Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology
Quick Stats
Earnings, Debt & Completion
What happens to students who enroll at Grinnell College, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
Typical debt at graduation equals about 28% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.
Earnings rank: 80th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (IA wage index 0.90). This drives the Outcome Rating.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.
Earnings by Major at Grinnell College
Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.
| Major | 1 yr after | 4 yrs after | vs. national | Rank (pay) | Rank (wage-adj.) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economics | $46,791 | $110,724 | +34% | #48 of 368 | #29 | $16,500 |
| Computer Science | $84,449 | $109,892 | +3% | #114 of 349 | #89 | $16,125 |
| Political Science and Government | $36,662 | $68,518 | +8% | #147 of 565 | #84 | $17,500 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | — | $59,638 | +12% | #98 of 476 | #62 | — |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $28,507 | $57,752 | +4% | #39 of 82 | #24 | $17,702 |
| Biology | $37,170 | $56,275 | -2% | #480 of 841 | #380 | $17,500 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $28,691 | $54,983 | +-0% | #132 of 225 | #87 | $17,814 |
| History | $39,687 | $54,703 | +8% | #135 of 459 | #77 | $17,500 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $38,598 | $53,105 | -19% | #100 of 110 | #91 | $16,549 |
| English Language and Literature | — | $36,854 | -24% | #544 of 576 | #530 | $17,582 |
| Sociology | $28,216 | — | — | — | — | $16,000 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $20,111 | — | — | — | — | $16,750 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.
The Grinnell College Town Property Report
- Avg home value near campus: $226,360
- Avg rent near campus: $882/mo — vs ~$833/mo campus room rate
- Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 52339 (4.5% cap, Tama)
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Costs & Financial Aid
Tuition & Fees
| Category | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $64,342 | $64,342 |
| Room | $7,500 | |
| Board | $8,378 | |
| Total Cost (On-Campus) | $83,490 | $83,490 |
Financial Aid
Programs & Career Paths
Top Degree Programs
Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.
Related Career Paths
Careers that graduates from Grinnell College's top programs commonly pursue.
Student Demographics
👥 Race & Ethnicity
🏠 Living Arrangements
💻 Learning Mode
📊 Age Distribution
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Grinnell College?
How much does it cost to attend Grinnell College?
What is the graduation rate at Grinnell College?
Is Grinnell College a good school?
- Outcomes (A+): Graduation and retention rates
- Affordability (F): Net cost and financial aid access
- Resources (B+): Class sizes and selectivity
- Experience (A+): Campus life and learning format
- Prestige (B+): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend Grinnell College?
Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Grinnell College — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →
🎓 Similar Colleges to Grinnell College
Compare with other 4-Year private non-profit institutions of similar size.
Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology