Editing Grinnell College

{{Short description|Private liberal arts college in Grinnell, Iowa, U.S.}}{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox university
 | name                   = Grinnell College
 | image                  = Grinnell College seal.svg
 | image_upright          = .7
 | former_name            = Iowa College (1846–1909)<ref>{{cite web |title=Historic Figures:Grinnell's Long and Winding Enrollment Road |url=https://www.grinnell.edu/news/historic-figures |website=grinnell.edu |publisher=Grinnell College |access-date=5 February 2023 |archive-date=February 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205160357/https://www.grinnell.edu/news/historic-figures |url-status=live }}</ref>
 | motto                  = {{lang|la|Veritas et Humanitas}} ([[Latin]])
 | mottoeng               = Truth and Humanity
 | established            = {{start date and age|1846}}
 | accreditation          = [[Higher Learning Commission|HLC]]
 | type                   = [[Private college|Private]] [[Liberal arts colleges in the United States|liberal arts college]]
 | religious_affiliation  = None (historically related to [[United Church of Christ]])
 | president              = Anne F. Harris
 | city                   = [[Grinnell, Iowa|Grinnell]]
 | state                  = Iowa
 | country                = United States
 | coordinates            = {{Coord|41.749057|-92.72013|type:edu_source:USNO/HMNAO|display=title,inline}}
 | students               = 1,759 (Fall 2022)<ref name=CDS2022 />
 | faculty                = 223 (Fall 2022)<ref name=CDS2022 />
 | endowment              = $2.51 billion (2023)<ref name=NACUBO>As of June 30, 2023. {{Cite web |url=https://www.nacubo.org/-/media/Nacubo/Documents/EndowmentFiles/2023-NCSE-Endowment-Market-Values-FINAL.ashx |title=U.S. and Canadian 2023 NCSE Participating Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2023 Endowment Market Value, Change in Market Value from FY22 to FY23, and FY23 Endowment Market Values Per Full-time Equivalent Student |date=February 15, 2024 |publisher=National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) |access-date=February 26, 2024 |format=XLS |archive-date=February 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240215102011/https://www.nacubo.org/-/media/Nacubo/Documents/EndowmentFiles/2023-NCSE-Endowment-Market-Values-FINAL.ashx |url-status=dead }}</ref>
 | campus                 = Remote town<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=153384 |title=College Navigator - Grinnell College |website=[[National Center for Education Statistics]] |publisher=[[United States Department of Education]] |access-date=February 26, 2024 |archive-date=November 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231130191037/https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=153384 |url-status=live }}</ref>
 | campus_size            = {{convert|120|acre}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.grinnell.edu/about/grinnell-glance |title=Grinnell at a Glance |website=Grinnell College |access-date=February 26, 2024 |archive-date=March 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220324110936/https://www.grinnell.edu/about/grinnell-glance |url-status=live }}</ref>
 | sports_nickname        = [[Grinnell Pioneers|Pioneers]]
 | mascot                 = Squirrel (unofficial)<ref name="Squirrels">{{cite news |title=Furry Little Friends |url=https://www.grinnell.edu/news/furry-little-friends |access-date=3 July 2021 |publisher=Grinnell College |date=January 4, 2013 |archive-date=9 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709183649/https://www.grinnell.edu/news/furry-little-friends |url-status=live }}</ref>
 | colors                 = Scarlet and black<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Visual Language |url=https://www.grinnell.edu/about-grinnell/leadership-and-administration/offices-and-services/communications/our-brand-story |publisher=Grinnell College |access-date=8 June 2021 |archive-date=8 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808193937/https://www.grinnell.edu/about/leadership/offices-services/communications/our-brand/visuals |url-status=live }}</ref><br />{{color box|#da291c|border=darkgray}} {{color box|#000000|border=darkgray}}
 | sporting_affiliations  = [[NCAA Division III]] – [[Midwest Conference]]
 | website                = {{official url}}
 | logo                   = Grinnell College logo.svg
 | logo_upright           = 
}}

'''Grinnell College''' ({{IPAc-en|g|r|ɪ|ˈ|n|ɛ|l}} {{respell|grin|EL}}) is a [[Private college|private]] [[Liberal arts colleges in the United States|liberal arts college]] in [[Grinnell, Iowa]], United States. It was founded in 1846 when a group of [[Congregationalism in the United States|Congregationalists]] from [[New England]] established '''Iowa College'''. It has an [[Curriculum|open curriculum]], which means students need not follow a prescribed list of classes. The college's 120-acre campus includes several listings on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].

== History ==
{{See also|List of presidents of Grinnell College}}
[[File:Before the June 17, 1882 tornado that destroyed these buildings, from- College before the storm, by Everett, James E., 1834- (cropped).jpg|left|thumb|Before the June 17, 1882 tornado that destroyed these buildings]]

In 1843, eleven Congregational ministers, all of whom trained at [[Andover Theological Seminary]] in [[Massachusetts]], set out to preach on the frontier. The group also sought to establish a college, which followed in 1846, when they collectively established '''Iowa College''' in [[Davenport, Iowa|Davenport]].

The first 25 years of Grinnell's history saw a change in name and location. In Davenport, the college had [[Abolitionism|advocated against slavery]] and [[Temperance movement|saloon]]s, leading to conflict with the Davenport city council, which retaliated by constructing roads that transected the campus.<ref name="CollegeHistory">{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Alan |last2=Moyer |first2=Wayne W |title=Grinnell College: A History |url=https://www.grinnell.edu/about/grinnell-glance/tradition/history |publisher=[[Grinell College]] |access-date=13 February 2023}}</ref> Iowa College moved farther west from Davenport to the town of Grinnell and unofficially adopted the name of its new home, which itself had been named for the [[Abolitionism in the United States|abolitionist]] minister [[Josiah Bushnell Grinnell]]. The name of the corporation, "The Trustees of Iowa College", remained, but in 1909 the name "Grinnell" was adopted by the trustees for the institution.[[File:Josiah Bushnell Grinnell - Brady-Handy.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Josiah Bushnell Grinnell]]: one of the four founders of Grinnell, Iowa, and benefactor of Grinnell College]]

In its early years, the college experienced setbacks. Although two students received Bachelor of Arts degrees in 1854 (the first to be granted by a college west of the [[Mississippi River]]), within 10 years the [[American Civil War|Civil War]] had claimed most of Grinnell's students and professors. In the decade following the war, growth resumed: women were officially admitted as candidates for degrees, and the curriculum was enlarged to include then-new areas of academic studies, such as [[natural sciences]] with laboratory work.

