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Grinnell scholarships and merit aid

Two prices: the posted one, and yours.

Posted price$93,338per year · 2026-2027 · cost of attendance
Yours?depends on the rules below

The short answer

Grinnell awards automatic merit on admission. Grinnell does not publish a GPA or test chart, so you cannot self-calculate the dollars.

Where does your student land?

Verified Jul 2026
4 school sources to explore

Published rules, with the school sources close at hand. Confirm the details before you count on an award.

The award collection

Published scholarships

These amounts and requirements come from the school’s own published pages. Open an award to see who qualifies and how to keep it.

Where does your student land?

  1. Founder's ScholarshipAmount not published (varies)Not automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Founder's Scholarship

    Amount not published (varies)

    Variable or qualified amountNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Founder's Scholarship

    Who qualifies

    Select admitted students; based holistically on academic merit, extracurricular involvement, demonstrated leadership, and/or special talents. No separate application. Determined the same way regardless of admission round.

    How to keep it

    Renewed for eight total semesters of enrollment.

    Worth knowing

    Grinnell does NOT publish a GPA/test grid — amounts vary and eligibility is holistic. For Iowa residents admitted Regular Decision, the Founder's Scholarship is at least $20,000.

  2. Grinnell Choice Scholarship (Early Decision)$20,000Not automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Grinnell Choice Scholarship (Early Decision)

    $20,000

    Published amountNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Grinnell Choice Scholarship (Early Decision)

    Who qualifies

    Domestic students admitted Early Decision. Guaranteed minimum scholarship of $20,000 for domestic ED admits.

    How to keep it

    $20,000 annual, renewable for a total of eight semesters.

    Worth knowing

    Mutually exclusive with the Laurel, Iowa Dean's, and President's scholarships. NOT for international students or students eligible for staff/ACM/GLCA tuition remission. Select students also receive a Founder's Scholarship in addition.

  3. Laurel Scholarship and Mentorship ProgramFull tuitionNot automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Laurel Scholarship and Mentorship Program

    Full tuition

    Published coverage or packageNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Laurel Scholarship and Mentorship Program

    Who qualifies

    Home address in the City of Chicago or Cook County, IL; record of academic success in a rigorous college-prep curriculum; U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Auto-considered, no separate application. Preference to ED applicants. Not for transfers or QuestBridge National Match.

    How to keep it

    Renewable; eight-semester structure consistent with other Grinnell merit awards.

    Worth knowing

    Chicago/Cook County residency gate + U.S. citizen/PR. Full-tuition; additional need-based aid may help with housing and food.

  4. President's Scholarship for Community BuildingFull tuitionNot automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    President's Scholarship for Community Building

    Full tuition

    Published coverage or packageNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for President's Scholarship for Community Building

    Who qualifies

    U.S. citizen or permanent resident; record of academic success in a rigorous college-prep curriculum; demonstrated intercultural understanding, empathy, resilience, leadership, and community commitment. Auto-considered, no separate application. ED preference. Not for transfers or QuestBridge National Match.

    How to keep it

    Renewable for eight total semesters of enrollment.

    Worth knowing

    Full-tuition. U.S. citizen/PR gate.

  5. Iowa Dean's Scholarship$50,000Not automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Iowa Dean's Scholarship

    $50,000

    Published amountNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    GPA
    4.0+ weighted GPA in core academic classes (or succeeded in the most demanding curriculum offered by their high school)
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Iowa Dean's Scholarship

    Who qualifies

    U.S. citizen or permanent resident; Iowa resident; graduate from an Iowa high school; enroll as first-time full-time undergraduate in fall 2026 or later. Auto-considered, no separate application. Not for transfers or QuestBridge National Match.

    How to keep it

    Renewable for eight total semesters of enrollment.

    Worth knowing

    Iowa-resident-only, U.S. citizen/PR; NEW beginning fall 2026. For 'top performers at Iowa high schools' — meets the GPA/curriculum bar but described as selective.

  6. Scholarship for Iowa Residents (guarantee)At least $20,000AutomaticRenewable
    Published awardAcademic thresholds

    Scholarship for Iowa Residents (guarantee)

    At least $20,000

    Published award termsAll published eligibility conditions still apply. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Scholarship for Iowa Residents (guarantee)

    Who qualifies

    Every newly enrolled Iowa resident. ED Iowa residents receive the $20,000 Grinnell Choice (most qualified may also get Founder's); RD Iowa residents receive a Founder's Scholarship of at least $20,000.

    How to keep it

    Per-year scholarship; eight-semester structure.

    Worth knowing

    Iowa-resident guarantee of at least $20,000/year, beginning with students admitted for 2024-25.

  7. National Merit Scholarship (Grinnell-sponsored)$2,000Not automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    National Merit Scholarship (Grinnell-sponsored)

    $2,000

    Published amountNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for National Merit Scholarship (Grinnell-sponsored)

    Who qualifies

    National Merit finalists who list Grinnell as first choice with NMSC and have not been selected by another source.

