Grinnell College, a private liberal arts college in Iowa founded in 1846, provides individually advised learning for intellectually engaged students to produce graduates who are prepared to navigate the world’s complexities and responsibly contribute to the common good.
Grinnell’s location on the Iowa prairie has given rise to generations of extraordinary experts, change-makers, and original thinkers. Come and experience our unique combination of environmental, economic, and political ecosystems — a visit to Grinnell will call into question everything you thought you knew about Iowa.
Founded in 1846, we’re a private, coed, residential liberal arts and sciences college located in Grinnell, Iowa. Our community embraces intellectual journeys of all kinds, and provides the individualized guidance to dive deeper, define new directions, and follow their passions across the world. We call ourselves Grinnellians.
We were founded in 1846. We’re a private, coed, residential liberal arts and sciences college in Grinnell, Iowa. Around 9,000 people live in our town. About 1,625 students attend the College. We call ourselves Grinnellians. We’re committed to contributing to the common good, and we’re consistently ranked among the nation’s best liberal arts colleges.
Grinnell College will welcome Antionette Priscilla Carroll as the 2026 Social Innovator in Residence, bringing a nationally recognized leader in equity-centered design to campus for a fall 2026 residency focused on trust, community agency, and sustainable systems change.
At Grinnell, students across every sport fully commit and bring their all to every challenge – whether in NCAA Division III basketball or football. No matter the team, you'll be surrounded by fellow athletes and supported by experienced varsity coaches who are daring, dynamic, and dedicated to the game. Explore the Athletics Site
At Grinnell, global understanding goes beyond a single experience. Every place, every point in time, and every culture, brings with a unique point of view and version of the human experience. On campus, Grinnellians study these experiences and use them as lenses for approaching our disciplines, communities, and our impact on others.
Admission to Grinnell is highly selective, which simply means we get more applicants than we have room for in our classes. With that said, you can stand out from the rest by taking a challenging, balanced high school curriculum, and applying Early Decision can certainly increase your chances. We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive community of scholars from a variety of ...