[[File:After the June 17, 1882 tornado, from-Brick College after the storm, by Everett, James E., 1834- (cropped).jpg|left|thumb|After the June 17, 1882 tornado]]

In 1882, Grinnell College was struck by a tornado—then called a cyclone, after which the college yearbook was named. The storm devastated the campus and destroyed both college buildings. Rebuilding began immediately, and the determination to expand was not limited to architecture: the curriculum was again extended to include departments in [[political science]] (one of the first in the United States—the [[University of Minnesota]]'s department was founded in 1879, three years earlier<ref>{{cite web |title=History |url=https://cla.umn.edu/polisci/about/history |website=Political Science |publisher=University of Minnesota |access-date=7 June 2021 |archive-date=17 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517105343/https://cla.umn.edu/polisci/about/history |url-status=live }}</ref>) and modern languages.

Grinnell became known as the center of the [[Social Gospel]] reform movement,<ref>{{cite journal|last=Morgan|first=J.|year=1969|title=The Development of Sociology and the Social Gospel in America|periodical=Sociological Analysis|volume=30|issue=1| pages=42–53| doi = 10.2307/3709933| jstor = 3709933| publisher = Oxford University Press}}. see footnote 4.</ref> as Robert Handy writes, "The movement centered on the campus of Iowa (now Grinnell) College. Its leading figures were Professor [[George D. Herron]] and President [[George A. Gates]]".<ref>{{cite journal| last = Handy| first = Robert| year= 1950| title = George D. Herron and the Kingdom Movement| periodical=Church History| volume=19| issue=2| pages=97–115| doi = 10.2307/3162192 | jstor = 3162192| publisher = American Society of Church History| s2cid = 162683165}}</ref> Other firsts pointed to the lighter side of college life: the first intercollegiate [[American football|football]] and [[baseball]] games west of the Mississippi were played in Grinnell, and the home teams won.

As the 20th century began, Grinnell established a [[Phi Beta Kappa]] chapter, introduced the departmental "major" system of study, began [[Grinnell-in-China]] (an educational mission that lasted until the [[Second Sino-Japanese War|Japanese invasion]] and resumed in 1987), and built a women's residence hall system that became a national model.<ref>{{cite news| last = McHale| first = Cathryn | year= 1935| title = Education for Women: The significance of Present-Day College Education for Women and Curriculum Changes| periodical=Journal of Higher Education}}</ref> The social consciousness fostered at Grinnell during these years became evident during [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]]'s presidency, when Grinnell graduates [[Harry Hopkins]] '12, Chester Davis '11, [[Paul H. Appleby|Paul Appleby]] '13, [[Hallie Flanagan]] '11, and [[Florence Kerr]] '12 became influential [[New Deal]] administrators.<ref>{{cite web |title=About the Program |url=https://www.grinnell.edu/node/4132 |website=Grinnell College |access-date=25 June 2020 |archive-date=28 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628100254/https://www.grinnell.edu/node/4132 |url-status=live }}</ref> Concern with social issues, educational innovation, and individual expression continue to shape Grinnell. As an example, the school's "5th year travel-service program", preceded the establishment of the [[Peace Corps]] by many years. Other recent innovations include first-year tutorials, cooperative pre-professional programs, and programs in quantitative studies and the societal impacts of technology. Every year, the college awards the $100,000 [[Grinnell College Innovator for Social Justice Prize]], which is split between the recipient and their organization.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.grinnell.edu/grinnellprize|title=Grinnell Prize {{!}} Grinnell College|website=www.grinnell.edu|language=en|access-date=2018-05-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180508122204/https://www.grinnell.edu/grinnellprize|archive-date=2018-05-08|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1975, Grinnell College through their Grinnell Communications subsidiary purchased NBC affiliate [[WDTN|WLWD]] from [[Crosley Broadcasting Corporation|Avco Broadcasting Corporation]] for about $13 million.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1975-06-23|title=Now Avco unloads WLWD(TV) Dayton|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]]|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/75-OCR/1975-06-23-BC-OCR-Page-0032.pdf|access-date=2021-09-19|archive-date=2021-09-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210919001209/https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/75-OCR/1975-06-23-BC-OCR-Page-0032.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The station changed its call letters to WDTN once the sale closed.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1976-07-12|title=Call letters|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]]|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/76-OCR/1976-07-12-BC-OCR-Page-0045.pdf|access-date=2021-09-19|archive-date=2022-08-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808193931/https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/76-OCR/1976-07-12-BC-OCR-Page-0045.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Shortly after WDTN became an ABC affiliate, the station was sold off to Hearst Broadcasting for $45–$48 million.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1980-05-26|title=Hearst buys TV in Dayton, plans move into cable|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]]|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/80-OCR/1980-05-26-BC-OCR-Page-0039.pdf|access-date=2021-09-20|archive-date=2021-09-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210919000924/https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/80-OCR/1980-05-26-BC-OCR-Page-0039.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2022, Grinnell became the first fully unionized undergraduate school in the U.S., when student workers voted to expand their dining hall workers union to include all student workers.<ref name=":0" /> The move was supported by the president of the college.<ref name=":1" />

== Campus ==
Grinnell College is located in the town of [[Grinnell, Iowa]], about halfway between [[Des Moines, IA|Des Moines]] and [[Iowa City, IA|Iowa City]]. The main campus, which was once a stop on the [[Underground Railroad]],<ref name=":4">Pitsker, Kaitlin. (February 2016). Kiplinger’s College Rankings 2016. ''Kiplinger’s Personal Finance'', ''70''(2), 28–32.</ref> is bounded by 6th Avenue on the south, 10th Avenue on the north, East Street on the east and Park Street on the west. The {{convert|120|acre|km2|adj=on}} campus contains sixty-three buildings ranging in style from [[Collegiate Gothic]] to [[Bauhaus]] to [[Tudor architecture|Tudor]] to [[Modern architecture|Modernist]].<ref name=":5">Blumenstyk, G. (7 April 2006). In Iowa, 2 Colleges Separated by 150 Miles and $1.37-Billion: Grinnell, now the nation’s richest liberal-arts college, tries to use its wealth to benefit its students. ''Chronicle of Higher Education'', ''52''(31), A14–A17.</ref> [[Goodnow Hall (Grinnell College)|Goodnow Hall]] and [[Mears Cottage]] (1889) are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name=Goodnow>{{cite web|url={{NRHP url|id=79000934}}|title=Goodnow Hall|publisher=[[National Park Service]]|access-date=2016-04-20|author=S.J. Klingensmith}}</ref><ref name=Mears>{{cite web|url={{NRHP url|id=79000936}}|title=Mears Hall|publisher=[[National Park Service]]|access-date=2016-04-20|author=S.J. Klingensmith}}</ref> Immediately west of the college is the [[North Grinnell Historic District]], which contains over 200 National Register of Historic Places [[National Register of Historic Places property types|contributing buildings]].

