How this school serves students from different economic backgrounds, including Pell students, first-generation pathways, and long-term mobility outcomes.
Grinnell College admits about 14.5% of applicants. The middle range of SAT scores for admitted students falls between 1,410 and 1,540, and ACT scores typically fall between 31 and 34. Among enrolled undergraduates, 17.9% receive Pell Grants and 17.6% are first-generation college students. Transfer enrollment is limited, at 1.8%. Azimuth ranks Grinnell College #751 for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. The access ranking reflects a selective admissions process that limits the overall scale of low-income and first-generation enrollment. However, the institution's commitment to need-blind admissions and meeting full demonstrated need shapes outcomes for the students it does enroll. The six-year graduation rate stands at 88.1%, with 90.8% of Pell-eligible students completing within the same window. Azimuth ranks Grinnell College #188 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. For low-income students who gain admission to Grinnell, outcomes reflect strong institutional support: Pell-eligible graduates complete at rates comparable to or exceeding the institution's overall completion rate, and they move into careers aligned with the college's social-sciences emphasis and liberal arts mission. The pattern reflects what Azimuth's analysis describes as the access-versus-outcomes tension — Grinnell's selective admissions funnel limits how many students benefit from its strong support infrastructure, but those who do enroll experience meaningful completion and career outcomes.
Grinnell College admits about 14.5% of applicants. The middle range of SAT scores for admitted students falls between 1,410 and 1,540, and ACT scores typically fall between 31 and 34. Among enrolled undergraduates, 17.9% receive Pell Grants and 17.6% are first-generation college students. Transfer enrollment is limited, at 1.8%. Azimuth ranks Grinnell College #751 for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. The access ranking reflects a selective admissions process that limits the overall scale of low-income and first-generation enrollment. However, the institution's commitment to need-blind admissions and meeting full demonstrated need shapes outcomes for the students it does enroll. The six-year graduation rate stands at 88.1%, with 90.8% of Pell-eligible students completing within the same window. Azimuth ranks Grinnell College #188 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. For low-income students who gain admission to Grinnell, outcomes reflect strong institutional support: Pell-eligible graduates complete at rates comparable to or exceeding the institution's overall completion rate, and they move into careers aligned with the college's social-sciences emphasis and liberal arts mission. The pattern reflects what Azimuth's analysis describes as the access-versus-outcomes tension — Grinnell's selective admissions funnel limits how many students benefit from its strong support infrastructure, but those who do enroll experience meaningful completion and career outcomes.
Grinnell College admits about 14.5% of applicants. The middle range of SAT scores for admitted students falls between 1,410 and 1,540, and ACT scores typically fall between 31 and 34. Among enrolled undergraduates, 17.9% receive Pell Grants and 17.6% are first-generation college students. Transfer enrollment is limited, at 1.8%. Azimuth ranks Grinnell College #751 for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. The access ranking reflects a selective admissions process that limits the overall scale of low-income and first-generation enrollment. However, the institution's commitment to need-blind admissions and meeting full demonstrated need shapes outcomes for the students it does enroll. The six-year graduation rate stands at 88.1%, with 90.8% of Pell-eligible students completing within the same window. Azimuth ranks Grinnell College #188 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. For low-income students who gain admission to Grinnell, outcomes reflect strong institutional support: Pell-eligible graduates complete at rates comparable to or exceeding the institution's overall completion rate, and they move into careers aligned with the college's social-sciences emphasis and liberal arts mission. The pattern reflects what Azimuth's analysis describes as the access-versus-outcomes tension — Grinnell's selective admissions funnel limits how many students benefit from its strong support infrastructure, but those who do enroll experience meaningful completion and career outcomes.
