Grinnell College

In 2022, tuition for full-time students at Grinnell College was $64,342 a year.

Tuition increased 5.5% in 2023–from $60,988 the prior year. Usually, college tuition rises about 3% year.

If this information makes going to college seem daunting, 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 sticker price after grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts are applied. Additionally, student loans can make the amount you do have to pay for college feel more doable until you've finishing school and found a job.

Grinnell College meets 100% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. First-year students that attend Grinnell College full-time are awarded $59,842 a year in financial aid, on average.

Graduates in the class of 2023 had an average of $14,738 in student loans per borrower.

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

Grinnell College is a private, nonprofit institution, which means it has the same tuition for residents of Iowa as it does for students who live in other states.

Public colleges and universities receive funding from the state government. Public, state schools can offer lower tuition for students who meet the requirements for in-state residency.

Choosing a college where you qualify for in-state residency can cut the cost of college tuition. Don't forget to check your state's rules for in-state tuition. Every state has its own rules about what makes someone eligible for in-state tuition. The most common requirement is that students must have lived in the state for a full year before starting school. There may be other criteria too, depending on where you live.

Explore other Iowa colleges

Grinnell College International Student Tuition

Tuition at Grinnell College is the same for each student.

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

•On-campus jobs •Loans from outsideGrinnell College •Grinnell College-specific loans •Grinnell College-specific scholarships

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

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Grinnell College Housing Expenses, Fees, and More

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Tuition is not the only cost of attending college; there are other costs associated with college, like room and board, facility fees, and books and supplies. Let's take a look at what impacts these costs, and what to expect at Grinnell College.

Room and Board Costs at Grinnell College

Housing and campus dining at Grinnell College is $15,878 a year. This includes the cost of living in dorms or other on-campus housing, plus a dining plan that allows you to eat all or some of your meals the Grinnell College's on-campus cafeterias and dining facilities.

Meal-plan costs vary based on on the number of meals you intend to eat on-campus

How Much Do Books Cost 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 what kinds of books and materials they require. To save money, many students choose to use books from the library or buy books from students who have already taken the course.

Yearly Fees

Most schools charge some yearly fees to help cover the cost of facilties, like the computer labs and libraries, athletic facilities, and more.

There may be other costs associated with participating in special activities, like joining a fraternity or sorority, or playing on an intramural sports team. Most colleges offer resources so that those who may struggle to participate because of cost can get help covering these costs.

Transportation costs

The cost of transportation in college depends on a few key factors. Will you take a subway, car or an airplane to get to school? Is on-campus parking free, or will you need to budget for parking? Is the campus small enough that you can easily walk from class-to-class?? Do you plan to bring a car or will you need to use public transportation? All of these questions can drastically impact your estimated cost of transportation. Keeping in mind, first-year students are allowed to park a car on campus.

A school's location can also have a big effect on your transportation budget. Small, rural schools may be easier to get around, but the cost of getting to campus may be higher. On the flip side, transportation in a city could be expensive, but there may be more buses, trains or low-cost flight options to actually get to school. Grinnell Collegeis in a town in Iowa.

Other Costs

When creating a budget for college, be sure to leave some room in your budget for the cost of things like going out to eat or see shows, furnishing your living space, and things like haircuts, clothes and, yes, even toilet paper and shampoo.

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The Full Cost of Attending Grinnell College

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Now, let’s go over all of the costs we've covered, to get a better idea of what is really costs to go to Grinnell College.

Total Cost of Grinnell College

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

2023 Total Tuition and Expenses
Tuition	$64,342
Room and Board	$15,878
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	$81,840
Off-Campus	$64,862

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.

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Financial Aid at Grinnell College

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The majority of Grinnell College undergrads use financial aid to finance their education. In 2023, 1,092 of the 1,761 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 $59,842 a year. Around 55% of Grinnell College undergrads take out student loans to cover any remaining costs. Grinnell College graduates who have student loans graduate with an average of $14,738 of student loan debt.

The average debt for each loan type varies.

Average Debt By Loan Type
Federal Loans	$11,827
State Loans	$13,500
Grinnell College-Specific Loans	$8,266
Private Loans	$33,822

Most Common Loans for Grinnell College Students
Federal Loans	47%
Institutional Loans	18%
Private loans	3%

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 2023, Grinnell College awarded 1,092 need-based scholarships to students, giving away total of $59.5 million to help students with financial need cover the cost of school. An additional $10.75 million in merit-based scholarship money was awarded to students without demonstrated financial need.

Net Cost of Grinnell College

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 $59,842 in 2023. 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	$21,998
Off-Campus	$5,020

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 understand 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 does not have guaranteed tuition.

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

Grinnell College Tuition Waivers

Schools sometimes offer tuition waivers to certain groups, to reduce the total cost of attendance. Some schools offer tuition waivers for faculty, staff, and their families , underrepresented students, or military students. Even with a tuition waiver, other expenses and fees are the responsibility of the student.

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.

Grinnell College's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and supporting students.

Grinnell College's endowment was valued at $2.5 billion in 2023, compared to a national average of $905 million.

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Learn More About Grinnell College

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

Overview

Student Life

Academics

Admissions

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