    How to keep it

    $2,000 per year, renewable for three years as long as NMSC eligibility requirements are met.

    Worth knowing

    If a recipient receives need-based aid, student employment may be reduced. Designate Grinnell as first choice with National Merit when paying the deposit.

Lights up against Grinnell's published cutoffs. Not an award offer; confirm with the financial aid office.

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What makes Grinnell different

Grinnell is a primarily need-based, meets-full-need college: all merit is holistic with no GPA/test grid, and a merit scholarship is treated as a resource that offsets demonstrated need rather than stacking on top of need-based aid.

Merit tiers71 based on grades or scores
Research checkedJul 2026By our research team

More than one award path

Separate the two paths.

Some awards use published academic thresholds. Others have different selection criteria. A score chart does not describe every award at this school.

  1. Match the published criteria

    Use all requirements together, including residency and the entering class.

  2. Check the application dates

    Confirm the current admission and scholarship deadlines directly with the school.

  3. Know what happens next year

    Check renewal, credit requirements and how other aid affects the award.

The fine print / Three questions to carry forward

Before you count on it.

Does it apply to us? Confirm the entering year, residency and every eligibility condition.

Can we keep it? Check renewal GPA, credits and how long the award lasts.

Can we combine it? Ask how outside scholarships and other school awards change the offer.

Take Grinnell's decision sheet

A printable research summary, source links and room for your questions.

See what could change an award

Straight from the aid office

What Grinnell's aid office says

Per the Office of Financial Aid, Grinnell College, August 2026. How we verify

GPA required for merit scholarship renewal

What GPA does the student need to maintain to keep a merit scholarship?

A cumulative GPA of 2.75 is required to renew merit scholarships.

“A cumulative GPA of 2.75 is required for renewal of merit scholarships at Grinnell.”
Loans in need-based aid package

Are loans included in the need-based financial aid package?

If the student applies for need-based aid, loans are not included in his financial aid package, though families can choose to take out loans to cover their family contribution.

“applies for need-based financial aid, we do not include loans in the student's financial aid package. However, students and families have the option to apply for loans to finance their family contribution.”
Effect of outside scholarship on aid

If the student gets an outside scholarship, what does it reduce first?

An outside scholarship would first reduce work-study, and the impact on loans depends on timing relative to when the loan was applied for versus when the school is notified of the scholarship.

“Outside scholarships would first reduce work-study. Loans may be impacted depending on when the student/parents apply for the loan(s) versus when we are notified of a student's outside scholarship.”
Outside scholarship vs. merit/need-based aid

Will an outside scholarship reduce Grinnell's merit or need-based grant?

Grinnell does not reduce merit aid or need-based grants for an outside scholarship unless the combined aid would exceed the cost of attendance.

“Grinnell does not reduce merit aid or need-based grants when a student receives an outside scholarship unless the outside scholarship puts the student's financial aid assistance above the cost of attendance (when combined with other sources of aid).”
Merit scholarship exceeding need

What happens if the merit scholarship covers all of the student's need?

If the merit scholarship offer meets or exceeds the student's need, Grinnell will not offer additional need-based aid since the merit scholarship already meets all need.

“If the offer of a merit scholarship meets or exceeds need, then we do not offer need-based aid since all need is met by the merit scholarship (student would receive the merit scholarship).”
Who determines merit scholarship eligibility

Who decides if the student qualifies for a merit scholarship?

Grinnell's Office of Admission determines merit scholarship eligibility through a holistic review of the entire admission application.

“Grinnell's Office of Admission determines eligibility for merit scholarships. Admission uses a holistic review of the entire admission application in their merit review.”
Merit scholarship application deadline

Is there a deadline for merit scholarship consideration?

There is a priority deadline of December 1 for the student portion of the admission application to be considered for merit scholarships, though teacher recommendations or mid-year transcripts not yet available can be submitted after that date.

“They have a priority deadline of submitting the student portion of the admission application by December 1 for consideration of merit scholarships. Teacher recommendations or mid-year transcripts for EDII and Regular Decision applicants that are not available prior to December 1, can be submitted after December 1.”

What families often miss

  1. Merit scholarships are a 'resource' that meets demonstrated need. If your merit award is larger than your need, you receive no separate need-based aid; if it's smaller, need-based aid only fills the remaining gap. The merit award does not increase your total package beyond your need.

  2. Grinnell determines merit holistically at admission and publishes no GPA/test grid. A high-stats out-of-state applicant should plan around need-based aid (Grinnell meets full demonstrated need), not a guaranteed merit figure.

  3. Laurel requires Chicago/Cook County residency; the Iowa Dean's requires Iowa residency, an Iowa high school, and a 4.0+ weighted core GPA; both, plus the President's Scholarship, require U.S. citizenship or permanent residency.

  4. Students receiving the Laurel, Iowa Dean's, or President's scholarship are not eligible for the Grinnell Choice Scholarship — these are mutually exclusive.

  5. The $20,000 Grinnell Choice guarantee applies only to domestic Early Decision admits; international students and those eligible for staff/ACM/GLCA tuition remission are excluded.

