Grand Valley State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Allendale, Michigan. It enrolls 18,854 students (a very large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
71/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes59
Value73
Affordability54
Selectivity29
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 83%, Grand Valley State University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
83%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
940 – 1190
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
22 – 30
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Grand Valley State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
11.7 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Grand Valley State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $16,317 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$16,317
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
29%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
50%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$15,140
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$21,548
Room & Board (on-campus)
$11,550
Room & Board (off-campus)
$9,090
Books & Supplies
$800
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,558
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,558
Total Cost of Attendance
$28,367
Application fee: $30 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$12,272
$30,001 – $48,000
$11,902
$48,001 – $75,000
$12,861
$75,001 – $110,000
$16,609
Over $110,000
$22,534
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,07110%percentile
$8,25825%percentile
$24,500Medianpercentile
$28,00075%percentile
$36,75190%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $21,858
↓ $2,642
No Pell $17,319
↓ $7,181
Dependent students $19,500
↓ $5,000
Independent students $21,490
↓ $3,010
Female students $20,250
↓ $4,250
Male students $18,500
↓ $6,000
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $10,915, less than completers ($24,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
62% of full-time students who enrolled at Grand Valley State University graduate within six years, and 77% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
62%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
77%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Grand Valley State University earn a median of $56,118 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$56,118
Earning > $25K
83%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$41,900
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$55,100
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$44,900
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$46,000
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$48,800
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $13,200, about 24% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
15.3 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 82% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Grand Valley State University is home to 18,854 students, a sprawling student community.
Total Enrolled
18,854
Part-Time
9%
First-Generation
27%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 74.6%14,073
Hispanic 8.6%1,616
Black 8.0%1,501
Other 4.0%749
Asian 2.9%539
International 1.3%238
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Grand Valley State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: FringeAllendale, Michigan
Housing
Partly residential6,012 beds available
Adult Learners
7%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Grand Valley State University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
120 distinct programs across
25 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Grand Valley State University is 15:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
15:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$11,106
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$184M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$90,123
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
1,129 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
312
28%
$120,717
Associate Professors
317
28%
$95,927
Assistant Professors
162
14%
$86,642
Instructors
5
0%
$87,746
No Rank
333
29%
$57,661
Pros & Cons of Grand Valley State University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Grand Valley State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Modest first-year retention
Best for:
Based on the data, Grand Valley State University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Grand Valley State University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Grand Valley State University.
Is Grand Valley State University hard to get into?
Grand Valley State University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 83%.
What is the acceptance rate at Grand Valley State University?
Grand Valley State University has an acceptance rate of 83%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Grand Valley State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Grand Valley State University scored between 940 and 1190 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Grand Valley State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Grand Valley State University scored between 22 and 30 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Grand Valley State University cost?
The average net price after aid at Grand Valley State University is $16,317 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Grand Valley State University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $56,118 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $16,317 per year. That's roughly 3.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Grand Valley State University known for?
Grand Valley State University is best known for its programs in Biology, Psychology, Marketing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Grand Valley State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Grand Valley State University are $56,118, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Grand Valley State University accredited?
Yes. Grand Valley State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Grand Valley State University?
Grand Valley State University enrolls 18,854 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Grand Valley State University?
Grand Valley State University graduates 62% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Grand Valley State University a public or private college?
Grand Valley State University is a Public institution.
Where is Grand Valley State University located?
Grand Valley State University is located in Allendale, Michigan.
What programs does Grand Valley State University offer?
Grand Valley State University offers 120 distinct programs. The most popular include Biology, Psychology, Marketing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Grand Valley State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Grand Valley State University is 15:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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