Grinnell College

Grinnell Applicant Portal Activation: QuestBridge will send Finalists’ applications to Grinnell on October 18, and Grinnell may need a couple days to import them into their system. Once processed, Grinnell will then email you instructions to log in and activate your Grinnell applicant portal, where you can track the status of the materials you submit to Grinnell.

1

Official Transcript(s)

A guidance counselor or registrar must send a copy of your official transcript via mail, fax, or email (see Contact Information below).

2

(Optional) Test Scores 
Official Reports

SAT code: 6252
ACT code: 1318

Grinnell College is test optional for students applying for admission. Grinnell College will now accept self-reported or unofficial scores for the application process only. Admitted students who asked to have their scores considered, are admitted, and commit to Grinnell College must submit “official” test scores after May 1. If students self-report scores, after they are admitted and commit to Grinnell College, they must submit official test scores. Official test scores can be sent by the College Board and/or ACT. Students may also have a guidance counselor or school registrar send a copy of the scores directly to us via mail, fax, or email (see Contact Information below). All applicants, regardless of application round, must indicate intentions regarding test scores by filling out the “Test Optional Choice Form,” in your personal student portal which you will receive access to after your application is submitted.

Grinnell College does not require the writing sections for either the ACT or SAT. If submitting either score, no need to submit the writing sections. Grinnell does not require SAT II Subject Tests or AP test score results. 

If you would like Grinnell to consider either an ACT or SAT score, and those scores appear on your official transcript (i.e. a transcript sent by a school official) with the date taken and all subsections, then Grinnell will accept scores on the transcript as official.

If submitting an ACT or SAT score, a guidance counselor/registrar may mail, email or fax score reports to Grinnell and Grinnell will accept the score as official (see Contact Information below).

3

2024-2025 CSS Profile

CSS code: 6252
Available: Oct. 1

Please select "Regular Decision" as your admission application type.

If your parents are divorced or separated:

• Each parent must complete a CSS Profile application. It is recommended that the student and custodial parent start the CSS Profile application first. The non-custodial parent will need to create a College Board account before providing their information.
• If you do not have any contact with your non-custodial parent, then you may submit a request to waive the requirement of their financial information. Download the Non-Custodial Parent Waiver Petition.

4

2022 Federal Tax Returns and Forms for Custodial and Non-Custodial Parent (if applicable) 

Submit a signed copy of your parents’ 2022 Federal Income Tax Return with all schedules, attachments, W-2 forms and other earning statements.

Two options for submitting tax return information are available, please choose only one option:

Option #1: Submit to the CollegeBoard’s IDOC service. Upon completion of the CSS Profile you will receive an IDOC ID which will allow you to upload tax documents to the College Board Institutional Documentation Service (IDOC).  Please note that the IDOC service does not become available until November 1, 2022. 

Option #2: Submit tax information directly to Grinnell via our secure file transfer website (see Contact Information below).

SUBMIT AS SOON AS AVAILABLE (likely by late December)

2024-2025 FAFSA

FASFA Code: 001868

The FAFSA will not be available until at least December 2023. Please complete the FAFSA as soon as it is available and submit it directly to Grinnell.

US Citizens and Eligible Noncitizens only. Students who do not hold US citizenship or US permanent residency, or have DACA protected status, should not fill out the FAFSA and should visit this page for instructions on applying for financial aid.

Parents and students should use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) to transfer their 2022 IRS tax information from the IRS into their FAFSA. For more information about the DRT process, review this website or contact the financial aid office. 

Early Decision

Finalists who do not match may apply Early Decision II. The deadline for Early Decision II is January 5.

Students must send an email to Patty Amador-Lacson at amadorla@grinnell.edu indicating their interest in applying Early Decision. Students must also have their counselor submit official transcripts (updated to reflect final senior year fall grades) and, if they would like to have their ACT or SAT scores considered with their applications, they must indicate that decision via the “Test Optional Choice Form” in the Grinnell College student portal. Students may self-report scores for the application. If students are admitted, and commit to Grinnell College, then they must submit official test score reports (if not previously submitted).

Students should also submit the Early Decision Agreement form (signed by student, counselor, and parent/guardian) by the application deadline. The form can be found on the Common Application website, or contact the Admissions Office for a PDF copy (see Contact Information below).

Finalists who did not rank any colleges may apply Early Decision II to Grinnell. Follow the same instructions as above.

Regular Decision

All Finalists who ranked Grinnell for the Match, but did not match to a binding college will automatically have their applications moved into the Regular Decision process. Please submit an updated transcript showing final grades earned in the fall semester and any relevant updates. 

If you no longer wish to be considered, you must contact the Admission Office to withdraw your application (see Contact Information below).

Finalists who ranked Grinnell and submitted all materials (but did not match to a binding college)

Finalists who did not rank Grinnell

QuestBridge Midyear Report

Official Transcript(s)

Update including final fall semester grades

(Optional) Test Scores  
Students may self-report for the application (must submit official scores after admission, and if a student commits to Grinnell College)

SAT code: 6252
ACT code: 1318

Optional, students may self-report for purposes of the application 

Optional, students may self-report for purposes of the application 

Finalists who ranked Grinnell and submitted all materials (but did not match to a binding college)

Finalists who did not rank Grinnell

2024-2025 FAFSA

FAFSA Code: 001868

US Citizens and Eligible Noncitizens

Students who do not hold US citizenship or US permanent residency, or have DACA protected status, should not fill out the FAFSA and should visit this page for instructions on applying for financial aid.

2024-2025 CSS Profile

CSS code: 6252
Available: Oct. 1

2022 Federal Tax Returns and Forms