Grinnell College Acceptance Rate
Grinnell, Iowa · Private not-for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 9,988
- Admitted
- 1,266
- Yield
- 36.1%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Grinnell College's acceptance rate has fallen from 28% in 2014–15 to 12.7% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 6,058 to 9,988 (+65%) over that period.
Its 12.7% rate makes Grinnell College more selective than about 97% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 26 tracked Iowa schools, it is more selective than about 96%.
Grinnell College has been test-optional since 2022–23. Of admitted students, 36.1% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 6,058 | 1,697 | 28% | 435 |
| 2015–16 | 6,414 | 1,598 | 24.9% | 442 |
| 2016–17 | 7,370 | 1,488 | 20.2% | 414 |
| 2017–18 | 5,850 | 1,689 | 28.9% | 447 |
| 2018–19 | 7,349 | 1,792 | 24.4% | 463 |
| 2019–20 | 8,004 | 1,847 | 23.1% | 460 |
| 2020–21 | 8,137 | 1,566 | 19.2% | 365 |
| 2021–22 | 10,513 | 1,108 | 10.5% | 471 |
| 2022–23 | 9,997 | 1,076 | 10.8% | 437 |
| 2023–24 | 9,988 | 1,266 | 12.7% | 457 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 4,840 | 676 | 14% |
| Men | 4,822 | 533 | 11.1% |
| Another gender | 326 | 57 | 17.5% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 698–760 | 30% |
| SAT Math | 720–790 | |
| ACT Composite | 31–34 | 21% |
How Grinnell College compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Grinnell College's acceptance rate?
Grinnell College's acceptance rate is 12.7% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (1,266 admitted of 9,988 applicants).
Is Grinnell College test optional?
Grinnell College is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Grinnell College?
Grinnell College received 9,988 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 1,266.
What SAT score do you need for Grinnell College?
Admitted students at Grinnell College typically scored 698–760 on SAT Reading/Writing and 720–790 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is Grinnell College getting harder to get into?
Grinnell College has become harder to get into: its acceptance rate went from 28% in 2014–15 to 12.7% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.grinnell.edu/.