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Colleges / Grinnell College

Grinnell College

Grinnell, IA 4-Year Private
Acceptance Rate11%
Acceptance Rate11%

Grinnell College Tuition Information

In 2022, tuition for full-time students at Grinnell College was $60,988 a year.

Tuition increased 4.87% in 2022–from $58,156 the prior year. Usually, colleges raise tuition about 3% each year.

If these numbers sound impossible, remember, the total cost of tuition isn't necessarily what you will have to pay to attend a school. Many students pay way less than the total tuition after grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts are awarded. Plus, student loans can make theactual cost of attending college feel more doable until you've finishing school and found a job.

Does Grinnell College Offer In-State and Out-of-State Tuition?

Grinnell College is a private, nonprofit institution, so it has the same tuition for residents of Iowa as it does for residents from other states.

Public schools receive funds from the state to help them cover costs. Public, state schools can offer lower tuition for students who meet the requirements for in-state residency.

Attending an insitution where you are eligible for the reduced tuition offered to state residentscan save significant money on the overall cost of college. Be sure to verify your state's rules for in-state residency. Each state has different requirements to qualify as in-state resident. In many states, students must have lived in the state for 12 months before starting school to qualify for in-state tuition. There may be other criteria as well, depending on the state you and your parents currently live in.

Explore other Iowa colleges

Do International Students Pay More to Go to Grinnell College?

Grinnell College has the same tuition for international students as for those from out of state.

Students from outside of the U.S. are not eligible for loans or grants from the U.S. government, but should research private or Grinnell College-specific aid and scholarships. International students who demonstrate financial need may qualify for the following types of financial support at Grinnell College:

•On-campus jobs •Grinnell College-specific loans •Grinnell College-specific scholarships

International students without financial need may be eligible for merit-based institutional scholarships.


Grinnell College Living Expenses, Fees, and More


In addition to the cost of tuition, room and board, books, transportation and fees are also costs it consider when estimating the cost of attendance for college. Let's take a look at what impacts these costs, and what to expect at Grinnell College.

House and Food Costs at Grinnell College

Housing and campus dining at Grinnell College costs $15,048 a year. This covers the cost of living in dorms or other on-campus housing, and a dining plan that allows you to eat in the school dining facilities.

Meal-plan costs may vary depending on the numnber of meals you intend to eat on-campus

Cost of Books at Grinnell College

The cost of books often surprises first-year college students. The real cost of books and supplies depends on the courses you take and the textbooks, computer programs, or other materials are required.. To save money, many students choose to use books from the library or buy books from students who have already taken the course.

Annual Fees

Most schools also have fees to offsets cost associated with maintaining facilties, like the library, gym and computer labs.

Keep in mind, there could also be other costs associated with participating in certain activities, like Greek Life, or participating in sports or other extracurriculars. Most colleges offer resources for students with demonstrated need to get help covering these costs.

The Cost of Transportation at Grinnell College

The cost of getting around in college can really vary. Will you drive, fly, or take public transportation to school? Will you need to pay to park on-campus? Is the campus walkable? Do you plan to bring a car or will you need to use busses, subways, or other modes of transportation? All of these factors can drastically impact your transportation budget. Keeping in mind, first-year students are allowed to park a car on campus.

The location of a college or university can impact the amount you'll have to spend just to get around. Small, rural schools may be easier to get around, but the cost of getting to campus may be higher. On the flip side, getting around in an urban area is often expensive, but there may be more buses, trains or affordable flights to actually get to school. The Grinnell College campus is located in a small town setting in Iowa.

Other Costs

When you're planning for college, don’t forget to leave some room in your budget for the cost of things like entertainment, clothes, furnishings and toiletries.


Total Tuition and Expenses at Grinnell College


Now, let’s do a rundown of all of the costs associated with college, to get a better idea of how much students can expect to shell out for Grinnell College.

How Much Does Grinnell College Cost?

What will the cost of attending Grinnell College be? Here is a breakdown of tuition and expenses.

2022 Total Tuition and Expenses
Tuition $60,988
Room and Board $15,048
Other expenses $1,100

The total estimated cost will vary depending on whether you are going to live on-campus or off-campus.

