Grinnell University

Grinnell College is a highly-ranked, small liberal arts college in Iowa. Grinnell students "pursue passions with purpose." The school has only one required course and is test optional.

Affordability: Grinnell meets 100% of demonstrated need without student loans. Theoretically, then, Grinnell is affordable for any student admitted. They are one of the few no-loan schools that also offers merit aid. According to the school website, 65% of students receive need-based aid and 89% of students receive need- or merit-based aid. However, according to NCES data, many students take out loans (42% of freshman borrowed an average of $5,018 in 2020-21). It may be that the portion of borrowers has decreased since then (I think the no-loan policy was instituted that year). 

Rankings: 

• #15 liberal arts colleges, U.S. News

• #49 colleges and universities, CollegeSimply

• #1 best colleges in Iowa, Niche

Popular Majors:

• Biochemistry 

• Computer Science 

• Econometrics 

• Biology 

• Math 

• Experimental Psychology 

• English 

Students, Admissions, enrollment, graduation rates

• 1,748 undergraduate students

• 11% acceptance rate

• 43% enrolled

• 87% graduation rate