B
Good
Score: 62/100
Overall (traditional)
Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology
Quick Stats
22,269
Total Enrollment
69%
Graduation Rate
77%
Retention Rate
15.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
95%
Acceptance Rate
$17,995
Avg Net Price
Earnings, Debt & Completion
What happens to students who enroll at Grand Valley State University, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
$56,118
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$47,840
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$24,500
Median debt at graduation
67%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
1,074
Average SAT
29.2%
Students receiving Pell grants
Typical debt at graduation equals about 44% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.
Earnings rank: 63rd percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (MI wage index 0.90). This drives the Outcome Rating.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.
Earnings by Major at Grand Valley State University
Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.
| Major | 1 yr after | 4 yrs after | vs. national | Rank (pay) | Rank (wage-adj.) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Engineering | $80,746 | $103,253 | -5% | #106 of 189 | #87 | $24,963 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $80,732 | $100,456 | +-0% | #100 of 258 | #75 | $29,091 |
| Manufacturing Engineering | $76,754 | $95,416 | +8% | #3 of 15 | #1 | $24,250 |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $74,360 | $94,330 | +2% | #152 of 459 | #134 | $24,250 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $75,777 | $90,565 | -2% | #174 of 318 | #109 | $26,012 |
| Information Science/Studies | $66,967 | $81,420 | -5% | #81 of 148 | #60 | $28,937 |
| Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians | $58,781 | $80,398 | -7% | #15 of 19 | #14 | $28,894 |
| International Business | $58,746 | $80,324 | +10% | #33 of 115 | #27 | $24,295 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $51,186 | $80,153 | +5% | #251 of 796 | #201 | $21,823 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $57,760 | $79,324 | +16% | #150 of 1176 | #98 | $25,000 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $71,181 | $79,188 | -11% | #754 of 966 | #689 | $25,000 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | $43,391 | $77,581 | +27% | #13 of 67 | #11 | $23,914 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $50,259 | $75,800 | +11% | #50 of 187 | #37 | $23,250 |
| Statistics | $43,668 | $74,229 | -20% | #44 of 50 | #36 | $27,000 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $53,536 | $73,241 | -6% | #57 of 84 | #52 | $24,281 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $52,872 | $71,348 | -14% | #315 of 452 | #281 | $21,500 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $57,161 | $70,655 | +-0% | #118 of 253 | #116 | $25,375 |
| Chemistry | $46,496 | $70,611 | +8% | #74 of 209 | #35 | $23,239 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $46,886 | $69,603 | -19% | #105 of 126 | #99 | $25,000 |
| Marketing | $46,022 | $69,592 | +0% | #192 of 516 | #156 | $22,530 |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | — | $63,043 | -5% | #27 of 35 | #11 | — |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $63,038 | — | — | — | — | $31,241 |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | $35,374 | $62,501 | +1% | #25 of 48 | #21 | $25,017 |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences | $34,203 | $62,482 | -8% | #37 of 61 | #33 | $24,945 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $38,675 | $61,868 | +3% | #62 of 138 | #40 | $27,000 |
| Geography and Cartography | $35,838 | $61,831 | +7% | #44 of 117 | #27 | $19,324 |
| Business/Commerce | $45,285 | $61,553 | -10% | #189 of 271 | #178 | $21,025 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $30,141 | $59,476 | -9% | #87 of 110 | #66 | $25,125 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $28,202 | $58,802 | -12% | #85 of 118 | #73 | $18,535 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $35,406 | $58,413 | +3% | #50 of 137 | #30 | $25,500 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $32,644 | $57,842 | -7% | #47 of 67 | #35 | $24,179 |
| Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs | $40,415 | $57,771 | +4% | #15 of 22 | #10 | $24,250 |
| Legal Support Services | $40,778 | $57,728 | +8% | #8 of 32 | #7 | $21,498 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $38,172 | $57,599 | -9% | #127 of 178 | #113 | $25,000 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $39,857 | $57,537 | +4% | #230 of 660 | #144 | $25,000 |
| Economics | $53,985 | — | — | — | — | $24,904 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $31,569 | $53,715 | -2% | #150 of 225 | #110 | $27,000 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $29,913 | $53,175 | -3% | #311 of 610 | #255 | $24,250 |
| Social Sciences | $43,217 | $52,520 | -2% | #44 of 87 | #28 | $26,932 |
| Biology | $40,959 | $52,176 | -9% | #620 of 841 | #539 | $24,250 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | — | $51,872 | +0% | #48 of 103 | #21 | — |
| Mathematics | $45,349 | $51,753 | -26% | #296 of 309 | #285 | $25,250 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $35,767 | $51,497 | -3% | #261 of 476 | #210 | $27,660 |
| Psychology | $30,100 | $51,460 | +1% | #431 of 1027 | #258 | $23,000 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $40,032 | $51,027 | -13% | #227 of 275 | #199 | $27,250 |
| Social Work | $37,233 | $50,690 | -2% | #236 of 420 | #204 | $25,216 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $43,631 | $50,291 | -10% | #59 of 85 | #48 | $26,000 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $49,494 | $49,814 | -1% | #112 of 177 | #95 | $28,288 |
| Public Administration | $36,236 | $49,776 | -24% | #45 of 47 | #39 | $25,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $46,124 | $49,612 | -3% | #201 of 345 | #184 | $29,000 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.
For parents & investors
The Grand Valley State University Town Property Report
- Avg home value near campus: $411,919
- Avg rent near campus: $1,415/mo — vs ~$799/mo campus room rate
- Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 49464 (4.4% cap, Zeeland)
Get the free 1-page report: rent-vs-dorm math, the 3 best nearby ZIPs by yield, and the “kiddie condo” strategy parents use.
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🏆 Where Grand Valley State University Ranks
Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.
Costs & Financial Aid
Tuition & Fees
| Category | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $14,978 | $21,154 |
| Room | $7,192 | |
| Board | $3,950 | |
| Total Cost (On-Campus) | $29,027 | $35,219 |
Financial Aid
93%
Receive Any Aid
32%
Receive Pell Grants
51%
Take Out Loans
$17,995
Avg Net Price
Net Price by Family Income
| Family Income | Average Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $11,395 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $11,390 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $14,507 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $20,860 |
| $110,001+ | $23,541 |
Programs & Career Paths
Top Degree Programs
Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.
Psychology, General
314 grads/yr
Marketing/Marketing Management, General
307 grads/yr
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
272 grads/yr
Education, General
262 grads/yr
Computer and Information Sciences, General
259 grads/yr
Social Work
217 grads/yr
Finance, General
208 grads/yr
Accounting
191 grads/yr
Exercise Science and Kinesiology
174 grads/yr
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
169 grads/yr
Biomedical Sciences, General
158 grads/yr
Management Science
150 grads/yr
Business/Commerce, General
143 grads/yr
Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration
117 grads/yr
Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management
105 grads/yr
Computer Teacher Education
98 grads/yr
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
98 grads/yr
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies
92 grads/yr
Speech Communication and Rhetoric
91 grads/yr
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
79 grads/yr
Related Career Paths
Careers that graduates from Grand Valley State University's top programs commonly pursue.
Managers, all other
$137k/yr
1,333,700 jobs
Psychologists, all other
$118k/yr
55,300 jobs
Industrial-organizational psychologists
$110k/yr
5,600 jobs
Clinical and counseling psychologists
$96k/yr
76,300 jobs
Psychology teachers, postsecondary
$80k/yr
52,500 jobs
Social science research assistants
$58k/yr
40,600 jobs
Marketing managers
$161k/yr
407,000 jobs
Sales managers
$138k/yr
619,500 jobs
Student Demographics
22,269
Total Students
62%
Women
90%
Traditional Age (18-24)
3%
Off-Campus Renters
👥 Race & Ethnicity
White
76%
Hispanic
7%
Black
6%
Asian
3%
Two or More
4%
Non-Resident
3%
🏠 Living Arrangements
On Campus
91%
Off-Campus (Renters)
3%
With Family
7%
🏘️ Rental Demand: ~557 students need off-campus housing
💻 Learning Mode
In-Person
53%
Hybrid (Some Online)
41%
Fully Online
6%
📊 Age Distribution
18-24 (Traditional)
90%
25-64 (Adult)
7%
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Grand Valley State University?
Grand Valley State University has an acceptance rate of 95%.
This indicates a less selective admissions process with good chances for qualified applicants.
How much does it cost to attend Grand Valley State University?
Tuition at Grand Valley State University is
$14,978 for in-state students
and $21,154 for out-of-state students
.
However, the average net price after financial aid is $17,995.
What is the graduation rate at Grand Valley State University?
The graduation rate at Grand Valley State University is 69%.
This is a solid graduation rate, showing that most students who enroll successfully complete their degrees.
Is Grand Valley State University a good school?
Grand Valley State University has a Repit College Score of 62/100 (Grade: B).
Our rating evaluates five key factors:
- Outcomes (B+): Graduation and retention rates
- Affordability (C): Net cost and financial aid access
- Resources (C+): Class sizes and selectivity
- Experience (B+): Campus life and learning format
- Prestige (C): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend Grand Valley State University?
Grand Valley State University has a total enrollment of 22,269 students.
Most students (90%) are traditional college-age (18-24).
Is there rental demand near Grand Valley State University?
Yes! Approximately 3% of students at Grand Valley State University live off-campus (not with family).
That's roughly 557 students who need rental housing near campus.
Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Grand Valley State University — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →
🎓 Similar Colleges to Grand Valley State University
Compare with other 4-Year public institutions of similar size.
Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology