apply for need-based financial aid.

Step 2: CSS Profile 

The CSS Profile is available on Oct. 1 each year. Grinnell College’s code is 6252. Find answers to FAQs on the College Board's website.

• Spring transfers applying to enroll at Grinnell College in spring 2027 should complete the 2026-27 CSS Profile. 
• All others applying to enroll at Grinnell College in fall 2027 should complete the 2027-28 CSS Profile. 

Fee Waivers

The College Board charges a fee to submit the CSS Profile. The fee is automatically waived for some students. 

Noncustodial Parent

If your biological/adoptive parents are not married to each other (or are separated from each other) and are living in separate households, each household must complete their own CSS Profile. Your noncustodial parent first needs to create their own College Board student account. They will then use that account to log in and complete a separate CSS Profile online. The College Board provides instructions for your noncustodial parent to create their own account. If your noncustodial parent is married, your stepparent’s information must be reported on the CSS Profile.

To maintain confidentiality, you and your custodial parent should not share your College Board account password with your noncustodial parent.

If you have no contact with your noncustodial parent, you may complete a request to waive this requirement (PDF). A third-party statement is required. Submit the waiver petition and supporting documents through IDOC or directly to the Office of Financial Aid.

Step 3: IDOC

After completing the CSS profile, use the College Board's IDOC service to submit the following documents (as applicable):

• A signed and dated copy of your custodial parents’ federal tax return (including schedules), and 
• Your custodial parents' W-2(s), as applicable. 

Spring transfers applying to enroll at Grinnell College in spring 2027 should submit 2024 tax documents. All others applying to enroll at Grinnell College in fall 2027 should submit 2025 tax documents. 

Instructions are on the College Board website immediately after you submit the CSS Profile.

Step 4: Federal Student Aid ID

Create an FSA ID for you and for at least one (custodial) parent. These separate usernames and passwords will be used to complete and sign the FAFSA. Creating and Using the FSA ID (PDF) and the Federal Student Aid website offer additional information. You can set up an FSA ID any time.

Step 5: Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) (available Oct. 1)

The FAFSA is available on Oct. 1 each year. Grinnell’s school code is 001868. 

• Spring transfers applying to enroll at Grinnell College in spring 2027 should complete the 2026-27 FAFSA. 
• All others applying to enroll at Grinnell College in fall 2027 should complete the 2027-28 FAFSA. 

Complete the FAFSA to to apply for all federal and state financial aid, such as the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Direct Loans, and Iowa Tuition Grant. If you are unsure of which parent(s) to report on the FAFSA, consult the instructions within the FAFSA. 

How to Apply Only for Federal Financial Aid

The steps outlined above are required to apply for Grinnell College-funded financial aid. If you wish to apply only for federal financial aid, such as the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Work-Study, and the Federal Direct Student Loan, only the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required.

What’s next?

Applicants to Grinnell College can check the status of their financial aid application requirements in their Grinnell application portal. Please allow up to a week of processing time for all documents. Requirements can change, so check back periodically. 

Admitted students who have met their application deadline are notified of financial aid eligibility when they receive their admission decision. Grinnell College is committed to using the principles and standards of the College Cost Transparency Initiative in its financial aid offers.

We encourage all admitted domestic students and those assisting them with paying for college to review Grinnell's financial aid policies and principles (PDF).

Grinnell College is committed to meeting 100% of each admitted student’s financial need with grants and student employment. Financial need is the difference between the cost of attending Grinnell and the amount the Office of Financial Aid determines your family can pay. The College requires a clear and honest submission of family financial resources to determine an applicant’s aid eligibility. 

Grinnell College has a need-aware admission policy for international students. This means that ability to pay for college is one consideration among many in the admission process. 

Follow the instructions that are appropriate for you below.

I Do Not Plan To Apply for Need-Based Financial Aid

Indicate on the Common Application that you do not intend to apply for need-based financial aid. You must then submit a financial aid intent confirmation form in the Grinnell application portal. This form confirms that you do not plan to apply for need-based financial aid and understand the costs you will need to pay if you are admitted and decide to attend Grinnell. 

If you need financial assistance, you are required to apply for financial aid when you apply for admission. You must complete the CSS Profile or International Student Application for Financial Assistance (ISAFA) thoroughly and accurately. Grinnell will not consider financial aid applications after you are admitted to the College. You cannot request financial aid in future years if you do not apply for financial aid for your first year. 

I Plan To Apply for Need-Based Financial Aid

International applicants applying for need-based financial aid must complete the CSS Profile. This form is available on Oct. 1 each year. Find answers to FAQs on the College Board's website.

• Spring transfers applying to enroll at Grinnell College in spring 2027 should complete the 2026-27 CSS Profile. 
• All others applying to enroll at Grinnell College in fall 2027 should complete the 2027-28 CSS Profile. 

Fee Waivers

Grinnell does not provide fee waivers for the CSS profile. If you cannot complete the CSS Profile, Grinnell's International Student Application for Financial Assistance (ISAFA) may be submitted instead. The ISAFA is an online form in your Grinnell application portal, which is created after you submit your Common Application. PDFs are not accepted.

Financial Aid Checklist

Applicants to Grinnell College can check the status of their financial aid application requirements in their Grinnell application portal. Please allow up to a week of processing time for the CSS Profile or the ISAFA. Do not upload any documents to the Office of Financial Aid unless they are specifically requested. For international applicants, Grinnell typically does not require any documents besides the CSS Profile or the ISAFA. Do not submit the Certification of Finances.

