In 1843, eleven Congregational ministers, all of whom trained at Andover Theological Seminary in Massachusetts, set out to preach on the frontier.

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.

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 Japanese invasion and resumed in 1987), and built a women's residence hall system that became a national model.

[13] Concern with social issues, educational innovation, and individual expression continue to shape Grinnell.

North and South Campus' dormitories are modeled explicitly after the residential colleges of Oxford and Cambridge.

The U.S. Green Building Council awarded CERA's Environmental Education Center a gold certification.

[33][34][35][36] Grinnell's open curriculum encourages students to take initiative and to assume responsibility for choosing their own courses of study.

The sole core, or general education, requirement is the completion of the First-Year Tutorial, a one-semester, four-credit special topics seminar that stresses methods of inquiry, critical analysis, and writing skills.

[39][40] Grinnell College has been listed in each edition of Howard & Matthew Greene's guides The Hidden Ivies.

[56] 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.

A student who is not making normal progress towards graduation is placed on academic probation and may be dismissed from the college.

[62] The sticker price for Grinnell's combined tuition, room, board, and fees for the 2022–2023 academic year is $76,528.

[64] Grinnell offers a large amount of need-based and merit-based aid in comparison with peer institutions.

[68] 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.

[64] International students frequently carried very high workloads in an effort to pay the bills, and their academic performance often suffered.

[69] 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.

[73] The Grinnell Pioneers won the first game of intercollegiate football west of the Mississippi when they beat the University of Iowa 24–0 on November 16, 1889.

[76] 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.

This allows a higher average playing time for more players than the "starters" and suits the Division III goals of scholar-athletes.

[82] On November 19, 2011, Grinnell player Griffin Lentsch set a new Division III individual scoring record in a game against Principia College.

[86][87] 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.

[88] 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.

The group's mission is to provide interested students with valuable experience for future careers in finance.

[90][91] 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.

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.