Organizer Information
Grinnell College is a private, coeducational, residential liberal arts and sciences college in Grinnell, Iowa. Founded in 1846, the College offers an undergraduate liberal arts curriculum with individually advised academic pathways, including majors, interdisciplinary concentrations, and opportunities for independent study and faculty-mentored research or creative work.
Key Information
- Official Institution Name: Grinnell College
- Opportunity Type: University Programs & Admissions
- Study Levels: Undergraduate
- Degrees Offered: Bachelor of Arts (BA)
- Academic Fields: Fine Arts, Art History, Film & Media, Humanities, Social Sciences, Sciences, Interdisciplinary Studies, and other liberal arts fields
- Relevant Programs: Art History (major); Studio Art (major); Film and Media Studies (concentration); Digital Studies (concentration); Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies (major)
- Language of Instruction: English
- International Applicants: Yes
- Application Period: Early Decision I, Early Decision II, and Regular Decision
- Application Deadline: 15 November 2026 (ED I); 5 January 2027 (ED II); 15 January 2027 (Regular Decision)
- Start of Studies: Fall 2027
- Application Fee: $0
- Tuition: $73,582 for 2026–27
- Funding: Need-based financial aid and merit scholarships are available; international admission is need-aware.
Field of Study & Eligible Disciplines
- Grinnell's undergraduate curriculum allows students to combine disciplines rather than follow a fixed general-education structure. Relevant arts and media fields include Art History, Studio Art, Film and Media Studies, Digital Studies, and Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies. Art History and Studio Art are majors, while Film and Media Studies and Digital Studies are concentrations.
- Studio Art incorporates traditional and digital media, including drawing, ceramics, painting, printmaking, sculpture, and digital media. Film and Media Studies combines theoretical study with practical engagement with moving images and related media.
- Applicants are admitted to Grinnell as undergraduate students rather than through a separate arts portfolio-admission process. Grinnell does not require an audition or portfolio review for students intending to pursue an arts degree, although applicants may submit creative work as supplemental material.
General Eligibility
- Grinnell's first-year admission process is intended for students applying after secondary school. International applicants must follow the international admission requirements applicable to their educational system. Applicants whose educational systems require external examinations may need to submit the relevant official examination results.
- For applicants following an A-Level curriculum, Grinnell requires A-Level examinations; Advanced Subsidiary or equivalent results and A-Level predictions are also requested.
Educational Background
- First-year applicants must submit an official secondary/high school transcript and the required school report and counselor recommendation. Grinnell evaluates the academic rigor and performance of the applicant's secondary-school program.
- Applicants who have already attended another college or university may apply through the separate transfer admission process, which requires college transcripts and academic evaluations.
Language Requirements
- International applicants whose native language is not English and/or whose primary language of high-school instruction was not English must demonstrate English proficiency through an official TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test score. Grinnell does not establish a minimum test score, although it states that it generally prefers IELTS scores of 7.0 or higher on its first-year requirements page and 7.5 or higher in its international FAQ's current admitted-student profile.
- Grinnell does not provide waivers for TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test scores.
Application Fee
| Applicant Type | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| First-year applicants | $0 |
| International first-year applicants | $0 |
Grinnell states that it does not charge an application fee for the Common Application or QuestBridge Application.
Tuition
| Academic Year | Tuition | Student Activity Fee | Tuition & Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026–27 | $73,582 | $572 | $74,154 |
The published 2026–27 comprehensive fee also lists $8,316 for housing and $9,468 for food, bringing the published total to $91,938. Required books and course materials are included through GrinnBooks.
The College has not been identified in the reviewed official sources as having published the 2027–28 tuition amount yet; therefore, the 2026–27 figures should not be treated as the confirmed 2027–28 tuition.
Funding & Financial Support
- Grinnell provides need-based financial aid and merit scholarships. For international applicants, admission is need-aware. The College states that it is committed to meeting 100% of the institutionally determined financial need of admitted international students who complete the required financial-aid application by the applicable deadline.
- International applicants seeking need-based aid must submit the CSS Profile or, when they cannot complete it, the International Student Application for Financial Assistance (ISAFA). International applicants who do not apply for need-based aid during their first year cannot request it in subsequent years.
- Outstanding international applicants may also be considered for merit scholarships without submitting a separate scholarship application.
University Services & Academic Support
- Students have access to individualized academic advising and faculty mentorship. Mentored Advanced Projects (MAPs) allow eligible students to undertake faculty-directed research or creative projects, although availability depends on individual programs and faculty.
- The Center for Careers, Life, and Service provides career advising, internship and employment resources, professional-development funding, fellowships, and postgraduate planning.
- International students can receive support and referrals through the Office of International Student Affairs.
Application Requirements
- Common Application or QuestBridge Application
- Personal essay included in the application
- Two teacher evaluations
- Secondary/high school counselor recommendation
- Common Application Secondary School Report
- Official secondary/high school transcript
- Official external examination results when required for the applicant's educational system
- Official English-proficiency score report when the international requirement applies
SAT and ACT scores are optional for first-year applicants.
Portfolio: Not required for arts applicants; applicants may submit creative work as supplemental material.
Audition: Not required for students pursuing arts degrees.
Interview: Recommended but not required for admission
Optional: Supplemental materials, including writing samples and creative work, may be submitted after the Common Application through the applicant status page.
How to Apply?
- Application Portal
Deadline & Timeline
- Application Deadline — Early Decision I: 15 November 2026
- Financial Aid Deadline — Early Decision I: 15 November 2026
- Admission Notification — Early Decision I: mid–late December 2026
- Applicant Reply Date — Early Decision I: mid-January 2027
- Application Deadline — Early Decision II: 5 January 2027
- Financial Aid Deadline — Early Decision II: 5 January 2027
- Admission Notification — Early Decision II: early February 2027
- Applicant Reply Date — Early Decision II: mid-February 2027
- Application Deadline — Regular Decision: 15 January 2027
- Financial Aid Deadline — Regular Decision: 15 January 2027
- Admission Notification — Regular Decision: late March–early April 2027
- Applicant Reply Date — Regular Decision: 1 May 2027
Location
Grinnell College — Grinnell, Iowa, United States
Additional Details
- Grinnell is an undergraduate-only institution; its principal degree is the Bachelor of Arts. Students can develop interdisciplinary academic pathways through majors, concentrations, and individually planned study.
- For international applicants seeking financial assistance, the financial-aid application must be completed during the admission process. Grinnell states that it will not consider a later request for institutional financial aid from an international student who did not apply for aid when first admitted.
- The 2026–27 published tuition and fee figures are the latest official amounts identified in the reviewed sources; they should not be presented as confirmed 2027–28 costs until Grinnell publishes the new academic-year figures.