What’s next?

You are notified of your financial aid eligibility for your first year at Grinnell College when you receive your admission decision. Requests for additional financial aid are not considered. We encourage all admitted international students and those assisting them with paying for college to review Grinnell's financial aid policies and principles (PDF).

Financial aid for international students is automatically renewed each year. You are notified in the spring of your financial aid eligibility for the upcoming year. The cost of attendance generally increases each year. If you receive need-based financial aid, your financial aid typically increases to cover part of the additional cost. You will also cover part of the additional cost. As such, your family contribution will increase slightly each year.

Grinnell College practices need-blind admission for applicants who are domestic noncitizens. Domestic noncitizens include undocumented students. Need-blind admission means that admission decisions are made without consideration of a student's ability to pay for college. Grinnell College is also committed to meeting 100% of each admitted student’s financial need with grants, scholarships, and student employment. Financial need is the difference between the cost of attending Grinnell and the amount the Office of Financial Aid determines your family can pay.

Complete the following steps by the published deadline to apply for need-based financial aid.

Step 1: Common Application

Indicate your intent to apply for need-based financial aid.

Step 2: CSS Profile

The CSS Profile is available on Oct. 1 each year. Grinnell College’s code is 6252. Find answers to FAQs on the College Board's website.

• Spring transfers applying to enroll at Grinnell College in spring 2027 should complete the 2026-27 CSS Profile. 
• All others applying to enroll at Grinnell College in fall 2027 should complete the 2027-28 CSS Profile. 

Fee Waivers

The College Board charges a fee to submit the CSS Profile. The fee is automatically waived for some students. 

Noncustodial Parent

If your biological/adoptive parents are not married to each other (or are separated from each other) and are living in separate households, each household must complete their own CSS Profile. Your noncustodial parent first needs to create their own College Board student account. They will then use that account to log in and complete a separate CSS Profile online. The College Board provides instructions for your noncustodial parent to create their own account. If your noncustodial parent is married, your stepparent’s information must be reported on the CSS Profile.

To maintain confidentiality, you and your custodial parent should not share your College Board account password with your noncustodial parent.

If you have no contact with your noncustodial parent, you may complete a request to waive this requirement (PDF). A third-party statement is required. Submit the waiver petition and supporting documents through IDOC or directly to the Office of Financial Aid.

Step 3: IDOC

After completing the CSS profile, use the College Board's IDOC service to submit the following documents (as applicable):

• A signed and dated copy of your custodial parents’ federal tax return (including schedules), and 
• Your custodial parents' W-2(s), as applicable. 

Spring transfers applying to enroll at Grinnell College in spring 2027 should submit 2024 tax documents. All others applying to enroll at Grinnell College in fall 2027 should submit 2025 tax documents. 

Instructions are on the College Board website immediately after you submit the CSS Profile.

What’s next?

Applicants to Grinnell College can check the status of their financial aid application requirements in their Grinnell application portal. Please allow up to a week of processing time for all documents. Requirements can change, so check back periodically. 

Admitted students who have met their application deadline will receive notification of financial aid eligibility with their admission decision.

Students who intend to apply to Grinnell College through the QuestBridge National College Match program should complete the following step(s) by Nov. 1.

Domestic and Eligible Noncitizen Students

There are only two steps to complete. The CSS Profile is not required for domestic and eligible noncitizen students who apply to Grinnell College through QuestBridge National College Match program.

Step 1: Federal Student Aid ID

Create an FSA ID for you and for at least one (custodial) parent. These separate usernames and passwords will be used to complete and sign the FAFSA. Creating and Using the FSA ID (PDF) and the Federal Student Aid website offer additional information. You can set up an FSA ID any time.

Step 2: Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Complete the 2027-28 FAFSA. The FAFSA is available on Oct. 1 each year. Grinnell’s school code is 001868. If you are unsure of which parent(s) to report on the FAFSA, consult the instructions within the FAFSA. 

International and Domestic Noncitizen (Including Undocumented) Students

The CSS Profile is available on Oct. 1 each year. Grinnell College’s code is 6252. Find answers to FAQs on the College Board's website. 

Fee Waivers

The College Board charges a fee to submit the CSS Profile. The fee is automatically waived for some students. 

Noncustodial Parent

If your biological/adoptive parents are not married to each other (or are separated from each other) and are living in separate households, each household must complete their own CSS Profile. Your noncustodial parent first needs to create their own College Board student account. They will then use that account to log in and complete a separate CSS Profile online. The College Board provides instructions for your noncustodial parent to create their own account. If your noncustodial parent is married, your stepparent’s information must be reported on the CSS Profile.

To maintain confidentiality, you and your custodial parent should not share your College Board account password with your noncustodial parent.

If you have no contact with your noncustodial parent, you may complete a request to waive this requirement (PDF). A third-party statement is required. Submit the waiver petition and supporting documents through IDOC or directly to the Office of Financial Aid.

What’s next?

Students who match with Grinnell and who have met their application deadline will receive notification of their financial aid eligibility in early December. Review the QuestBridge National Match Tip Sheet (PDF) for more information.

Students who do not match with Grinnell and who wish to apply through a different admission round should follow the instructions according to their citizenship status to complete any additional steps to apply for financial aid.