Grinnell College

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Counseling and Psychology Degrees at Grinnell College

Grinnell College appears in our ranking of the 50 Great Small Colleges for a Bachelor’s in Psychology

Students at Grinnell College can choose either a major or a concentration in their preferred undergraduate field. The psychology major at Grinnell requires a minimum of 32 psychology courses. Among these, students must take Introduction to Psychology, Research Methods, and Senior Seminar. In addition, they must take at least 12 200-level credits and eight 300- or 400-level credits. A few of these options are:

  • Social Psychology
  • Decision-Making
  • Sensation and Perception
  • Human-Computer Interaction
  • History of Psychological Theories
  • Psychology of Food and Eating

While many students will choose to major in Psychology, there is another, more flexible option. General science is a major that includes psychology as well as biology, chemistry, computer science and physics with a great concentration in mathematics. Students can choose to concentrate on psychology, but they will also be exposed to the other sciences as they complete degrees at Grinnell College.

Grinnell College is a college, not a university. This means that it does not offer advanced degrees. The school instead focuses on undergraduate programs taught at their physical campus. They also encourage study abroad with Global Grinnell. The college does not offer online degrees, though some online classes are offered to high school students who wish to earn credit.

About Grinnell College

Grinnell College is a private liberal arts college located in Grinnell, Iowa. The school was founded in 1846. Since that time, it has developed a reputation for its excellent academic programs and highly selective admissions.

U.S. News and World Report ranks Grinnell College as number 14 in National Liberal Arts Colleges and number 10 in Best Value Schools. Grinnell College is also considered to be one of the 30 Hidden Ivies in the United States. These are the most rigorous colleges and universities with the most selective admissions policies that are not Ivy League. Other schools with this designation include Bryn Mawr, Johns Hopkins, Duke, Emory, Georgetown, Tulane, Vanderbilt, Notre Dame, USC, Stanford and Northwestern.

Grinnell College has an established reputation for encouraging social justice among its students. Among the many social justice and activism groups on campus are: Advancing Animal Compassion Together, Community Meal, Food Recovery Network, Intersectional Feminism Alliance, Liberty in North Korea and Oxfam.

The Grinnell Prize is given to individuals who display “extraordinary accomplishment in effecting positive social change.” The prize is worth $100,000 and is divided between the individual and the organization that they have worked with. Nominees for the prize must be Grinnell College graduates who are nominated by third parties. This is another step that Grinnell College takes in encouraging its graduates to focus on the greater good.

Notable alumni from Grinnell College include musician Herbie Hancock, actor Gary Cooper, comedian Ian Roberts, author James Norman Hall and a number of political figures and pioneers in science and medicine.

Grinnell College Accreditation Details

Grinnell College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The college undergoes re-evaluation every 10 years. The accreditation allows Grinnell College to award baccalaureate degrees. It does not cover any graduate or certification programs.

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Grinnell College Application Requirements

Grinnell College has one of the most selective admissions policies in the country. Most of the students accepted to the college have an ACT score of at least 30, with the average score being 32. The average combined SAT score among admitted freshmen is 1460. The average GPA of incoming freshmen is 4.03. Students are expected to have taken challenging courses in high school, including honors and advanced placement classes.

Students who wish to apply to Grinnell College can do so using their online application or the common application. Along with the application, students will need to complete essays, provide official college entry test scores, submit two letters of recommendation from teachers, one letter of recommendation from a high school counselor and official high school transcripts. The college does not charge an application fee.

To increase the odds of being admitted, students may provide supplemental materials that showcase artistic efforts. Along with excellence in academics, students are expected to have excelled in extracurricular activities. They should show proof of leadership and they are expected to have had significant experience volunteering.

Tuition and Financial Aid

The yearly cost of attending Grinnell College as an undergraduate is $70,544. Tuition makes up the bulk of this figure at $56,188 per year. Students must also pay room, board and activity fees. Books and personal fees are not included in this figure, which Grinnell College estimates to be an additional $2,000 per year.

Grinnell College offers merit-based and need-based scholarships. First-year students are automatically considered for merit scholarships when they apply for admission. The merit scholarships are valued at $10,000 to $25,000 per year. Iowa residents are automatically given a $12,000 award, though this value can be higher if the student shows great academic achievements. Other scholarships are available specifically for those students who apply early.

Grinnell College encourages all applicants to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. The FAFSA determines a student’s need. It is used for need-based grants, scholarships, and certain student loans. Grinnell College students may apply a federal grant to their tuition costs along with any other need-based or merit-based aid they may receive. Students who are Iowa residents may qualify for an additional grant funded by the state that is worth up to $13,500. Grinnell College offers other need-based awards worth varying amounts.

Most Grinnell College students take out loans. Grinnell College offers institutional loans that carry no interest while the student is enrolled. In order to qualify, students must have already taken out the maximum federal and Stafford loans. Many students look outside of the college for private lenders as well.

A payment plan is available for students who cannot pay tuition in one lump sum. Funds are automatically applied on a monthly basis. No interest accrues on the cost of tuition, but students are charged a $35 convenience fee per semester.

Learn more about educational opportunities at Grinnell College by visiting the school website.

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