Grand Valley State University

Allendale, MI · Public · offers Graduate degrees

Fringe town

83%Acceptance rate
$16,317Average net price / year
67%Graduation rate
$56,118Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$24,500Median debt at graduation
18,854Undergraduates

Cost

In-state tuition & fees
$15,140
Out-of-state tuition
$21,548
Total cost of attendance
$28,367
Room & board
$11,550
Books & supplies
$800
Average net price
$16,317

Net price by family income

$0–30k
$12,272
$30–48k
$11,902
$48–75k
$12,861
$75–110k
$16,609
$110k+
$22,534

Official net price calculator

Admissions

Acceptance rate
83.0%
Average SAT
1074
SAT reading (25–75%)
480–600
SAT math (25–75%)
460–590
ACT composite (25–75%)
22–30

Outcomes

Graduation rate
67%
First-year retention
76%
Median earnings (6 yrs)
$47,840
Median earnings (10 yrs)
$56,118
Median debt (graduates)
$24,500
3-year loan default rate
0.0%
Students with Pell grants
29%
Students with federal loans
50%

Programs: what graduates earn

91 of 162 programs have published earnings or debt data. Earnings are median salaries of graduates one year after completing the program (or the latest available year).

Undergraduate certificate

ProgramGraduatesEarningsMedian debt
Geography and Cartography41$36,895$22,250
History41$24,206$24,250

Bachelor's degree

ProgramGraduatesEarningsMedian debt
Computer Engineering23$80,746$24,963
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering19$80,732$29,091
Manufacturing Engineering18$76,754$24,250
Mechanical Engineering57$75,777$26,012
Computer and Information Sciences, General114$74,360$24,250
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing239$71,181$25,000
Information Science/Studies23$66,967$28,937
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions18$63,038$31,241
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians22$58,781$28,894
International Business16$58,746$24,295
Business Administration, Management and Operations113$57,760$25,000
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions43$57,161$25,375
Economics15$53,985$24,904
Business/Managerial Economics54$53,536$24,281
Finance and Financial Management Services239$52,872$21,500
Accounting and Related Services123$51,186$21,823
Human Resources Management and Services49$50,259$23,250
Special Education and Teaching55$49,494$28,288
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods120$46,886$25,000
Chemistry11$46,496$23,239
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas112$46,124$29,000
Marketing269$46,022$22,530
Mathematics63$45,349$25,250
Business/Commerce, General78$45,285$21,025
Biological and Physical Sciences18$44,525$27,000
Education, General224$44,071$28,250
Statistics39$43,668$27,000
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions33$43,631$26,000
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations15$43,391$23,914
Social Sciences, General45$43,217$26,932
Biology, General282$40,959$24,250
Legal Support Services41$40,778$21,498
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other—$40,415$24,250
Health and Medical Administrative Services26$40,032$27,250
Criminal Justice and Corrections121$39,857$25,000
English Language and Literature, General82$39,334$27,036
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences14$38,675$27,000
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication140$38,172$25,000
Social Work121$37,233$25,216
Public Administration26$36,236$25,000
Geography and Cartography14$35,838$19,324
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities80$35,767$27,660
Hospitality Administration/Management63$35,406$25,500
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs2$35,374$25,017
Political Science and Government50$35,358$23,250
Music38$34,882$29,075
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other183$34,203$24,945
Communication and Media Studies73$32,755$23,000
Neurobiology and Neurosciences68$32,644$24,179
Sociology22$32,132$22,500
Natural Resources Conservation and Research91$32,118$22,587
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics29$31,569$27,000
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies37$31,016$24,250
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology30$30,141$25,125
Psychology, General276$30,100$23,000
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness235$29,913$24,250
International Relations and National Security Studies21$28,202$18,535
Anthropology19$27,350$27,000
History27$27,341$25,524
Film/Video and Photographic Arts68$25,256$24,499
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication30$24,894$27,000
Fine and Studio Arts59$24,135$27,000
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies11$51,872—
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences20$63,043—
Philosophy10$44,259$25,466

Master's degree

ProgramGraduatesEarningsMedian debt
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions77$113,240$89,091
Business/Commerce, General45$112,465$30,124
Computer and Information Sciences, General46$99,198—
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology30$74,986$26,133
Accounting and Related Services56$67,972$20,032
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions61$66,523$61,500
Health and Medical Administrative Services26$60,146$37,988
Public Administration25$57,449$35,751
Special Education and Teaching30$57,176$23,737
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services41$57,167$59,065
Educational/Instructional Media Design6$57,018—
Education, General23$56,399$27,438
Public Health49$54,781$48,000
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology13$54,320$45,696
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services20$53,952$43,345
Educational Administration and Supervision76$53,932$27,226
Curriculum and Instruction56$53,419$21,218
Student Counseling and Personnel Services22$50,498$34,324
Social Work128$50,344$41,693
Communication and Media Studies21$48,689—

Doctoral degree

ProgramGraduatesEarningsMedian debt
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions—$75,765$101,032
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing—$93,695—

First professional degree

ProgramGraduatesEarningsMedian debt
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing27$104,078$75,692
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions66$74,867$111,492

Students

Undergraduates
18,854
Graduate students
3,901
Part-time
9%
Women / men
60% / 40%
White
75%
Hispanic
9%
Black
8%
Asian
3%
International
1%

Faculty & school

Student–faculty ratio
15:1
Avg faculty salary
$91,404 / year
Full-time faculty
66%
Accreditor
Higher Learning Commission
Website
www.gvsu.edu
Also known as
Grand Valley|GVSU|Grand Valley State|

Most popular fields

  • Communication & Journalism – 5% of degrees
  • Computer & Information Sciences – 4% of degrees
  • Education – 6% of degrees
  • Engineering – 3% of degrees
  • Biological Sciences – 8% of degrees
  • Parks, Recreation & Fitness – 5% of degrees

Frequently asked questions

What is the acceptance rate at Grand Valley State University?

83.0% of applicants were admitted, and admitted students averaged 1074 on the SAT.

How much does Grand Valley State University cost?

The average net price after grants is $16,317 per year; in-state tuition and fees are $15,140 and the full cost of attendance is $28,367.

How much do Grand Valley State University graduates earn?

Students who enrolled earn a median of $56,118 ten years later. See the program table above for salaries by major.

What is the graduation rate?

67% of first-time, full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release.