  6. Priority consideration for scholarships goes to domestic students who submit the Common App or QuestBridge App by Dec. 1 (no priority deadline for international students).

See costs and school data

Who this school may work for

Two distinct profiles win here: a high-need student (Grinnell meets full demonstrated need), and an Iowa resident or Chicago/Cook County student eligible for a residency-specific named award. A high-stats out-of-state full-pay student should expect a holistic merit offer — not a predictable published number.

Published yearly cost: Approximately $93,338 for 2026-2027. Source

Cost and graduation facts

Federal reporting on who actually enrolls at Grinnell, what they paid after aid, and what happened next — independent of anything the school markets.

Average annual net price by family income at Grinnell, academic year 2021-22
Family incomeAverage net price paid
$0–$30,000$9,970
$30,001–$48,000$7,789
$48,001–$75,000$9,669
$75,001–$110,000$19,348
$110,001+$37,725
All income levels (average)$17,648

Sticker price vs. what students actually pay

Published tuition & fees, AY 2022-23
$68,106
Average net price paid (all Title-IV aid), AY 2021-22
$17,648

That works out to roughly a 79% discount below the federal AY 2021-22 average cost of attendance of $83,440 (College Scorecard — a separate, federally reported figure, not the published cost of attendance shown above).

Outcomes for students who enrolled here

Graduation rate (150% of normal time), 2016 cohort
88%
First-year retention rate, 2021 cohort
93%
Median debt at completion, 2020–2021 completers
$17,500 (~$186/mo on a 10-yr plan)
Median earnings, 10 years after entry (measured 2020-21)
$62,830
Share of students receiving a Pell grant, AY 2021-22
19%
Share of students receiving a federal loan, AY 2021-22
12%
See other scholarships and cost examples

If your student brings another scholarship

Outside scholarships reduce loans and/or work-study first; institutional grants are only reduced if required to prevent an over-award.

Verified policy language (2026-07-02): Grinnell College generally does not reduce institutional grants and scholarships when a student receives outside scholarships. Student employment may be reduced in their financial aid notice, but the student may still work. Occasionally, we may need to reduce institutional need-based grants. This can occur if a student's total financial aid, including funds from outside sources, exceeds the cost of attendance. Separately, the school's own award-stacking rules: The Grinnell Choice Scholarship is also mutually exclusive with Laurel/Iowa Dean's/President's awards. (per https://www.grinnell.edu/admission/financial-aid/types-aid/scholarships)

Source

Other Grinnell scholarships worth checking

These awards can be harder to find. Each one has its own rules.

AmountNeed-based (program)EligibilityGraduate from an Iowa high school after Jan. 1, 2018; admitted; total annual family income below $100,000 and limited assets; first-time full-time undergraduate.

Need-based access program for Iowans, not a merit award.

Source

AmountNeed-based (varies)EligibilityEligibility based on financial aid application data; need-based; up to eight semesters.

Institutional need-based grant.

Source

Grinnell merit aid FAQ

  • Does Grinnell have automatic merit scholarships based on GPA or test scores?

    No. All merit scholarship eligibility is determined holistically at admission, with no separate application and no published GPA/test grid.

  • If I get a merit scholarship, is it added to my need-based aid?

    No. Merit scholarships are treated as a resource that meets your demonstrated need. If your merit award exceeds your need, you receive no additional need-based aid; if it's less, need-based aid fills the remaining gap.

  • Does Grinnell meet full financial need?

    Yes. The page states Grinnell meets the full demonstrated need of all admitted students with work-study, grants, and/or scholarships. (A linked 'Financial Aid Without Loans' page describes the no-loan approach.)

  • What is the scholarship priority deadline?

    Domestic students receive priority scholarship consideration by submitting the Common Application or QuestBridge Application by December 1. There is no priority deadline for international students.

  • Which awards are restricted by residency?

    The Iowa Dean's Scholarship ($50,000) is for Iowa residents; the Laurel Scholarship (full tuition) is for City of Chicago/Cook County residents; the at-least-$20,000 guarantee is for all Iowa residents.

See sources and other schools

How Grinnell compares

  • 145 of 749 verified schools in our dataset use loan-first displacement.

    Grinnell is in a recognizable cluster (145 schools share this category). That framing matters when comparing peer schools that may publish the policy differently or not at all.

  • 665 of 749 verified schools publish at least one four-year renewable merit award.

    Grinnell is one of them. The cohort minority (84 schools) only awards one-year scholarships, which means the four-year value families assume on a brochure quote isn't guaranteed at every school.

  • 132 of 749 verified schools publish a dedicated National Merit Finalist package.

    Grinnell is one of them. NMF packages typically carry their own stacking and renewal carve-outs separate from the standard automatic merit ladder; confirm those before assuming the headline NMF value is final.

Sources used on this page

Every claim is checked against Grinnell’s own published materials. Below is the full reference set.

Compare with similar schools

Keep exploring Grinnell merit aid

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