Is Grinnell test optional?

Yes. You can apply without a score. A common rule is to send it if it's at or above 1490 and hold it if it's under.

What is Grinnell's acceptance rate?

15% of applicants were admitted in 2024–25, according to the college's Common Data Set or, where that's missing, IPEDS, the federal college survey. In fall 2024, 1,416 of 9,758 applicants were admitted. Applications rose 52%, from 6,414 in 2015 to 9,758 in 2024, and Grinnell's admit rate went from 25% to 15%.

What ACT score do you need for Grinnell?

21% of first-year students sent an ACT, and they scored 31–34, with a median of 34. On the official ACT–SAT concordance, their SAT range of 1430–1520 works out to about 32–34.

Why might Grinnell's SAT range look high?

Only 29% of enrolled students sent an SAT. The range counts only those who did, and students with lower scores tend to hold theirs back.

Does applying early decision help at Grinnell?

34% of early decision applicants were admitted (283 of 828), against 15% of all applicants. Early pools often include recruited athletes and other strong applicants, so the real edge is smaller than the gap.

How many students get off the waitlist at Grinnell?

36 of the 1,180 students who stayed on the waitlist were admitted, or 3.1%, per the Common Data Set 2024–25.

All colleges

What SAT score do you need for Grinnell? (Middle 50%: 1430–1520)

First-year students at Grinnell who sent an SAT scored 1430–1520, with a median of 1490 (Common Data Set 2024–25). Grinnell admits 15% of applicants and is test optional.

Grinnell College · Grinnell, IA

Where your score lands at Grinnell

First-year students who sent an SAT: 1430–1520, median 1490

Your score

Middle 50% of admitted students Median Fewer than half sent a score, so the range runs high

Enter your SAT or ACT to see which tier Grinnell is for you and whether to send your score.

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Grinnell by the numbers

Admit rate: 15%
Middle 50% SAT: 1430–1520
Median SAT: 1490
About on the ACT: 32–34
Sent an SAT: 29%

Test optional · checked Nov 9, 2026 · Grinnell admissions · SAT range from the Common Data Set, 2024–25; admit rate from it or IPEDS

Grinnell admit rate over 10 years

Applications rose 52%, from 6,414 in 2015 to 9,758 in 2024, and Grinnell's admit rate went from 25% to 15%.

Show the numbers

Fall	Applied	Admitted	Admit rate
2024	9,758	1,416	15%
2023	9,988	1,266	13%
2022	9,997	1,076	11%
2021	10,513	1,108	11%
2020	8,137	1,566	19%
2019	8,004	1,847	23%
2018	7,349	1,792	24%
2017	5,850	1,689	29%
2016	7,370	1,488	20%
2015	6,414	1,598	25%

In fall 2024, 438 of the 1,416 admitted students enrolled. Applicants and admits from IPEDS, the federal college survey, by fall of entry.

What each SAT score means at Grinnell

Which tier your score puts them in, and whether it's worth sending.

Your SATTierSend it?

Under 1380Far reachHold
1380–1480ReachHold
1490 and upReachSend

1250135014501550

Tiers here use only your SAT and their admit rate. Essays, activities and recommendations still decide most admissions at selective colleges.

Grinnell SAT sections and ACT

Scores of enrolled first-year students who sent one, by percentile.

Test	25th	Median	75th
SAT Reading and Writing	700	730	750
SAT total	1430	1490	1520
ACT composite	31	34	34

Of enrolled first-year students, 29% sent an SAT and 21% sent an ACT. Common Data Set 2024–25.

Grinnell early decision and waitlist

Early decision

283 of 828 early decision applicants were admitted.

Early decision34%
All applicants15%

Early pools often include recruited athletes and other strong applicants, so the gap overstates how much applying early helps on its own.

Waitlist

2,021 applicants were offered a spot, 1,180 took it, and 36 were admitted from it.

3.1%of students who stayed on the waitlist got in

Common Data Set 2024–25.

Grinnell cost and outcomes

What students pay after grants, how many finish, and what they earn.

Average net price: $17,648; per year, after grants
Graduate in 6 years: 88%
Median earnings: $62,830; 10 years after starting
Undergraduates: 1,803

College Scorecard, 2022–23, from the US Department of Education. Net price averages federal-aid students across family incomes.

Colleges like Grinnell

Similar SAT ranges and admit rates.

More colleges in Iowa

Every college for an SAT of1430 1490 1520

Sources

Grinnell Common Data Set 2024–25
SAT and ACT ranges, early decision, waitlist, GPA and class rank, as the college reported them.
College Navigator (IPEDS)
Applications, admissions and enrollment by year, from the federal college survey.
College Scorecard
Net price, graduation rate and earnings, from the US Department of Education.
Grinnell admissions
Test policy for 2026–27, checked Nov 9, 2026.
Grinnell website
Grinnell College

Updated Nov 9, 2026. Spot a number that's off? Email support@tryashore.com and we'll check it against the source.

Questions

Still have a question? support@tryashore.com

There's no cutoff. The middle 50% of first-year students who sent an SAT scored 1430–1520, and the median was 1490. At 1490 or higher you're above half of them. Grinnell admits 15% of applicants, so a top score keeps you in the running but doesn't decide it.

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SAT Math · 1 of 5

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A jacket's price is increased by 20% and then the new price is decreased by 20%. The final price is what percent of the original price?

A $96\%$
B $100\%$
C $104\%$
D $80\%$