The average acceptance rate at Grinnell over the past 10 years is 18.96%, and the most recent acceptance rate is 14.51%. Grinnell is highly selective, and gaining admission is challenging for most applicants.
The average yield (enrollment rate) over the period is 30.66%, and the 2025 yield is 30.93%. Overall, the yield has increased by 11.83% from 2015 to 2025.
The number of Grinnell applicants decreased by 2.30% (230 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 52.14% overall.
The current acceptance rate for the 2025 admission cycle is 14.51%, representing an increasingly selective admissions process. This indicates that Grinnell has become more competitive over the past decade, as the institution receives a growing number of applications while maintaining or reducing the number of admitted students.
The admission yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) for the 2025 academic year is 30.93%. This rising yield trend demonstrates that Grinnell is increasingly successful at converting admitted students into enrolled students. An increasing yield rate suggests stronger student preference for Grinnell and indicates that the institution's admitted class quality and perceived value continue to improve.
For the 2025 admission cycle, Grinnell received approximately 9,758 applications, admitted 1,416 students, and enrolled 438 students. The rising application volume trend indicates that Grinnell is attracting an increasing number of prospective students over time. This growth in applications typically reflects enhanced institutional visibility, improved marketing initiatives, or increasing perceived value in the higher education market.
Grinnell 10-Year Admission Rate Summary: The acceptance rate trends at Grinnell over the past decade show a relatively stable trend, with fluctuations in both directions. The average acceptance rate over this period is 18.96%, while the most recent rate stands at 14.51%. This data reflects the institution's evolving competitiveness in the higher education admissions landscape.
For the most recent admission cycle (2025), the acceptance rate is 14.51%. By gender, the average acceptance rate for men is 17.60% and for women is 20.14%.
The following table and chart show how acceptance rates at Grinnell have changed over the past 10 years (2015-2025).
| Year | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 24.91% | 24.29% | 25.46% |
| 2016-17 | 20.19% -4.72% |
20.52% -3.77% |
19.99% -5.47% |
| 2017-18 | 28.87% 8.68% |
26.00% 5.48% |
31.46% 11.46% |
| 2018-19 | 24.38% -4.49% |
22.87% -3.13% |
25.73% -5.73% |
| 2019-20 | 23.08% -1.31% |
22.03% -0.84% |
24.05% -1.67% |
| 2020-21 | 19.25% -3.83% |
18.20% -3.83% |
20.22% -3.83% |
| 2021-22 | 11.00% -8.25% |
9.00% -9.20% |
12.01% -8.22% |
| 2022-23 | 10.76% -0.23% |
9.46% 0.46% |
12.09% 0.08% |
| 2023-24 | 12.68% 1.91% |
11.05% 1.60% |
13.97% 1.88% |
| 2024-25 | 14.51% 1.84% |
12.62% 1.57% |
16.40% 2.43% |
| Average | 18.96% | 17.60% | 20.14% |
Grinnell has demonstrated an improvement in admission yield over the past 10 years. The institution's yield rate has increased from 27.66% in 2015 to 30.93% in 2025, representing a 11.83% increase. The 10-year average yield stands at 30.66%, reflecting strengthening enrollment performance.
The following table and chart illustrate the changes in yield at Grinnell from 2015 to 2025. The admission yield has increased by 11.83% over this period.
| Year | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 27.66% | 27.63% | 27.68% |
| 2016-17 | 27.82% 0.16% |
28.18% 0.55% |
27.50% -0.18% |
| 2017-18 | 26.47% -1.36% |
29.82% 1.64% |
23.97% -3.54% |
| 2018-19 | 25.84% -0.63% |
25.19% -4.63% |
26.35% 2.38% |
| 2019-20 | 24.91% -0.93% |
27.38% 2.19% |
22.79% -3.56% |
| 2020-21 | 23.31% -1.60% |
26.12% -1.26% |
20.94% -1.85% |
| 2021-22 | 42.99% 19.69% |
45.96% 19.85% |
40.03% 19.09% |
| 2022-23 | 40.61% -2.38% |
43.11% -2.85% |
39.38% -0.65% |
| 2023-24 | 36.10% -4.52% |
39.40% -3.71% |
33.73% -5.66% |
| 2024-25 | 30.93% -5.17% |
33.12% -6.28% |
29.10% -4.62% |
| Average | 30.66% | 32.59% | 29.15% |
Over the past 10 years, The average number of applicants is 8,338, the average number of admitted is 1,489, and the average number of first-year enrolled students is 442.
The number of Grinnell applicants decreased by 2.30% (230 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 52.14% overall.
The following table and chart show the changes of applicants, admitted, and enrolled headcount at Grinnell College from 2015 to 2025.
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 6,414 | 1,598 | 442 |
| 2016-17 | 7,370 14.90% |
1,488 -6.88% |
414 -6.33% |
| 2017-18 | 5,850 -20.62% |
1,689 13.51% |
447 7.97% |
| 2018-19 | 7,349 25.62% |
1,792 6.10% |
463 3.58% |
| 2019-20 | 8,004 8.91% |
1,847 3.07% |
460 -0.65% |
| 2020-21 | 8,137 1.66% |
1,566 -15.21% |
365 -20.65% |
| 2021-22 | 10,513 29.20% |
1,156 -26.18% |
497 36.16% |
| 2022-23 | 9,997 -4.91% |
1,076 -6.92% |
437 -12.07% |
| 2023-24 | 9,988 -0.09% |
1,266 17.66% |
457 4.58% |
| 2024-25 | 9,758 -2.30% |
1,416 11.85% |
438 -4.16% |
| Average | 8,338 | 1,489 | 442 |
The following table compares Grinnell College' acceptance rate to similar schools.
| 2024 | 2025 | Change % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grinnell College | 12.68% | 14.51% | 14.43% |
| Drake University | 63.85% | 64.13% | -0.44% |
| Upper Iowa University | 96.46% | 93.38% | 3.30% |
| Maharishi International University | 95.70% | 96.90% | -1.24% |
| Saint Ambrose University | 77.33% | 73.32% | 5.47% |
| Waldorf University | 76.98% | 72.60% | 6.03% |
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