[[File:GrinnellCollege EastRHalls.JPG|thumb|left|East Campus dormitories connected by Grinnell's distinctive [[loggia]]]]
The residential part of campus is divided into three sections: North Campus, East Campus, and South Campus. North and South Campus' dormitories are modeled explicitly after the [[residential college]]s of [[Oxford]] and [[Cambridge]]. The four East Campus dormitories feature a modern, [[Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design|LEED]]-certified design constructed from Iowa [[limestone]].<ref name="rawnarch">{{cite web|url=http://www.rawnarch.com/grinnell|title=Grinnell College – William Rawn Associates|work=rawnarch.com|access-date=2013-07-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015060153/http://www.rawnarch.com/grinnell|archive-date=2013-10-15|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.grinnell.edu/etal/green/index5.shtm|title=East Campus receives LEED certification |access-date=May 7, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516060754/http://www.grinnell.edu/etal/green/index5.shtm |archive-date=May 16, 2008 }}</ref>

All three campuses feature dormitory buildings connected by [[loggia]], an architectural signature of the college. The loggia on South Campus is the only entirely closed loggia, while the loggias on East and North campus are only partially closed. From the time that the first dorm opened in 1915 until the fall of 1968, the nine north campus dorms were used exclusively for male students, and the six south campus dorms reserved for female students. The dorm halls house significantly fewer students than halls at other colleges.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.grinnell.edu/about/offices-services/residence-life/residence-halls|title=Residence Halls|publisher=Grinnell College|access-date=18 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131210145407/http://www.grinnell.edu/about/offices-services/residence-life/residence-halls|archive-date=10 December 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

Most academic buildings are located on the southwestern quarter of campus.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Grinnell College|url=http://map.concept3d.com/?id=1232|access-date=2021-06-14|website=map.concept3d.com|language=en|archive-date=2021-05-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517095703/https://map.concept3d.com/?id=1232|url-status=live}}</ref> The athletic facilities are mostly located north of 10th Avenue.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Facilities|url=https://pioneers.grinnell.edu/sports/2012/4/15/Facilities_0415122729.aspx|access-date=2021-06-14|website=Grinnell College Athletics|language=en|archive-date=2021-12-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211208185340/https://pioneers.grinnell.edu/sports/2012/4/15/Facilities_0415122729.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:CERA prairie.jpg|alt=Conard Environmental Research Area|thumb|Prairie ecosystem of the [[Conard Environmental Research Area]]]]
[[File:Grinnell College Carnegie Hall.JPG|alt=Carnegie Hall|thumb|Carnegie Hall, an academic building used by the humanities and social sciences divisions]]
The college maintains a {{convert|365|acre|km2|adj=on}} environmental research area called the [[Conard Environmental Research Area]] (CERA). The U.S. Green Building Council awarded CERA's Environmental Education Center a gold certification.<ref>[[United States Green Building Council]]. [http://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=1548 "Cera Environmental Education Center LEED Scorecard"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928000338/http://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=1548 |date=2007-09-28 }}. Accessed May 14, 2007.</ref> The building is the first in Iowa to receive the designation.<ref>[[Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education|American Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education]]. ''AAASHE Bulletin'' [https://web.archive.org/web/20071113005122/http://www.aashe.org/archives/2006/06_06_08.php "Grinnell College Education Center Receives LEED Gold Certification"], June 8, 2006. Retrieved 29 April 2008.</ref>

During the 2000s, the college completed the Charles Benson Bear '39 Recreation and Athletic Center,<ref>Charles Benson Bear '39 Recreation and Athletic Center Grinnell College. (2012). ''Athletic Business'', ''36''(6), 56–57.</ref> the [[Bucksbaum Center for the Arts]], the renovation of the Robert Noyce '49 Science Center and the Joe Rosenfield '25 Student Center. Internationally renowned architect [[César Pelli]] designed the athletics center, the Joe Rosenfield '25 Student Center, and the [[Bucksbaum Center for the Arts]].<ref>Hebel, Sara. [http://chronicle.com/weekly/v52/i31/31a01501.htm "In Iowa, 2 Colleges Separated by 150 Miles and $1.37-Billion"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211132625/http://chronicle.com/weekly/v52/i31/31a01501.htm |date=2008-12-11 }}, ''[[The Chronicle of Higher Education]]'', April 7, 2006. Retrieved 30 April 2008.</ref>

The college is a in period of new construction which is expected to last until 2034.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grinnell College looks ahead to the Downtown Student Residence project |url=https://www.thesandb.com/article/grinnell-college-looks-ahead-to-the-downtown-student-residence-project.html |access-date=2022-12-05 |website=The Scarlet and Black |language=en-US |archive-date=December 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205222355/https://www.thesandb.com/article/grinnell-college-looks-ahead-to-the-downtown-student-residence-project.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thesandb.com/article/phase-i-of-campus-construction-costs-140-million-prompts-short-term-endowment-splurge.html|title=Phase I of campus construction costs $140 million, prompts short-term endowment splurge {{!}}|website=www.thesandb.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-05-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180508123150/http://www.thesandb.com/article/phase-i-of-campus-construction-costs-140-million-prompts-short-term-endowment-splurge.html|archive-date=2018-05-08|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://comm.sites.grinnell.edu/timeline/|title=Timeline – Pushing beyond what's been done|website=comm.sites.grinnell.edu|language=en|access-date=2018-05-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180508122147/http://comm.sites.grinnell.edu/timeline/|archive-date=2018-05-08|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Campus Planning |url=https://www.grinnell.edu/about/offices-services/institutional-planning/campus-plan |website=www.grinnell.edu |publisher=Grinnell College |access-date=21 June 2021 |archive-date=24 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624203130/https://www.grinnell.edu/about/offices-services/institutional-planning/campus-plan |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Academics ==
Grinnell's [[Curriculum#Open curriculum|open curriculum]] encourages students to take initiative and to assume responsibility for choosing their own courses of study. The sole [[Core curriculum|core, or general education, requirement]] is the completion of the First-Year Tutorial, a one-semester, [[Course credit|four-credit]] special topics [[seminar]] that stresses methods of inquiry, [[critical analysis]], and writing skills.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}} All other classes are chosen, with the direct guidance of a faculty member in the student's major department, by the student.<ref>{{cite web |title=Individually Advised Curriculum |url=https://www.grinnell.edu/admission/why-grinnell/academics/individually-advised |access-date=21 June 2021 |publisher=Grinnell College}}</ref>

Grinnell's three most popular majors among 2021 graduates were Computer Science, Biology/Biological Sciences, and Research & Experimental Psychology.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=grinnell&s=all&id=153384#programs |website=nces.ed.gov |publisher=U.S. Dept of Education |title=Grinnell College |access-date=February 8, 2023 |archive-date=April 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230419221718/https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=grinnell&s=all&id=153384#programs |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Graduate programs===
Although the college does not offer any graduate degrees, it does have dual degree programs with several universities that let Grinnell students move directly into graduate programs. Grinnell participates in a 3–2 engineering dual degree program with [[Columbia University]], [[Washington University in St. Louis]], [[Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute]], and [[California Institute of Technology]]. It also has a 2–1–1–1 engineering program with [[Dartmouth College]] and a Master of Public Health cooperative degree program with [[University of Iowa]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.grinnell.edu/academics/majors-concentrations/physics-astronomy/3-2-engineering|title=3–2 Engineering Program {{!}} Grinnell College|website=www.grinnell.edu|language=en|access-date=2018-09-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905104720/https://www.grinnell.edu/academics/majors-concentrations/physics-astronomy/3-2-engineering|archive-date=2018-09-05|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://engineering.dartmouth.edu/academics/undergraduate/dual/|title=Dual-Degree Program {{!}} Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth|last=Engineering|first=Thayer School of|website=engineering.dartmouth.edu|language=en|access-date=2018-09-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181013014539/https://engineering.dartmouth.edu/academics/undergraduate/dual/|archive-date=2018-10-13|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Reputation ===
{{Infobox US university ranking
<!-- U.S. rankings -->| ARWU_NU = 
| Forbes = 81
| THE_WSJ = 266
| USNWR_LA = 19 <small>(tie)</small>
| Wamo_LA = 26
}}

Grinnell College has been listed in each edition of Howard & Matthew Greene's guides [[The Hidden Ivies]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Greene |first1=Howard |title=Hidden Ivies: 63 of America's Top Liberal Arts Colleges and Universities |last2=Greene |first2=Matthew W. |date=2016-08-17 |publisher=HarperCollins |isbn=978-0-06-264459-6 |edition=3rd |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:Grinnell 002.JPG|thumb|left|John H. T. Main Residence Hall]]
The 2025 annual ranking of ''[[U.S. News & World Report]]'' rates it tied for the 19th best liberal arts college overall in the U.S., tied for 9th for "Best Undergraduate Teaching, 9th for "Best Value", and tied for 33rd for "Most Innovative"<ref>{{Cite news |title=U.S. News and World Report 2024 College Rankings |url=https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/grinnell-college-1868/overall-rankings |archive-date=August 7, 2019 |access-date=September 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190807163917/https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/grinnell-college-1868/overall-rankings |url-status=live }}</ref>.[[The Princeton Review]] ranks Grinnell as 10th in Best Classroom Experience. Grinnell is ranked 5th in the 2021 ''[[Washington Monthly]]'' rankings for liberal arts colleges,<ref>{{Cite web |title=2021 Liberal Arts Colleges Ranking |url=http://washingtonmonthly.com/2021college-guide/liberalarts/ |access-date=2022-04-23 |website=Washington Monthly |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-04-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220422150644/https://washingtonmonthly.com/2021college-guide/liberalarts/ |url-status=live }}</ref> which focus on key outputs such as research, dollar value of scientific grants won, the number of graduates going on to earn Ph.D. degrees, and certain types of public service. ''[[Kiplinger's Personal Finance]]'' ranked Grinnell 14th in its 2019 ranking of "best value" liberal arts colleges in the United States.<ref>{{cite web |title=Best Values in Liberal Arts Colleges |url=https://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-best-college-values-college-finder/type/liberal-arts#Table |website=www.kiplinger.com |publisher=Kiplinger |access-date=21 June 2021 |archive-date=8 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808193938/https://www.kiplinger.com/article/college/t014-c000-s002-best-college-values-2019.html#Table |url-status=live }}</ref>  In ''[[Forbes]]'' magazine's 2015 rankings of academic institutions, "America's Top Colleges" (which uses a non-traditional ranking system based on [[RateMyProfessors.com]] evaluations, notable alumni, student debt, percentage of students graduating in four years, and the number of students or faculty receiving prestigious awards), Grinnell College was ranked 81st among all colleges and universities, 21st among liberal arts colleges, and 10th in the Midwest.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grinnell College |url=https://www.forbes.com/colleges/grinnell-college/?list=top-colleges |access-date=2025-02-20 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref>

=== Faculty ===
Grinnell had 173 full-time faculty in fall 2020, all of whom possess a doctorate or the [[terminal degree]] in their field.<ref>{{cite book |title=Grinnell College Common Data Set for 2020–21 |publisher=Grinnell College |pages=26 |access-date=}}</ref> In 2024, ''U.S. News & World Report'' ranked Grinnell #9 in Best Undergraduate Teaching.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024 |title=U.S. News and World Report Best Colleges: Grinnell College |url=https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/grinnell-college-1868 |website=U.S. News and World Report |access-date=May 2, 2018 |archive-date=February 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170227040601/https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/grinnell-college-1868 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Admission===
{{Infobox U.S. college admissions
|year              = 2022
|ref               = <ref name=CDS2022>{{cite web |url=https://www.grinnell.edu/sites/default/files/docs/2023-07/Common%20Data%20Set%202023%20final%20acc%207-18.pdf |title=Common Data Set for 2022-23 |date=July 18, 2023 |publisher=Grinnell College |access-date=February 26, 2024 }}</ref>
|change ref        = <ref name=CDS2017>{{cite web |url=https://www.grinnell.edu/sites/default/files/docs/2022-11/CDS%202017-18.pdf |title=Common Data Set for 2017-18 |date=November 16, 2022 |publisher=Grinnell College |access-date=February 26, 2024 }}</ref>
|admit rate        = 10.76%
|admit rate change = -18.11
|yield rate        = 40.61%
|yield rate change = 14.15

|test optional          = recent
|SAT Total              = 1410–1520<br />(among 28% of [[freshman|FTFs]])
|SAT Total change       = 
|SAT EBRW               =
|SAT EBRW change        = 
|SAT Math               =
|SAT Math change        = 
|ACT Composite          = 31–34<br />(among 27% of [[freshman|FTFs]])
|ACT Composite change   = 

|top decile             = 66%
|top decile change      = -3
|top quarter            = 90%
|top quarter change     = -1
|top half               = 98%
|top half change        = -1
|GPA                    = 
|GPA change             = 
}}
In 2019, ''U.S. News & World Report'' classified Grinnell's selectivity as "most selective".<ref name="USNWR">{{cite web |year=2021 |title=Grinnell College Rankings |url=https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/grinnell-college-1868/overall-rankings |access-date=October 2, 2020 |magazine=U.S. News & World Report |archive-date=August 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190807163917/https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/grinnell-college-1868/overall-rankings |url-status=live }}</ref>  For Fall 2022, Grinnell received 9,997 freshmen applications; 1,076 were admitted (10.76%).<ref name=CDS2022 /> During the 2020-2021 application season, Grinnell offered a standardized test-optional application, due to limited testing access caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grinnell College application rates spike after pandemic-related changes |url=http://www.thesandb.com/article/grinnell-college-application-rates-spike-after-pandemic-related-changes.html |access-date=2021-08-10 |website=The Scarlet and Black |language=en-US |archive-date=2021-08-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210810074818/http://www.thesandb.com/article/grinnell-college-application-rates-spike-after-pandemic-related-changes.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Grinnell College's admission selectivity rating, according to [[The Princeton Review]] in 2018, is a 95 out of 99.<ref>[[The Princeton Review]]. [https://www.princetonreview.com/college/grinnell-college-1023453 Grinnell College] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180502140745/https://www.princetonreview.com/college/grinnell-college-1023453 |date=2018-05-02 }}. Retrieved 23 November 2008.</ref> This rating is determined by several institutionally reported factors, including: the class rank, average standardized test scores, and average high school GPA of entering freshmen; the percentage of students who hail from out-of-state; and the percentage of applicants accepted.<ref>[[The Princeton Review]]. [http://www.princetonreview.com/college/research/articles/find/ratings.asp#selectivity About College] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080604062423/http://www.princetonreview.com/college/research/articles/find/ratings.asp#selectivity |date=2008-06-04 }}</ref>

=== Graduation rates ===
Grinnell College is oriented towards students being enrolled full-time in exactly eight consecutive semesters at the college, although exceptions are available for medical issues and other emergencies.<ref>Grinnell College. [http://www.grinnell.edu/academic/catalog/acadreg/courseloads/ "Academic Catalog: Academic Regulations"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527163336/http://www.grinnell.edu/academic/catalog/acadreg/courseloads |date=2010-05-27 }}</ref> To avoid being suspended from the college, students must make "normal progress towards graduation". This generally means that the student must pass at least 12 credits of classes in each individual semester, with grades C or higher, and have accumulated enough credits to make graduation possible at the end of four years, which requires an average of 15.5 credits each semester. A student who is not making normal progress towards graduation is placed on academic probation and may be dismissed from the college.<ref>Grinnell College. [http://www.grinnell.edu/academic/catalog/acadreg/probation/ "Academic Catalog: Academic Regulations"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527163258/http://www.grinnell.edu/academic/catalog/acadreg/probation |date=2010-05-27 }}</ref>

Nationwide, only 20% of college students complete a four-year undergraduate degree within four years, and only 57% of college students graduate within six years.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/19/well/family/when-a-college-student-comes-home-to-stay.html|title=When a College Student Comes Home to Stay|last1=Stixrud|first1=William|date=2018-11-19|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-12-06|last2=Johnson|first2=Ned|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206102507/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/19/well/family/when-a-college-student-comes-home-to-stay.html|archive-date=2018-12-06|url-status=live}}</ref>  However, at Grinnell College, 84% of students graduate within four years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/grinnell-college-1868|title=Best Colleges: Grinnell College|date=2018|website=U.S. News & World Report|access-date=2018-05-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170227040601/https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/grinnell-college-1868|archive-date=2017-02-27|url-status=live}}</ref> This is the highest graduation rate of any college in Iowa.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2018/10/22/ranking-iowa-college-university-grinnell-drake-luther-central-northwestern-tuition-student-loan-debt/1725994002/|title=Grinnell named best college in Iowa, but not for its tuition. Where does your school rank?|last=Fleig|first=Shelby|date=22 October 2018|website=Des Moines Register|language=en|access-date=2018-12-06|archive-date=2022-08-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808193934/https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2018/10/22/ranking-iowa-college-university-grinnell-drake-luther-central-northwestern-tuition-student-loan-debt/1725994002/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Tuition and financial aid ==

The [[sticker price]] for Grinnell's combined tuition, room, board, and fees for the 2022–2023 academic year is $76,528. Tuition and fees are $61,480 and room and board are $15,048.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cost and Net Price |url=https://www.grinnell.edu/admission/financial-aid/affording-grinnell/cost |website=www.grinnell.edu |publisher=Grinnell College |access-date=21 June 2022 |archive-date=26 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426043533/https://www.grinnell.edu/admission/financial-aid/affording-grinnell/cost |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Need-blind admissions and full financial aid ===
Grinnell College is one of a few dozen US colleges that maintain [[need-blind admission]]s and meets the full demonstrated financial need of all U.S. residents who are admitted to the college.<ref name="SandB">Montgomery, David. [http://web.grinnell.edu/sandb/archives/volume_121/number_17/news/article06.html "International student financial aid goes need-sensitive"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211115243/http://web.grinnell.edu/sandb/archives/volume_121/number_17/news/article06.html|date=2008-12-11}}, ''The Scarlet & Black'', March 4, 2005</ref> Grinnell offers a large amount of need-based and merit-based aid in comparison with peer institutions. Currently (2020–21), 86% of students receive some form of financial aid.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Tuition and Financial Aid {{!}} Grinnell College|url=https://www.grinnell.edu/admission/financial-aid|access-date=2021-06-14|website=www.grinnell.edu|archive-date=2021-05-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210531181259/https://www.grinnell.edu/admission/financial-aid|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2018–2019, 20% of students enrolled at Grinnell College were receiving federal [[Pell Grants]], which are generally reserved for students from low-income families.<ref name="USNWRdiversity">{{Cite web|title=Economic Diversity Among the Top 25 National Liberal Arts Colleges|url=https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-liberal-arts-colleges/economic-diversity-among-top-ranked-schools|access-date=2021-06-14|website=U.S. News & World Report|archive-date=2021-06-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624195033/https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-liberal-arts-colleges/economic-diversity-among-top-ranked-schools|url-status=live}}</ref> The average financial aid package is over $51,770.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Grinnell College {{!}} The College Board|url=https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-university-search/grinnell-college|access-date=2021-06-14|website=bigfuture.collegeboard.org|language=en|archive-date=2021-06-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614141048/https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-university-search/grinnell-college|url-status=live}}</ref> Grinnell guarantees a $10,000 Grinnell Choice Scholarship renewable for eight semesters to all U.S. citizens and permanent residents admitted under the Early Decision program.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Early Decision Applicants {{!}} Grinnell College |url=https://www.grinnell.edu/admission/apply/first-year/early-decision |access-date=2022-04-23 |website=www.grinnell.edu |archive-date=2022-04-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220423042019/https://www.grinnell.edu/admission/apply/first-year/early-decision |url-status=live }}</ref>

Beginning with the first-year students enrolled in the 2006–2007 school year, Grinnell ended its need-blind admissions policy for international applicants. Under the old policy, students from countries outside the U.S. were admitted without any consideration of their ability to afford four years of study at the college. However, financial aid offers to these students were limited to half the cost of tuition.<ref name=SandB /> International students frequently carried very high workloads in an effort to pay the bills, and their academic performance often suffered.<ref>Leavens, Kennedy. [http://web.grinnell.edu/sandb/archives/volume_119/number_19/news/3.html "Need-sensitivity? Admissions may start looking at international students’ bank accounts"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081021095310/http://web.grinnell.edu/sandb/archives/volume_119/number_19/news/3.html |date=2008-10-21 }}, ''The Scarlet & Black'', February 28, 2003.</ref> Under the new "need-sensitive" or "need-aware" policy, international students whose demonstrated financial needs can be met are given a slight admissions edge over applicants who cannot. The twin hopes are that the enrolled international students will be able to dedicate more energy to their schoolwork, and also that this will ultimately allow the college to provide higher tuition grants to international students.

=== Paid internships ===
In addition to financial aid, students receive funding from the college for unpaid or underpaid [[Internship|summer internships]] and [[professional development]] (including international conferences and professional attire).<ref>{{Cite web |title=CLS Grants & Funding {{!}} Grinnell College |url=https://www.grinnell.edu/after-grinnell/cls/students/grants-funding |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905105215/https://www.grinnell.edu/after-grinnell/cls/students/grants-funding |archive-date=2018-09-05 |access-date=2018-09-05 |website=www.grinnell.edu |language=en}}</ref>

== Student body ==
In a 2014 study, compared to other US colleges with high four-year graduation rates, the economic diversity of students at Grinnell College was second only to [[Vassar College]], indicating that it is accessible to students from low-income and middle-income families.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bruni |first=Frank |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rbqFBAAAQBAJ&dq=%22the+schools+that+scored+highest+on+the+index+were,+in+order,+vassar%22&pg=PT109 |title=Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be: An Antidote to the College Admissions Mania |date=2015-03-17 |publisher=Grand Central Publishing |isbn=978-1-4555-3269-8 |language=en |quote=Along those lines, the ''Times'' crunched numbers and, in September 2014, published what it called a College Access Index, evaluating and ranking schools according to the percentage of students who qualified for Pell grants, which are reserved for low-income families, and the net price being paid by students whose families weren't affluent.  The ''Times'' only looked at 'top colleges,' which it defined as those whose four-year graduation rate was at least 75 percent.  The schools that scored highest on the index were, in order, Vassar, Grinnell, UNC Chapel Hill, Smith, and, in a tie for fifth place, Amherst and, actually, Harvard.}}</ref>

Grinnell is unusual for a selective school based in a small town for being able to attract a relatively large number of international students and US students of color.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Pope |first=Loren |title=Colleges That Change Lives |date=2006-07-25 |publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-1-101-22134-1 |language=en |quote=[About [[Knox College (Illinois)|Knox College]]] Grinnell in Iowa is the only other good college so far from a major city able to boast of such diversity.}}</ref>  About a quarter of students are people of color.<ref name=":4" />  Most students come from outside the [[Midwestern United States]], and less than 10% are from [[Iowa]].<ref name=":4" />

== Athletics ==
{{Main|Grinnell Pioneers}}
[[File:Grinnell College MacEachron Field.JPG|thumb|Grinnell College MacEachron Field]]

The school's varsity sports teams are named the '''Pioneers'''. They participate in eighteen intercollegiate sports at the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] Division III level and in the [[Midwest Conference]]. In addition, Grinnell has several club sports teams that compete in non-varsity sports such as [[volleyball]], [[sailing]], [[water polo]], [[Ultimate (sport)|ultimate]] and [[rugby union]].

Nearly one-third of recent Grinnell graduates participated in at least one of varsity sports while attending the college and the college has led the Midwest Conference in the total number of Academic All-Conference honorees in last four years (as of 2021).<ref>{{cite web |title=Grinnell leads league in Academic All-Conference selections for 4th year in a row |url=https://pioneers.grinnell.edu/news/2020/7/9/baseball-grinnell-leads-league-in-all-conference-selections-for-4th-year-in-a-row.aspx |website=pioneers.grinnell.edu |date=9 July 2020 |publisher=Grinnell College |access-date=21 June 2021 |archive-date=8 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608053849/https://pioneers.grinnell.edu/news/2020/7/9/baseball-grinnell-leads-league-in-all-conference-selections-for-4th-year-in-a-row.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Grinnell Pioneers won the first game of intercollegiate football west of the Mississippi when they beat the [[1889 Iowa College Pioneers football team|University of Iowa]] 24–0 on November 16, 1889.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-09-03-sp-2185-story.html |title=100 Years of Grinnell Football Began with Victory over Iowa - latimes |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=3 September 1989 |access-date=2019-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202184317/http://articles.latimes.com/1989-09-03/sports/sp-2185_1_grinnell-football |archive-date=2017-02-02 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="page2">Lamb, D and McGrane, B, p. 2.</ref>

The men's water polo team, known as the Wild Turkeys, were runners-up in the 2007 [[College Water Polo Association]] (CWPA) Division III Collegiate National Club Championships hosted by [[Lindenwood University]] in [[St. Charles, Missouri]]. They also qualified for the tournament in 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, and 2014.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=CWPA|url=http://www.collegiatewaterpolo.org/club/Schedules/mensclub/index|title=Men's Club Schedules|year=2013|access-date=February 2, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121028162640/http://www.collegiatewaterpolo.org/club/Schedules/mensclub/index|archive-date=2012-10-28|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Men's Ultimate team, nicknamed the Grinnellephants, qualified in 2008 for its first Division III National Championship in [[Versailles, Ohio]]. The Women's Ultimate team, nicknamed The Sticky Tongue Frogs, tied for third place in the 2010 Division III National Championship in [[Appleton, Wisconsin]].<ref>[[USA Ultimate]]. [http://scores.usaultimate.org/scores/#college-womens/tournament/6639 2010 UPA College Division III Womens Championships] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100930050525/http://scores.usaultimate.org/scores/ |date=2010-09-30 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.grinnell.edu/groups/frisbee/women/women.html|title=The Sticky Tongue Frogs Grinnell Womens Ultimate|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100619071948/http://web.grinnell.edu/groups/frisbee/women/women.html|archive-date=2010-06-19}}</ref> The success was repeated in 2011 when the men's team placed third in 2011 Division III National Championship in Buffalo.<ref>{{cite web |author=Michael Aguilar |url=http://www.usaultimate.org/news/2011-d-iii-college-championships--sunday-open-recap/ |title=News 2011 D-III College Championships – Sunday Open Recap |publisher=Usaultimate.org |date=2011-05-24 |access-date=2016-02-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304221509/http://www.usaultimate.org/news/2011-d-iii-college-championships--sunday-open-recap/ |archive-date=2016-03-04 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In February 2005, the [[Grinnell Pioneers men's basketball]] team became the first Division III school featured in a regular season basketball game by the ESPN network family in 30 years when it faced off against the [[Beloit College|Beloit]] Buccaneers on [[ESPN2]].<ref>Amy Farnum. NCAA Sports. [http://www.ncaasports.com/basketball/mens/story/8141645 Grinnell Goes Big-Time] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070417150708/http://www.ncaasports.com/basketball/mens/story/8141645 |date=2007-04-17 }}. January 28, 2005.</ref> Grinnell lost 86–85.<ref>D3Hoops.com [http://www.d3hoops.com/story.php?story=38975 Beloit 86, Grinnell 85] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928104950/http://www.d3hoops.com/story.php?story=38975 |date=2007-09-28 }}. February 3, 2005.</ref> Grinnell College's basketball team attracted ESPN due to the team's [[run and gun (basketball)|run and gun]] style of playing basketball, known in Grinnell simply as "The System". Coach [[Dave Arseneault]] originated the [[Grinnell System]] that incorporates a continual full-court press, a fast-paced offense, an emphasis on offensive rebounding, a barrage of three-point shots and substitutions of five players at a time every 35 to 40 seconds. This allows a higher average playing time for more players than the "starters" and suits the Division III goals of scholar-athletes. "The System" has been criticized for not teaching the principles of defense. However, under "The System", Grinnell has won three conference championships over the past ten years and have regularly placed in the top half of the conference. Coach Arseneault's teams have set numerous NCAA scoring records and several individuals on the Grinnell team have led the nation in scoring or assists.<ref>Official 2007 NCAA Men's Basketball Records Book, [https://www.ncaa.org/library/records/basketball/m_basketball_records_book/2007/2007_m_basketball_records.pdf NCAA.org] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070323023343/http://www.ncaa.org/library/records/basketball/m_basketball_records_book/2007/2007_m_basketball_records.pdf |date=2007-03-23 }} Retrieved 7 March 2007.</ref>

On November 19, 2011, Grinnell player Griffin Lentsch set a new Division III individual scoring record in a game against [[Principia College]]. The {{Convert|6|ft|4|in|adj=on}} guard scored 89 points, besting the old record of 77, also set by a Pioneers player—Jeff Clement—in 1998. Lentsch made 27 of his 55 shots, including 15 three-pointers as Grinnell won the high-scoring game 145 to 97.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/blog/the_dagger/post/Grinnell-College-star-shatters-Division-III-reco?urn=ncaab-wp6348|title=Grinnell College star shatters Division III scoring record|publisher=Rivals.com via Yahoo Sports|date=2011-11-22|access-date=2011-11-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116220254/http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/blog/the_dagger/post/Grinnell-College-star-shatters-Division-III-reco?urn=ncaab-wp6348|archive-date=2014-01-16|url-status=live}}</ref> On November 20, 2012, Grinnell's [[Jack Taylor (basketball)|Jack Taylor]] broke Lentsch's scoring record, as well as the records for NCAA and collegiate scoring, in a 179–104 victory over [[Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary|Faith Baptist Bible College]]. Taylor scored 138 points on 108 shots, along with 3 rebounds, 6 turnovers and 3 steals. Taylor went 27 for 71 from behind the arc.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.d3hoops.com/notables/2012/11/grinnell-taylor-puts-scoring-record-at-138|title=Grinnell's Taylor pours in NCAA-record 138 points|publisher=D3sports.com|date=2012-11-20|access-date=2012-11-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121123001559/http://www.d3hoops.com/notables/2012/11/grinnell-taylor-puts-scoring-record-at-138|archive-date=2012-11-23|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://msn.foxsports.com/collegebasketball/story/D3-Grinnell-player-scores-138-points-in-a-game-to-smash-NCAA-record-112012/?ocid=ansfox11|title=D3 Grinnell player scores 138 points in a game to smash NCAA record – College Basketball News – FOX Sports on MSN|work=FOX Sports|date=2012-11-20|access-date=2012-11-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121127171020/http://msn.foxsports.com/collegebasketball/story/D3-Grinnell-player-scores-138-points-in-a-game-to-smash-NCAA-record-112012/?ocid=ansfox11|archive-date=2012-11-27|url-status=live}}</ref> Taylor scored 109 points in a November 2013 game against [[Crossroads College]] to become the first player in NCAA history to have two 100-point games.<ref>{{cite web|last=Miller|first=Kerry|title=Grinnell Super Scorer Jack Taylor Opens Up About Stats, Style of Play|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1856112-grinnell-super-scorer-jack-taylor-opens-up-about-stats-style-of-play?hpt=hp_t3|website=Bleacher Report|access-date=20 November 2013|date=20 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011053639/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1856112-grinnell-super-scorer-jack-taylor-opens-up-about-stats-style-of-play?hpt=hp_t3|archive-date=11 October 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/9993353/grinnell-jack-taylor-scores-109-points-24-3-pointers |title=Jack Taylor tops 100 points again |agency=[[Associated Press]] |work=[[ESPN.com]] |date=November 18, 2013 |access-date=November 18, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131119052148/http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/9993353/grinnell-jack-taylor-scores-109-points-24-3-pointers |archive-date=November 19, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2019, the Grinnell women's volleyball team advanced to the NCAA Division III National Tournament for the first time in the 46-year history of the program, defeating St. Norbert College in a five-set thriller during the Midwest Conference Tournament championship match at Cornell College's gymnasium. It also marked Grinnell's first-ever MWC Tournament title in volleyball.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pioneers.grinnell.edu/news/2019/11/9/womens-volleyball-dream-turns-into-reality-for-pioneers-with-mwc-volleyball-title-and-ncaa-berth.aspx|title=Pioneer volleyball team makes history with first-ever MWC Tournament crown, NCAA Tourney berth|website=Grinnell College Athletics|date=9 November 2019 |access-date=2020-08-22|archive-date=2021-06-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608054533/https://pioneers.grinnell.edu/news/2019/11/9/womens-volleyball-dream-turns-into-reality-for-pioneers-with-mwc-volleyball-title-and-ncaa-berth.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Social activities and organizations ==
[[File:GrinnellCollegeGatesTower.jpg|thumb|Gates Tower and Rawson Hall]]

Students at Grinnell adhere to an honor system known as "[[self-governance]]" wherein they are expected to govern their own choices and behavior with minimal direct intervention by the college administration. By cultivating a community based on freedom of choice, self-governance aims to encourage students to become responsible, respectful, and accountable members of the campus, town, and global community.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.grinnell.edu/offices/studentaffairs/selfgovernance/|title=Self Governance – Student Affairs &#124; Grinnell College|publisher=Grinnell.edu|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527181340/http://www.grinnell.edu/offices/studentaffairs/selfgovernance|archive-date=2010-05-27|url-status=dead|access-date=2010-02-28}}</ref>

Founded in November 2000, the student-run group Pioneer Capital Investments (PCI), formerly known as Student Endowment Investing Group, actively invests over $100,000 of Grinnell College's endowment capital in public equities. The group's mission is to provide interested students with valuable experience for future careers in finance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.grinnell.edu/groups/invest/|title=Pioneer Capital Investments|website=web.grinnell.edu|access-date=2015-06-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623104936/http://web.grinnell.edu/groups/invest/|archive-date=2015-06-23|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Bohlke |first1=Lily |title=Pioneer Capital Investments gives students alternative financial opportunities |url=http://www.thesandb.com/article/pioneer-capital-investments-gives-students-alternative-financial-opportunities.html |website=Scarlet and Black |access-date=5 October 2021 |archive-date=5 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211005235612/http://www.thesandb.com/article/pioneer-capital-investments-gives-students-alternative-financial-opportunities.html |url-status=live }}</ref>  Two environmental organizations on campus produce and sell custom notebooks, using leftover paper from classwork and reused [[pasteboard]] from boxes originally holding breakfast cereal or other products.<ref>Yuan, Xiao-Bo. (2006, June 16). Grinnell’s Green Secrets. ''Chronicle of Higher Education'', ''52''(41), A9.</ref>

