International Applicants

1. Common Application

• Create a Common Application and add Grinnell College to your college list. We don’t charge an application fee so applying to Grinnell is free!

2. Financial Aid Forms

• All financial aid forms must be submitted by the same deadline as the Common Application.
• If I am applying for need-based financial aid, what forms do I need to fill out?
  • Your application file will not be complete, nor given consideration for admission, until you have submitted one of the following.
  • Option A: Submit the 2024–25 CSS Profile, which is available beginning Oct. 1, 2023.
    • This is to be submitted online via the College Board website. We will not accept a paper copy of the form.
    • Note: Grinnell College does not offer CSS Profile application fee waivers.
  • Option B: Submit the International Student Application for Financial Assistance (ISAFA) (PDF)
    • Upload the form to your Grinnell application portal. Your Grinnell application portal is created after you submit the Common Application. For your financial security, we ask that you do not send any forms via email attachments. The form will become available in early October.
• If I am not applying for need-based financial aid, do I need to fill out any forms?
  • No. Instead, please indicate on the Common Application that you do not intend to apply for need-based financial aid.
  • Note: If you do not apply for financial aid for your first year, you cannot request it in future years. As part of the application for admission, all applicants needing financial assistance are required to complete the CSS Profile or ISAFA thoroughly and accurately.
• Tip: Grinnell will not accept any financial documents by email. That’s not secure. You must upload them to your secure Grinnell applicant status page.

3. Official Transcript

• What do you mean by “transcript”?
  • We are looking for a document (i.e., mark sheet, progress report, grade sheet, report card) that shows us what subjects you have studied each year of high school and the grades/marks you earned in each subject.
• What are the options for submitting an official transcript?
  • This document will need to be sent to us by your high school guidance counselor (or other most appropriate school administrator) or local EducationUSA officer by one of the following methods:
    • Online via the Common Application website. (This is our preferred method.) You will need to invite your counselor to submit this information.
    • By postal mail. This can be an original document or a photocopy of the original document. If a copy is submitted, it should contain an original school stamp and signature on it verifying that the copy is true to the original document.
    • By fax or email. Your counselor can send an attested copy by fax (1-641-269-4800) or as an attachment to an email sent to Grinnell International Admission. The cover letter of the fax or email should clearly indicate that it is being sent by the school, and not you (the student), in order for us accept the documents as official.

4. Official External Exam Results

• Depending on the educational system of your country, the external exams that we require include: O-Level, A-Level, SSSCE, WAEC, NECO, HSEB, SLC, KCSE, IGCSE, SPM, IB, ICSE, HSC, AISSCE, CXC. This is not a comprehensive list. You will be notified on a case-by-case basis if there are additional external exam results that we require. Please note that if you have studied under the O-Level/A-Level curriculum you must continue your studies through the A-Level (or its equivalent) in order to be eligible to apply to Grinnell.

5. English Language Proficiency Requirement — Official TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test Score(s)

• If your native language is not English and/or your primary language of instruction in high school was not English, you will need to demonstrate your English proficiency.
• For applications for fall 2025 entry we will accept the following:
  • Duolingo English Test
    • This is a “take from your home” exam. Learn more about Duolingo.
  • IELTS
    • See the most recent updates about exam dates/locations.
    • IELTS E-Delivery — please give your IELTS test center this information:
      • Account Name: Grinnell College
        Address: Grinnell College Admission Office
        Address: 1227 Park Street
        City: Grinnell
        State: IA
        Zip Code: 50112
  • TOEFL
    • The TOEFL iBT is now offered in 3 formats. Grinnell accepts all three formats.
      • TOEFL iBT - taken at a test center
      • TOEFL iBT Home Edition - taken at home
      • TOEFL iBT Paper Edition - taken in two parts (one at the test center, one at home)
    • TOEFL Essentials - taken at home
    • MyBest Scores are accepted:
      • Information for TOEFL iBT test-takers
      • Information for TOEFL Essentials test-takers
• We require an official score report.
  • Grinnell’s testing code for TOEFL is 6252.
  • For the IELTS E-Delivery service please use
    • Account Name: Grinnell College
    • Address: Grinnell College Admission Office
    • Address: 1227 Park Street
    • City: Grinnell
    • State: IA
    • Zip Code: 50112
• Are there other options for submitting my results?
  • You can ask your high school guidance counselor (or other most appropriate school administrator) or EducationUSA officer to send us an attested copy of your TOEFL or IELTS scores by one of the following methods:
    • Online via the Common Application website. (This is our preferred method.) Your counselor can submit a photocopy of your score report when they submit your high school transcript.
    • By postal mail. The attested copy should contain an original school stamp and signature on it verifying that the copy is true to the original score report.
    • By fax or email. Your counselor can send an attested copy or screen print to us by fax (1-641-269-4800) or as an attachment to an email sent to the Office of Admission. The cover letter of the fax or email should clearly indicate that it is being sent by the high school, and not you (the student), in order for us to accept the scores as official.

