Grinnell College
📍 Grinnell, IA · USA · North America
QS Overall #— · QS Accounting/Finance #—
🎓 Academic Program
Economics major with accounting/finance coursework. Independent Study Projects (Mentored Advanced Project). Small, intimate classes.
🎯 Admissions
📊 Exam Requirements
📅 Deadlines
💰 Financial Aid & Scholarships
📑 Scholarship requirements
- CSS Profile OR International Student Application for Financial Assistance (ISAFA)
- Apply for aid in first year (cannot add later)
- NEED-AWARE for international students
- Outstanding academics increase aid chances
- No-loan policy applies
🔄 Scholarship maintenance
Merit scholarship determined at admission — final for 8 semesters. Satisfactory academic progress.
⚠️ Conditions & restrictions
- NEED-AWARE for international (aid request may slightly affect admission)
- NO LOANS — all grants
- Cannot add aid in later years
- Outside scholarships may reduce institutional aid
📝 Application requirements
- 2 teacher recommendations
- Counselor recommendation
- Common App essay
- Grinnell "Community Essay" supplement
- Optional interview (online via Initialview/Vericant/Duolingo)
✍️ Supplemental essay prompts (2025-2026)
- In one sentence, please tell us why you are interested in Grinnell. (one sentence)
- Grinnell College aims to enroll students who demonstrate a strong sense of self and the ability to engage with their community in meaningful ways. Tell us about something that you do, that you love, or that you're excited about, and what makes that activity, passion, or curiosity meaningful to you. (200-300 words)
⭐ "Why Us?" — Essay hooks & school personality
One of <10 US colleges that are need-blind + 100% need + no loans + test-optional. Self-Governance philosophy. Mentored Advanced Project for seniors. Pioneer Bookshop. Faulconer Gallery. Strong commitment to social justice. Wide-open curriculum after first year. Small town (~10,000) creates close community.
🏆 Unique advantages
No-loan policy is rare. Outstanding endowment per student. $55k average aid is generous. Located in rural Iowa = very low cost of living. Small (1,700 students) = personal attention.
💼 Career outlook
Strong placement at finance, consulting, grad school. Grinnell-in-London for finance students. Pioneer Plus career funding.
⏰ Work while studying
F-1: 20 hrs/week on-campus. Federal work-study in aid. Dining hall, library, residence life positions. ~$10-15/hr.
🎯 Backup plans
- Apply ED I (40% acceptance vs 15%)
- Apply early to maximize aid chances
- Carleton/Macalester as alternatives
- Look at other meet-full-need schools
- If aid-aware affects you: improve profile to overcome
🔗 Official sources
- grinnell.edu/admission
- grinnell.edu/admission/financial-aid