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Allendale , MI
Grand Valley State University (GVSU) is a public university located in Allendale, Michigan. Established in 1960, GVSU has steadily grown to become one of the largest universities in Michigan, with a total enrollment of over 24,000 students. The university provides a comprehensive range of academic programs, offering over 200 undergraduate and graduate degrees across eight colleges, including liberal arts and sciences, business, health professions, and engineering.
GVSU prides itself on providing an exceptional educational experience that combines academic rigor with practical application. The university offers a diverse range of experiential learning opportunities, including internships, co-op programs, study abroad programs, and undergraduate research projects. These opportunities enable students to gain real-world experience, develop critical thinking skills, and prepare for successful careers in their chosen fields.
Beyond academics, GVSU fosters a vibrant campus community with a wide array of extracurricular activities and organizations for students to engage in. With over 400 student organizations, including clubs, honor societies, and sports teams, students have ample opportunities to pursue their interests, develop leadership skills, and build lasting friendships. Additionally, GVSU has state-of-the-art facilities, including modern classrooms, research labs, and a renowned library, providing students access to resources that support their academic pursuits. Overall, Grand Valley State University is committed to delivering a well-rounded education that empowers students to thrive academically, professionally, and personally.
Located in Allendale, MI, Grand Valley State University is a public university. This school uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 83%. The freshman retention rate at Grand Valley State University is 76.3% and the six-year graduation rate is 67%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is May 1. Discover more about what you can expect if you get into Grand Valley State University.
Quick Facts
19,002
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
15:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
67%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
You need to discover as much as you can about the entrance requirements of the institution in order to improve your chances of being accepted. Here are the most vital information you need to know about admission policy and requirements at Grand Valley State University.
According to the newest data, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 22,459 in 2025.
Test Scores
Out of the number of students who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 53% and ACT scores 4%. 3.92% of the enrolled students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 17.6% between 1,200 and 1,399, 42.39% between 1,000 and 1,199, 31.19% between 800 and 999, 4.86% between 600 and 799, and 0.04% of the students between 400 and 599. The percent of freshman students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 25.82, 36.81 between 24-29, 28.57 in the range between 18-23, and 8.8 between 12-17.
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.43. Therefore, the chances are that you'll need a GPA higher than the average for acceptance,.
Deadlines
The closing date for applications to this school is May 1.
Retention Rate
The percentage of freshmen at a college or university who stay on for their second year is known as the freshman retention rate. That information can tell you if the majority of freshmen liked their first year enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for Grand Valley State University was 76.3% in 2025, demonstrating the exceptional quality of the educational experience at this institution.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. The six-year graduation rate at this institution stands at 67%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
It is never easy to figure out which school is the perfect choice for you. You can have a better understanding of the school's culture and way of life by finding out more about the student body.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the institution enrolled 22,011 students.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 8% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 19,002, 240 of which were foreign students. 1,196 students were admitted as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 7,175 male and 11,453 female full-time students in 2025. 458 full-time graduate men and 1,134 full-time graduate women attended this school.
Student Population Diversity
In order to enhance a sense of inclusion and belonging among its students, higher education is dedicated to increasing student diversity. An inclusive student body brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at Grand Valley State University.
This school had 547 Asian students and 1,499 Afro-American students in 2025. 1,616 undergrads at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 677 as multirace. There were also 140 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before you submit an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. The latest information on the expenses that most students at this school incur are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition fees for this university.
For local residents, public county and municipal institutions reported that tuition costs were $15,502. For out-of-state students, tuition fees amounted to $21,894. For international students, tuition fees at this school came to $21,894, as well. Fees per academic year required of full-time students reached $250 in 2025.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $21,894 | $250 | $22,144 |
| In-State | $15,502 | $250 | $15,752 |
Books and Supplies
The approximate cost of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into account as another significant expense. The estimated price of books and supplies for a full-time student of this school is $800.
Boarding
The cost of dorm rooms and meals in the school's cafeteria is for sure something to take into consideration. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for room and board?
In 2025, room and board cost at Grand Valley State University amounted to $11,550 a year. If you only needed a dormitory room, it cost $7,350 for the 2025 academic year.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 15,502 |
| Room and Board | $ 11,550 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 800 |
| Total Expense | $ 27,852 |
Financial Aid
Grants, loans, scholarships, work-study programs: these are all different types of financial help for students. If you want to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Grand Valley State University, here are some recent data you should consider.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 2,660 freshmen. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $16,120.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
9,143 students gained some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Grand Valley State University is available to international students. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was estimated to be 9,655. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution summed up to $43,787,742, and state $24,569,130. The students of Grand Valley State University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $48,568,156, and external in the amount of $4,495,529.
$4,553
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
1,134 students, including freshmen, obtained institutional non-need-based financial aid at this institution in 2025. 397 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $24,041,900. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $2,208,294 USD.
Majors
Faculty
15:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Knowing more about a school's faculty can help you gauge the caliber of the education it can provide to you.
In 2025, this ratio at Grand Valley State University was 15:1. That means that there were 15 times more students than teachers at this school. This school has recently reported to have 1,820 faculty members. This number included 262 male and 1,011 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school is telling of the importance gender equality has at Grand Valley State University.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Find out some details about social life at Grand Valley State University.
It has a campus size of 1,322 acres.
Student Organizations
Being a member of a student organization will make you connect better with your fellow students and enjoy your college years more.
That includes sororities and fraternities. Students interested in music can join the Grand Valley State University band or chorus. There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you.
Student Services
Grand Valley State University provides a number of services necessary for a comfortable and safe life on campus.
In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs and Women's Center are available to the students of Grand Valley State University.
All in all, campus life at Grand Valley State University is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Grand Valley State University.
Career Counselling
At Grand Valley State University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be highly beneficial for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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Grand Valley State University is located in Allendale, MI.
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Grand Valley State University offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Grand Valley State University is 83%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for Grand Valley State University is 76.3%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.