Grinnell College

Grinnell, IA · Private non-profit · Liberal arts / baccalaureate college

SAT middle 50% (admitted students)

1410–1540

Median ~1480

Acceptance rate

15%

Enrollment

1,729

ACT middle 50%

31–34

What the numbers say about Grinnell

The reported middle 50% spans 130 points, from 1410 to 1540. A planning score near or above 1580 gives you a target above that historical range, not an admission guarantee.
The reported section midpoints are 710 Reading and Writing and 740 Math. Use the lower section as the first place to look for recoverable points in your own score split.
The Scorecard snapshot reports a 15% acceptance rate. That rate describes a past applicant pool and should not be read as your personal admission probability.
Reported outcomes include a 88% completion rate and $62,830 in median earnings 10 years after entry. Compare those figures with cost and program fit, not in isolation.

Understand a 1480 SAT score Plan for a 1600 Verify current admissions policy

Tuition and outcomes

Tuition (in-state)

$68,106

Tuition (out-of-state)

$68,106

Median earnings 10 years after entry

$62,830

4-year completion rate (150% time)

88%

Source: US Department of Education College Scorecard. Documentation version September 2025; repository snapshot imported April 25, 2026. Scorecard fields can come from different reporting years, and this snapshot does not encode one universal data year. SAT totals are rounded to the nearest valid 10 points. Tuition excludes room, board, fees, and books. Read the methodology.

How your SAT score lines up

The Scorecard snapshot places the middle 50% of reported scores between 1410 and 1540. This is descriptive data, not an admission threshold or probability estimate.

1580 SAT planning target: Above the reported middle-50% range.
1540 SAT (reported 75th percentile): At the upper end of the reported middle-50% range.
1480 SAT (median): Within the upper half of the reported range.
1410 SAT (reported 25th percentile): Within the lower half of the reported range.

Compare to other colleges →

Colleges with similar SAT scores

Ranked by proximity to Grinnell's reported SAT midpoint. Similar scores do not imply similar programs, cost, or admission odds.

College	Location	SAT middle 50%	Acceptance rate
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus	Atlanta, GA	1370–1540	14%
Boston University	Boston, MA	1420–1530	11%
University of Virginia-Main Campus	Charlottesville, VA	1410–1540	17%
Wake Forest University	Winston-Salem, NC	1410–1520	22%
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	Ann Arbor, MI	1360–1530	16%
University of Maryland-College Park	College Park, MD	1400–1530	45%

FAQs

What SAT score do I need for Grinnell?

Grinnell College's Scorecard snapshot shows a middle-50% SAT range of 1410–1540, rounded to valid 10-point totals. 1580 is a planning target above the reported range, not an admission cutoff.

What is Grinnell's acceptance rate?

Grinnell College's most recently reported acceptance rate is approximately 15%.

How much does it cost to attend Grinnell?

Published tuition is approximately $68,106 per year (excludes room, board, fees).

Is Grinnell test-optional?

Many US universities adjusted test policies after 2020. Check Grinnell College's admissions page for current test-optional, test-required, or test-flexible policy.

Official site: www.grinnell.edu

SAT® is a trademark registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, this product.

AboutPrivacyTermsResourcesContact