B+
Overall Niche Grade
How are grades calculated?
  1. Academics
    B
  2. Value
    B+
  3. Diversity
    B
  4. Campus
    A
  5. Athletics
    A+
  6. Party Scene
    B+
  7. Professors
    B
  8. Location
    B+
  9. Dorms
    A-
  10. Campus Food
    B
  11. Student Life
    B+
  12. Safety
    B
View Full Report Card
Grand Valley State University is ...
Public
Athletic Division
NCAA Division II (with football)
Athletic Conference
Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Address
1 Campus Dr
Allendale, MI 49401
Website
gvsu.edu

Grand Valley State University Rankings

Niche rankings are based on rigorous analysis of key statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and millions of reviews.

Admissions

Acceptance Rate
81%
Application Deadline
May 1
SAT Range
960-1210
ACT Range
21-26
Application Fee
$30
SAT/ACT
Required
High School GPA
Required
Will You Get In?

Test Scores and GPA for Grand Valley State University

Cost

Net Price
$15,752/ year
National
$15,403
Average cost after financial aid for students receiving grant or scholarship aid, as reported by the college.
Net Price by Household Income
  • <$30k
    $11,149/ year
  • $30-48k
    $12,020/ year
  • $49-75k
    $15,286/ year
  • $76-110k
    $19,044/ year
  • $110k+
    $20,494/ year

Academics

Professors
B
Based on faculty accomplishments, salary, student reviews, and additional factors.
Student Faculty Ratio
17:1
Evening Degree Programs
Yes
85%
of students agree that professors put a lot of effort into teaching their classes.220 responses
69%
of students agree that it is easy to get the classes they want.226 responses
58%
of students agree that the workload is easy to manage.226 responses

Majors

Most Popular Majors
  • Psychology
    292 Graduates
  • Physical Education Teaching and Coaching
    271 Graduates
  • Pre-Medicine Studies
    260 Graduates
  • Foundations of Education
    230 Graduates
  • Marketing
    223 Graduates
  • Nursing
    209 Graduates
  • Finance
    194 Graduates
  • English
    179 Graduates
  • Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Administration
    176 Graduates

Students

Full-Time Enrollment
19,376Undergrads
Undergrads Over 25
5%
Pell Grant
30%
Varsity Athletes
3%
Poll
What one word or phrase best describes the typical student at this school?
Based on 139 responses
Report
  • Friendly
    43%
  • Good people
    17%
  • Hard working
    17%
  • Sociable
    11%
  • Rich
    5%
  • Unique and hardworking
    3%
  • Not very friendly toward " outsiders"
    2%

Campus Life

Freshmen Live On-Campus
—
Poll
65%
of students say that Greek life is average, and no one will treat you differently if you don't join.257 responses
Poll
63%
of students say varsity sports are a big part of campus life.315 responses
Poll
What one word or phrase best describes your school?
Based on 151 responses
Report
  • Opportunities
    25%
  • Diverse
    16%
  • Academic
    13%
  • Cares about student success
    12%
  • Awesome
    9%
  • Undergrad
    8%
  • Expensive
    7%

After College

Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation
$39,100/ year
National
$33,028
Graduation Rate
67%
National
48%
Employed 2 Years After Graduation
94%
National
83%
86%
of students feel confident they will find a job in their field after graduation.153 responses
Colleges like Grand Valley State University
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Grand Valley State University Reviews

3,416 reviews
All Categories
The second I stepped on Grand Valley's campus for a tour, I felt at home. Being surrounded by nature as well as feeling safe walking around at night. The majority of professors want to see you succeed and will assist you in any way possible if you reach out. The resources here are phenomenal. There is free tutoring for students for every class if you are struggling or just want some extra help. The only thing I could change about Grand Valley is the way they handle sexual assaults/inform other students. Generally, when a sexual assault occurs and is reported, every student gets an email saying where it happened and a VERY vague description of the perpetrator; it doesn't tell us anything else. However, there are security hired through every apartment unit as well as cops doing rounds on weekends. I feel very safe for this reason. Overall, I love Grand Valley and all the activities it has to offer. It truly has a club/activity for everyone. Go Lakers!
Review Grand Valley State University
Grand Valley State University (GVSU) is by far one of the most amazing campuses I've been to! The school offers a great liberal arts program to have bits and pieces of information from all studies, and when you are ready to move on to your specific major studies, there are many options!
I am pursuing a Business Management degree and it is going very well so far. Along with the beautiful campus and the wide range of majors offered there are lots of opportunities to get involved with the community and nearby business professionals. It seems as if everyday there is something going on that can help you step your foot into the real working world and get real hands on experience while doing so! Check out Grand Valley State University! It is definitely worth your time.
I love Grand Valley State University. I completed my undergrad degree here, and when applying for Master's programs in Occupational Therapy, Grand Valley was my first choice. Therefore, when I was accepted into Grand Valley's Master's of Occupational Science and Therapy program I was extremely excited to continue my education at this university. I am now a year into my Master's program, and wouldn't change a thing about the experiences I have had in lectures and fieldwork rounds. I am appreciative of the large amount of connections Grand Valley has with the community, which enable me as a student to receive the best education in the state!