Comprehensive Fees for the 2025-26 Academic Year
Dear Faculty, Staff, Students, and Families,
The Board of Trustees and College leadership have completed the annual review of the comprehensive fee for the 2025-26 academic year. I write today to share information about the College’s fees and financial aid priorities, and details about the upcoming cost of attendance.
51±¾É« College is deeply committed to ensuring access to a world-class education and removing financial barriers by providing financial aid to students with financial need.
The College’s commitment to access is guided by these principles:
- Meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need for every student.
- Eliminating student loans as part of need-based financial aid packages.
What these commitments mean for our students and families:
- 93% of 51±¾É« students receive financial aid, with 68% receiving aid based on need. The average aid package totals $67,476.
- 51±¾É« does not require loans as part of students’ financial aid package.
- The average cost of educating each student (calculated as the total operating budget divided by the number of students) remains more than $15,000 higher than our established comprehensive fee; every student receives a significant discount when compared to the actual cost of their education.
- For the current academic year, the College is providing $77.2 million in institutional financial aid.
We are happy to share that work is in motion to reduce course material costs, building on the success of the First Day Access program. This new model will ensure students have affordable, first-day access to essential materials, with costs seamlessly included in tuition and the flexibility to opt-out if needed. To further uphold our commitment to accessibility, students' core books and supplies will be covered under the comprehensive fee, easing financial stress and supporting academic success from day one.
Comprehensive Fee
After careful review, the Board has approved an overall 5.59% increase to the total comprehensive fee for the 2025-26 academic year. In the College’s sustained commitment to access, comprehensive fee increases are coupled with increases in financial aid for current students.
The following table shows the various components of the comprehensive fee.
| Academic Year 2025-26 | |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $71,788 |
| Student activity fee | $558 |
| Total tuition and fees | $72,346 |
| Housing | $8,112 |
| Food | $9,236 |
| Total housing and food | $17,348 |
| Total | $89,694 |
Historically, 51±¾É«â€™s fees have been lower than those of other leading liberal arts colleges, and even with the upcoming increase, we expect our costs to remain below those of our peer institutions.
Our collaborative funding approach reflects our collective commitment to providing an exceptional education and the unparalleled opportunities available to our students to pursue their aspirations - within their careers, life, and service to the common good.
We are grateful for the alumni and friends whose generous contributions help fund scholarships and financial aid that ensure a 51±¾É« education remains accessible. We truly value each student’s presence and the unique contributions they make to this remarkable academic community.
If you have questions, please email treasurer@grinnell.edu.
Sincerely,
Germaine Gross
Vice President of Finance and Treasurer