Service organizations are popular. The Alternative Break ("AltBreak") program takes students to pursue service initiatives during school holidays, and as of 2005, Grinnell had more alumni per capita serving in the [[Peace Corps]] than any other college in the nation.<ref name="pc">[[Peace Corps]]. [http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.media.press.view&news_id=1011 Peace Corps Announces the Colleges and Universities that Have Produced the Most Peace Corps Volunteers] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927020127/http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.media.press.view&news_id=1011 |date=2007-09-27 }}. January 24, 2005.</ref> The college also runs its own post-graduation service program known as Grinnell Corps in [[Grinnell, Iowa|Grinnell]], China, [[Namibia]], [[New Orleans]], and Thailand, and has previously operated programs in Greece, [[Lesotho]], [[Macau]], and [[Nepal]].<ref>Grinnell College Center for Careers, Life, and Service. [http://www.grinnell.edu/about/offices-services/cls/civic-engagement/grinnell-corps Grinnell Corps] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110140745/http://www.grinnell.edu/about/offices-services/cls/civic-engagement/grinnell-corps |date=2014-11-10 }}. Retrieved 18 November 2014.</ref><ref name=":5" />

=== Union of Grinnell Student Dining Workers ===
In 2016, students formed the Union of Grinnell Student Dining Workers, or UGSDW, to represent student workers in the college's dining hall.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About – UGSDW |url=https://www.ugsdw.org/about/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181120095413/https://www.ugsdw.org/about/ |archive-date=20 November 2018 |access-date=20 November 2018}}</ref> It was the first undergraduate student workers union at a private college in the United States.<ref name="labornotes.org">{{Cite web|url=http://labornotes.org/2018/11/iowa-pioneering-undergrad-workers-union-keeps-growing|title=In Iowa, Pioneering Undergrad Workers Union Keeps Growing &#124; Labor Notes|last=Brophy|first=Megan|date=November 6, 2018|website=Labor Notes|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181120055204/http://labornotes.org/2018/11/iowa-pioneering-undergrad-workers-union-keeps-growing|archive-date=November 20, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Hardy 2017">{{cite web |last1=Hardy |first1=Kevin |title=These Iowa Students Want Their College to Be the 'Most Unionized Campus in the Country' |url=https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/education/2017/09/25/these-iowa-students-want-their-college-most-unionized-campus-country/692777001/ |website=The Des Moines Register |access-date=29 April 2023 |language=en-US |date=25 September 2017 |archive-date=August 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808194029/https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/education/2017/09/25/these-iowa-students-want-their-college-most-unionized-campus-country/692777001/ |url-status=live }}</ref> After several years of legal maneuvers,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bolten |first1=Kathy A. |title=Grinnell Student Workers Approve Campuswide Union; School's Move to Quash Has National Implications |url=https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/education/2018/11/29/union-grinnell-college-student-workers-unionize-iowa-nlrb-labor-relations-board-university-school/2143732002/ |website=[[Des Moines Register]] |language=en-US |date=29 November 2018}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> the USGDW and the college agreed that the college would be neutral in elections and abide by the results.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Jett |first=Tyler |date=29 April 2022 |title=After Student Union Victory, Grinnell College President Expresses Support for Labor Leaders |url=https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/money/business/2022/04/29/expansion-student-union-grinnell-has-college-presidents-support/9588298002/ |access-date=29 April 2023 |website=[[The Des Moines Register|Des Moines Register]] |archive-date=August 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808193944/https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/money/business/2022/04/29/expansion-student-union-grinnell-has-college-presidents-support/9588298002/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In April 2022, members of the UGSDW voted 327–6 to expand the union to all hourly paid student workers on campus, which made Grinnell the first and only fully unionized student-worker body in the country.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=McMenamin |first=Lexi |date=27 April 2022 |title=This is the U.S.'s First Fully Unionized Undergrad College |url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/grinnell-college-student-union-election |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230424203014/https://www.teenvogue.com/story/grinnell-college-student-union-election |archive-date=24 April 2023 |access-date=28 April 2023 |website=Teen Vogue |language=en-US}}</ref>  In October 2022, the union and the college began the [[collective bargaining]] process.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Collective Bargaining Sessions |url=https://www.grinnell.edu/about/leadership/offices-services/hr/student-employees/collective-bargaining |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230429005724/https://www.grinnell.edu/about/leadership/offices-services/hr/student-employees/collective-bargaining |archive-date=29 April 2023 |access-date=29 April 2023 |website=Grinnell College}}</ref>

== Notable alumni ==
{{Main|List of Grinnell College alumni}}

Notable alumni include:

* [[Emily Bergl]], 1997, actress and singer
* [[Thomas Cech]], 1970, co-winner of 1989 [[Nobel Prize]] in Chemistry, president of Howard Hughes Medical Institute
* [[Florin Cîțu]], 1996, [[Prime Minister of Romania]] (2020–2021)
* [[Mary Sue Coleman]], 1965, president of the University of Iowa and the University of Michigan
* [[Gary Cooper]], 1922, actor, best known for ''[[High Noon]]''
* [[Peter Coyote]], 1964, actor, author, director, screenwriter and narrator of films, theatre, television and audiobooks. He is known for his work in various films such as ''[[E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial]]'' (1982) and ''[[Erin Brockovich]]'' (2000)
* [[John Garang]], 1969, founder of the [[Sudan People's Liberation Movement]] and former Vice President of [[Sudan]]
* [[Herbie Hancock]], 1960, jazz musician and composer
* [[Paul McCulley]], 1979, American economist and former managing director at [[PIMCO]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Trustees {{!}} Grinnell College|url=https://www.grinnell.edu/about/leadership/trustees/members|access-date=2021-03-27|website=www.grinnell.edu|archive-date=2021-05-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512035058/https://www.grinnell.edu/about/leadership/trustees/members|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Kumail Nanjiani]], 2001, comedian, actor, screenwriter and podcaster, best known for his role as Dinesh on [[HBO]]'s comedy series ''[[Silicon Valley (TV series)|Silicon Valley]]'', and for co-writing and starring in the romantic comedy ''[[The Big Sick]]''
* [[Robert Noyce]], 1949, co-founder of [[Intel]], co-inventor of the [[integrated circuit]], [[National Medal of Science]] recipient
* [[Clair Patterson|Clair Cameron Patterson]], 1943, American [[geochemist]]
* [[Chase Strangio]], 2004, lawyer and transgender rights activist
* [[Henry Travillion Wingate]], 1969, [[United States federal judge|United States district judge]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{ccat}}
* {{oweb}}
* [https://pioneers.grinnell.edu/ Athletics website]
* {{Cite NIE|wstitle=Iowa College|short=x}}

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