6. School Report Form and Counselor Recommendation

• You will provide the Common Application system with your counselor’s email address which will allow them to submit both of these forms online on your behalf.

7. Two Academic Teacher Recommendations

• You will provide the Common Application system with the email address of two teachers which will allow them to submit recommendation letters online on your behalf. You should choose teachers from an academic subject area (English, math, social studies, science, or language).

8. Early Decision Agreement Form

• If you are applying to Grinnell as an Early Decision applicant you will be required to submit the ED Agreement Form. This is to be submitted online through your Common Application account by the ED deadline. This form requires three signatures before it can be considered complete: yours, your parent’s, and your counselor’s. Learn more information about what it means to apply early decision.

Preliminary Application

• If you want to get your name into our database early, you can submit the Preliminary Application. This is an optional part of the application process that demonstrates interest to Grinnell, as well as allowing you to receive more information about timelines, events in your area, and the college search process. 
  • Note: The Preliminary Application is not a substitute for the Common Application.

SAT or ACT Scores

• Grinnell’s test-optional policy will be in place until fall 2026, at which point we will re-evaluate the policy and determine whether or not to continue with it in future years. We encourage you to read more about this policy.
• Applicants who choose to apply with an SAT and/or ACT test score may submit either official or self-reported scores to Grinnell College.  All enrolling students who applied with a self-reported test score will be required to submit an official test score prior to arriving on campus.
• You can submit your official results from either of these testing agencies. Grinnell’s testing codes are 6252 (SAT) and 1318 (ACT).
• Are there other options for submitting my results?
  • You can ask your high school guidance counselor (or other most appropriate school administrator) or EducationUSA officer to send us an attested copy of your SAT or ACT scores by one of the following methods:
  • Online via the Common Application website. (This is our preferred method.) Your counselor can submit a photocopy of your score report when they submit your high school transcript.
  • By postal mail. The attested copy should contain an original school stamp and signature on it verifying that the copy is true to the original score report.
  • By fax or email. Your counselor can send an attested copy or screen print to us by fax (1-641-269-4800) or as an attachment to an email sent to intladmission@grinnell.edu. The cover letter of the fax or email should clearly indicate that it is being sent by the high school, and not you (the student), in order for us to accept the scores as official.

SAT II and AP Exams

• Grinnell does not require the SAT II (subject test) or AP exam scores of any applicant, but students may still choose to self-report these scores (if available) on their application. It is not necessary to send in official score reports for either of these exams.

Supplemental Materials 

• While Grinnell does not have a required supplementary essay / application, we will accept additional letters of recommendation, writing samples, essays, and other appropriate documents if you feel that they will enhance your application. You should upload these items to your Grinnell College application portal whenever possible.

Interviews

• Before your request for an interview can be accommodated, please refer to the instructions for international student interviews. You will notice that submission of your Common Application and your financial aid application is required before your request for an online interview will be considered.
• Grinnell accepts InitialView, Vericant, and Duolingo interviews from students who have these to submit.
  • Note: Grinnell College does not require personal interviews nor do we give special preference to an international student who participates in on- or off-campus interviews. Please be assured that for those who do receive an interview, it does not weigh heavily on the ultimate decision; largely due to fairness issues, because the vast majority of our international applicants are unable to have interviews.

Need-Aware Review Policy

Like the majority of highly selective, private liberal arts colleges in the United States, Grinnell employs a need-aware admission policy for international students. This means that your demonstrated financial need is considered along with the academic and extra-curricular components of your application during the admission evaluation. In other words, the competition for financial aid is more competitive as the applicant’s demonstrated financial need increases. Students who demonstrate academic excellence and who maintain active co-curricular involvement are especially attractive to our admissions committee, regardless of financial need. The need-aware model allows us to best distribute our resources to enroll a high-achieving, multi-talented, and geographically diverse class.

International Financial Aid Packaging Policy

Grinnell is committed to meeting 100% of institutionally determined need for all admitted international students who complete a financial aid application by the deadline associated with their application term. Grinnell College offers a full range of financial aid opportunities to international students and we are committed to providing affordable education to students from around the world. Learn about how we calculate need.

Be sure to read some more detailed information about international student financial aid and scholarships. We also recommend you check out the most frequently asked questions related to financial aid.

Important: Your application for admission will not be considered complete until the appropriate financial forms have been submitted.