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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 academic institution 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. Read more about what Grand Valley State University has to offer based on the most recent data this institution has reported.
Quick Facts
19,002
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
15:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
67%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you know as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission, you can make a better judgment about your eligibility and boost your chances of getting accepted. Learn some vital info about admission at Grand Valley State University.
According to the most recent information reported, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 22,459 in 2025.
Test Scores
Out of the number of applicants 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 new 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% of the students between 800 and 999, 4.86% of the students between 600 and 799, and 0.04% 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 application deadline for this school is May 1.
Retention Rate
The student retention rate is the percentage of students who re-enroll from one year to the next. When creating your list of possible schools to attend, make sure to consider the freshmen retention rate.
The freshman retention rate for Grand Valley State University was 76.3% in 2025, indicative of the exceptional educational experience and supportive environment at this school.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. It provides valuable insight into the percentage of students who complete their studies within a designated timeframe. The six-year graduation rate at this institution stands at 67%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Picking a school that is the right place for you is not a simple task. You can better comprehend the culture and life of the school by learning more about the student body.
Main Student Body
The total number of students enrolled at Grand Valley State University in 2025 was 22,011.
That year, the institution had 8% of out-of-state students. There was a total of 19,002 undergrad students, including 240 international students. The school admitted a total of 1,196 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 7,175 male and 11,453 female full-time students in 2025. There were 458 full-time graduate male and 1,134 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
In order to promote a sense of inclusion and belonging among its students, higher education is dedicated to increasing student diversity. A diverse student body brings together individuals from different 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 students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 677 as multirace. There were also 140 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before you send an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. Here are some details you should know about the cost of attendance for Grand Valley State University.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition cost for this university.
For the students who live in the area, the tuition cost was $15,502, as reported by public county or municipal institutions. Tuition fees were $21,894 for students coming from out of state. For international students, tuition fees at this school were $21,894, as well. Fees per academic year required of full-time students came to a total of $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
Another important expense to consider is the estimated cost of books and supplies for a college or university. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $800.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. What do schools typically charge for accommodation and meals?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at Grand Valley State University was $11,550 in 2025. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school stood at $7,350, according to the data from 2025.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 15,502 |
| Room and Board | $ 11,550 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 800 |
| Total Expense | $ 27,852 |
Financial Aid
Be it a grant, loan, scholarship, or work-study program, any type of financial aid can be a great deal for many 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 records show that 2,660 freshmen received some sort of financial help. The average financial aid package awarded to students amounted to $16,120.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
There were 9,143 students who obtained need-based financial aid of any kind. 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 found 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
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for 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.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 1,134 students overall (including freshmen) at Grand Valley State University in 2025. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 397 full-time freshmen. 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. $2,208,294 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Majors
Faculty
15:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
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. The faculty of this school consists of 1,820 members, according to the most recent data reported. This number included 262 men and 1,011 women. 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
Not everything at Grand Valley State University is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Find out some details about social life at Grand Valley State University.
Its campus spans 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. If you are interested in music, you can join the Grand Valley State University band or chorus. If drama is your thing, there is a club dedicated to acting that you can join.
Student Services
At Grand Valley State University, there are many amenities that make life on campus comfortable and safe.
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 everything most students need.
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. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be excellent 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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The most recent data indicate that 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.