Total Estimated Costs
On-Campus $78,528
Off-Campus $62,380

The breakdowns above provide a good estimate of the total cost of attendance before financial aid and scholarships. Tuition and fees may vary depending on program, course level, location, and more.


Grinnell College Financial Aid


The majority of Grinnell College undergrads use financial aid to to cover the cost of tuition. In 2022, 1,108 of the 1,750 undergrads enrolled received financial aid. Grinnell College meets 100% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.

The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $55,722 a year.

Most Common Loans for Grinnell College Students

Most students take out institutional or government loans, because they tend to have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private loans. Loans from the federal government can be subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest during school, while unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest at the time the loan is issued. If students do no qualify for enough federal loans to cover the cost of tuition, some take out private loans. Parents can also take out ParentPLUS loans, which are government loans for parents who are helping their children pay for college.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps colleges determine how much financial need students and their familes have, so they can offer a financial aid package that meets, or come close to meeting, their need. For more information on Grinnell College financial aid, keep reading, or visit their financial aid website.

Scholarships at Grinnell College

Some students may receive grants and scholarships to help pay for college. Unlike loans, scholarships and grants do not have to be paid back.

In 2022, Grinnell College awarded 1,108 need-based scholarships to students, giving away total of $56.6 million to help students with financial need cover the cost of school. An additional $9.96 million in merit-based scholarship money was awarded to students without demonstrated financial need.

Grinnell College Net Cost

The net price of college is the actual cost of attending a school for one year. Net cost is calculated by subtracting any scholarships, grants or other aid that does not need to be paid back from the total cost. Student loans are not part of the calculation, because they need to be repaid.

Now that we have a sense of the total estimated costs for Grinnell College students, we can subtract the average financial aid package to find the estimated net cost. Net cost can vary depending on a students’ need and the financial aid award received.

When considering whether a school fits your budget, it is important to consider the estimated net cost, not just the sticker price of tuition. Often, schools with the highest tuition also offer the most generous aid packages, so estimate your net cost before eliminating a school because it does fit your budget.

The average amount of financial aid received by a full-time first year student with demonstrated need at Grinnell College was $55,722 in 2022. By substracting the average financial aid package from the estimated costs, we get a number that may make the cost of Grinnell College seem more manageable.

Estimated Net Cost for Full-Time Students
On-Campus $22,806
Off-Campus $6,658

What will attending Grinnell College really cost you? The answer depends on several factors.

As of 2011, colleges are required to have a net price calculator on their website to help prospective students and their families make more informed decisions about the actual cost of attending that school, based on their financial situation. You can find the Grinnell College's net cost calculator on their website.

Grinnell College Tuition Payment Plans

Some students choose to use payment plans to make the cost of tuition fit more comfortably in their budget.

Grinnell College offers an Installment Payment Plan, which allows students to pay tuition in a series of smaller chunks instead of one lump sum.

Does Grinnell College Offer Tuition Waivers?

Schools sometimes offer tuition waivers to certain groups, to reduce the total cost of attendance. Some colleges offer tuition waivers for faculty, staff, and their families , underrepresented students, or military students. Even if you qualify for a waiver, students are usually responsible for housing, meal plans, and other expenses.

Grinnell College has some full or partial tuition waivers available for: - Employees or Children of Employees

Check the financial aid website for more information on payment plans and tuition waivers.


Learn More About Grinnell College


Click below to find out more about the admissions requirements and deadlines, student life, academics, majors and more.

Overview

Student Life

Academics

Admissions

Connect with other students, parents, and admissions professionals to learn more about about Grinnell College in the College Confidential forums

Grinnell College Tuition & Fees

Tuition & Fees

$77,428

In State

$77,428

Out-of-State
Cost Breakdown
In State
Out-of-State
State Tuition
$60,988
$60,988
Fees
$492
$492
Housing
$15,048
$15,048
Books
$900
$900

Grinnell College Financial Aid

Students Who Receive Need-Based Aid

64%

Average Financial Aid Package

$54,789

Data Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases © 2022 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved

Quick Facts

Total Enrollment

1,748

Campus Setting

Small Town

Acceptance Rate

11%

Tuition and Fees

In State

$61,480

Out-of-State

$61,480

Fall Freshmen
Application Deadline

Jan 15
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