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Is Grinnell College worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for Grinnell, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Affordable
Grinnell lands in the affordable band for a typical family. Graduates earn a median of $62,830 ten years after enrolling, and that makes the median debt of $17,500 more manageable than it looks at first glance. For context, Grinnell's net price runs about 46% above the typical 4-year, private nonprofit school. On the numbers alone, this school clears the bar comfortably.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 1237 similar 4-year, private nonprofit schools
This school
$33,446
/yrAverage school like this
$22,837
/yrThis weighs on your Worth-It Score
You'd pay about $10,609 more per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $42,000 in extra cost.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price sits in a range that leaves more room for family cash flow and lower borrowing.
Outcome
40% weight
The outcome data is workable, but not so strong that it erases financing risk.
Repayment
20% weight
Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$17,648
Median earnings 10 years out
$62,830
Median debt at graduation
$17,500
Graduation rate
88%
At Grinnell, a typical graduate carries about $17,500 in student debt and earns roughly $62,830 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $199 per month, or 4% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
What this means for your family
Grinnell is a private nonprofit four year school in Grinnell, IA. Private pricing can swing more dramatically based on aid, so your personalized score matters more here than the national average view alone.
Similar schools worth comparing
These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.
Private nonprofit 4-year
Graceland University-Lamoni
Lamoni, IA
Worth-It Score: 49/100
Median net price: $18,504
Private nonprofit 4-year
Coe
Cedar Rapids, IA
Worth-It Score: 65/100
Median net price: $18,745
Private nonprofit 4-year
Buena Vista
Storm Lake, IA
Worth-It Score: 56/100
Median net price: $18,846
Private nonprofit 4-year
Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary
Ankeny, IA
Worth-It Score: 59/100
Median net price: $16,282
Private nonprofit 4-year
Waldorf
Forest City, IA
Worth-It Score: 49/100
Median net price: $19,693
Common questions about Grinnell
The median net price at Grinnell is $17,648 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.
Get your personalized Worth-It score
National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.
Looking at private colleges options in Iowa? See the most affordable private colleges in Iowa →
The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →