Grand Valley State University (Grand Valley)
Public four-year university in Allendale, MI that costs an average of $16,495 a year after financial aid, admits 83% of applicants and graduates 65% of full-time students.
Net price / year
$16,495
Acceptance rate
83%
Graduation rate
65%
Earnings after 10 yrs
$60,120
PublicTown (fringe)18,854 undergraduates
Cost of Grand Valley
| Total cost of attendance (per year) | $28,770 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $15,872 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state | $22,588 |
| Housing and food (on campus) | $10,788 |
| Books and supplies | $800 |
| Average net price after aid | $16,495 |
Net price by family income
| Family income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0–30,000 | $12,444 |
| $30,001–48,000 | $12,223 |
| $48,001–75,000 | $12,816 |
| $75,001–110,000 | $16,724 |
| $110,001+ | $23,196 |
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships (in-state students). Get your own estimate with Grand Valley's net price calculator ↗.
Admissions
| Acceptance rate | 83% |
|---|---|
| Average SAT | 1,074 |
| SAT reading (25th–75th percentile) | 480–600 |
| SAT math (25th–75th percentile) | 460–590 |
| ACT composite (25th–75th percentile) | 22–30 |
| Test scores | Considered but not required |
Graduation, earnings and debt
| Graduation rate | 65% |
|---|---|
| First-year retention | 76% |
| Median earnings 6 years after enrolling | $51,773 |
| Median earnings 10 years after enrolling | $60,120 |
| Rank in Michigan (earnings) | 20th of 43 similar colleges |
| Median debt of graduates | $22,500 |
| Typical monthly loan payment | $256 (10-year plan) |
| Students with Pell grants | 36% |
| Students with federal loans | 50% |
Majors and programs at Grand Valley
Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.
Bachelor's degree programs (83)
Certificate programs (27)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geography and Cartography | 79 | $45,649 | $25,000 |
| History | 68 | $42,333 | $20,500 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | 5 | — | — |
| American Sign Language | 23 | — | — |
| Anthropology | 7 | — | — |
| Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education | 14 | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 36 | — | — |
| Business/Corporate Communications | 5 | — | — |
| Chemistry | 1 | — | — |
| Communication and Media Studies | 13 | — | — |
| Community Organization and Advocacy | 1 | — | — |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | — | — | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 43 | — | $20,500 |
| Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians | 2 | — | — |
| Engineering-Related Fields | 3 | — | — |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | 1 | — | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | — | — | — |
| Food Science and Technology | 1 | — | — |
| Genetics | 5 | — | — |
| Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies | — | — | — |
| Legal Support Services | 36 | — | $21,500 |
| Mathematics and Computer Science | 25 | — | — |
| Music | 9 | — | — |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 11 | — | — |
| Real Estate | 5 | — | — |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 12 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 2 | — | — |
Post-baccalaureate certificate programs (6)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | — | — | — |
| Educational/Instructional Media Design | — | — | — |
| Genetics | — | — | — |
| Medical Illustration and Informatics | — | — | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | — | — | — |
| Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language | — | — | — |
Master's degree programs (35)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 149 | $111,349 | $79,215 |
| Business/Commerce | 108 | $99,194 | $21,354 |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 135 | $93,683 | — |
| Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology | 58 | $73,625 | — |
| Accounting and Related Services | 109 | $71,991 | $26,595 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 53 | $70,701 | $45,594 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | 134 | $70,667 | $66,430 |
| Public Administration | 51 | $59,783 | $32,466 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 22 | $59,760 | — |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | 61 | $59,377 | $30,816 |
| Education | 47 | $59,119 | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 129 | $58,518 | $28,751 |
| Public Health | 90 | $57,411 | $41,810 |
| Curriculum and Instruction | 105 | $56,581 | $24,500 |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | 37 | $56,420 | $40,146 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | 86 | $55,794 | $61,277 |
| Social Work | 256 | $55,701 | $44,287 |
| Special Education and Teaching | 53 | $55,294 | $24,243 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 35 | $50,432 | — |
| Biology | 42 | — | — |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | 32 | — | — |
| Community Organization and Advocacy | 20 | — | — |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | 29 | — | — |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 19 | — | — |
| Data Science | 73 | — | — |
| Educational/Instructional Media Design | 14 | — | — |
| Engineering | 30 | — | — |
| English Language and Literature | 9 | — | — |
| Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy | 1 | — | — |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | — | — | — |
| Mathematics and Computer Science | — | — | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 9 | — | — |
| Statistics | 9 | — | — |
| Taxation | 4 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | — | — | — |
Professional degree programs (3)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 40 | $104,985 | $46,498 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | 128 | $77,128 | $112,454 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | 20 | — | — |
Graduate certificate programs (13)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 48 | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 84 | — | — |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | 6 | — | — |
| Data Analytics | 4 | — | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 24 | — | — |
| Educational/Instructional Media Design | 3 | — | — |
| Genetics | 3 | — | — |
| Information Science/Studies | 1 | — | — |
| Medical Illustration and Informatics | 2 | — | — |
| Public Administration | 3 | — | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 7 | — | — |
| Taxation | 2 | — | — |
| Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language | 9 | — | — |
Similar colleges in Michigan
| College | City | Net price / yr | Acceptance | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne State University | Detroit | $11,212 | 81% | $59,525 |
| Western Michigan University | Kalamazoo | $13,902 | 85% | $57,828 |
| Oakland University | Rochester Hills | $11,815 | 88% | $63,565 |
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | Ann Arbor | $14,362 | 16% | $92,832 |
| Eastern Michigan University | Ypsilanti | $16,628 | 80% | $55,390 |
| Central Michigan University | Mount Pleasant | $17,201 | 90% | $59,879 |
| Michigan State University | East Lansing | $21,322 | 85% | $74,168 |
| Ferris State University | Big Rapids | $8,402 | 91% | $60,457 |
About Grand Valley
| Type | Public four-year university |
|---|---|
| Location | Allendale, MI |
| Setting | Town (fringe) |
| Undergraduates | 18,854 |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 15 to 1 |
| Accreditor | Higher Learning Commission |
| Website | gvsu.edu ↗ |
Frequently asked questions
What is Grand Valley's acceptance rate?
Grand Valley State University admits 83% of applicants. Admitted students average 1,074 on the SAT.
How much does Grand Valley cost per year?
The full cost of attendance is $28,770 a year (tuition and fees: $15,872 in-state, $22,588 out-of-state). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $16,495 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $12,444.
How much do Grand Valley graduates earn?
Former students earn a median of $60,120 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 20th of 43 similar colleges in Michigan. The best-paid bachelor's program is electrical, electronics, and communications engineering ($89,028 a year after graduation).
What is Grand Valley's graduation rate?
65% of full-time students graduate within six years, and 76% of first-year students return for a second year.