Grand Valley State Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
Grand Valley State University is a public research university in Allendale, Michigan, with about 18,854 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 83.02% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $56,118 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $15,140
- 2024 Average Net Price: $16,317 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 83.02% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 18,854 90.9% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 67.01%
- Carnegie Classification: Doctoral/Professional Universities
- First-Generation Students: 27.3%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 4.8% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 10.0% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 65.6%
- Average SAT Score: 1074
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 20,974
- Applicants (IPEDS): 24,297
- Room & Board: $11,550 annual estimate
Grand Valley State University: what the data shows
Common questions about Grand Valley State University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Grand Valley State University?
Grand Valley State University is located in Allendale, MI (ZIP 49401-9403).
NCES locale classification: Town fringe.
Is Grand Valley State University public or private?
Grand Valley State University is a Public institution.
How much does Grand Valley State University cost?
Published tuition: $15,140 in-state, $21,548 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $16,317.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $12,272 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $11,902 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $12,861 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $16,609 |
| $110,001+ | $22,534 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $60,560.
How hard is it to get into Grand Valley State University?
Admission rate: 83.02%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1074.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Grand Valley State University?
Total enrollment: 18,854 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 20,974 students.
Graduate enrollment: 3,009 students.
About 91% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Grand Valley State University?
150%-time completion rate: 67.01%.
First-year retention: 76.3%.
What do graduates of Grand Valley State University earn?
Median earnings: $47,840 six years after entry; $56,118 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $24,500.
29.23% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Grand Valley State University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Psychology, General (314 completions)
- Marketing/Marketing Management, General (307 completions)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (272 completions)
- Education, General (262 completions)
- Computer and Information Sciences, General (259 completions)
- Social Work (217 completions)
- Finance, General (208 completions)
- Accounting (191 completions)
- Exercise Science and Kinesiology (174 completions)
- Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other (169 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Grand Valley State University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 83.02%; completion rate 67.01%; median earnings $56,118 at 10 years; net price $16,317. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$15,140
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Grand Valley State University was $15,140.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$16,317
2024 Value
In 2024 Grand Valley State University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $16,317.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$65,268 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$16,317 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$60,560 4-Year In-State Tuition
$86,192 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
$11,550 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$800 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$27,490 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$109,960 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Grand Valley State University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
29.23% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
50.13% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Grand Valley State University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Grand Valley State University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $10,716 | $15,388 | $16,243 |
| 2014 | $10,752 | $15,408 | $16,815 |
| 2015 | $11,363 | $16,044 | $16,491 |
| 2016 | $11,520 | $16,392 | $16,496 |
| 2017 | $11,994 | $17,064 | $16,975 |
| 2018 | $12,484 | $17,762 | $18,019 |
| 2019 | $12,860 | $18,296 | $17,646 |
| 2020 | $13,244 | $18,844 | $17,356 |
| 2021 | $13,560 | $19,296 | $17,210 |
| 2022 | $13,952 | $19,856 | $15,545 |
| 2023 | $14,628 | $20,820 | $17,096 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
83.02% Acceptance Rate
24,297 Total Applicants
23,008 Students Admitted
4,836 First-Time Students Enrolled
21.02% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1074
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.0 - 3.4
Estimated Median GPA: 3.20
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Grand Valley State University reported total enrollment of about 18,854 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 40% male and 60% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (74.6%), Hispanic or Latino (8.6%), and Black or African American (8.0%). About 29.23% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 27.3% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
90.9% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Grand Valley State University in 2024 is 18,854 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 20,974 students. Graduate enrollment is about 3,009 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
76.3%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 74.6%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
44.64% 100% Completion Time
67.01% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 44.64% of students graduating from Grand Valley State University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Psychology, General: 15% male / 85% female
- Marketing/Marketing Management, General: 50% male / 50% female
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 15% male / 85% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Grand Valley State University.
Return on Investment
$24,500 Median Student Debt
$56,118 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
43.66% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
759.81% Return on Investment
4.4 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Grand Valley State University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 138 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Psychology, General: 314 completions
2. Marketing/Marketing Management, General: 307 completions
3. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 272 completions
4. Education, General: 262 completions
5. Computer and Information Sciences, General: 259 completions
6. Social Work: 217 completions
7. Finance, General: 208 completions
8. Accounting: 191 completions
9. Exercise Science and Kinesiology: 174 completions
Most popular programs at Grand Valley State University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Grand Valley State University graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Grand Valley State University from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 65.6%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $10,156
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $10,704
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Grand Valley State University is a public institution located in Allendale, MI, classified as Doctoral/Professional Universities. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Psychology, General, Marketing/Marketing Management, General, Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse. Enrollment is approximately 18,854 students. Student body composition includes White (74.6%), Hispanic or Latino (8.6%), Black or African American (8.0%). The admission rate is 83.02%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1074. The 150%-time completion rate is 67.01%. Approximately 29.23% of students receive Pell Grants. About 27.3% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Doctoral/Professional Universities
Location
Allendale, MI 49401-9403
Region: Great Lakes
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 138 distinct degree programs, Grand Valley State University provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Grand Valley State University located?
Grand Valley State University is located in Allendale, MI.
What is Grand Valley State University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Grand Valley State University is 83.0% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 24,297 applicants and 23,008 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does Grand Valley State University cost?
Reported tuition is $15,140 and average net price is $16,317 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $11,550 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Grand Valley State University?
Grand Valley State University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 20,974 students, White (74.6%), Hispanic or Latino (8.6%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Grand Valley State University?
About 27.3% of students at Grand Valley State University are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Grand Valley State University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Grand Valley State University reports midpoint SAT about 1074.
What do graduates of Grand Valley State University earn?
Median earnings are $47,840 six years after entry and $56,118 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Grand Valley State University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 67.0% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Grand Valley State University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $24,500.
Is Grand Valley State University public or private?
Grand Valley State University is a public institution located in Allendale, MI.
Is Grand Valley State University an HBCU?
No. Grand Valley State University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Grand Valley State University a tribal college?
No. Grand Valley State University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Michigan college profile
- Michigan college costs
- Michigan colleges by ROI
- Michigan State University vs University of Michigan-Ann Arbor vs Grand Valley State University
- Great Lakes regional profile
- Town college profile
- Campus-setting profiles
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Michigan
- Michigan college costs
- Michigan colleges by ROI
- Michigan State University vs University of Michigan-Ann Arbor vs Grand Valley State University
- Great Lakes regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Michigan
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.