Grand Valley State University
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.
Grand Valley State University is a public university located in Allendale, MI. Its campus spans 1,391 acres. This academic institution uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 76%. The freshman retention rate at Grand Valley State University is 78.8%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is May 1. Explore this school's profile to find out all the important things about Grand Valley State University.
Quick Facts
18,665
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
76%
Acceptance Rate
15:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Admissions
If you know as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission, you can make a better judgment about your eligibility and boost your chances of getting accepted. What are the admission requirements for Grand Valley State University?
According to the most recent data, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 15,405 in 2023. Grand Valley State University has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores for the candidates who choose to submit them. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
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 62% and ACT scores 8%. 3.81% of the first-year students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 23.16% between 1,200 and 1,399, 44.14% between 1,000 and 1,199, 25.74% of the students between 800 and 999, and 3.11% between 600 and 799. The percent of freshman students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 13.81, 41.45 between 24-29, 37.5 in the range between 18-23, and 7.24 between 12-17.
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.47. Accordingly, you'll probably need an above-average GPA in order to be granted acceptance.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by May 1.
76%
Acceptance Rate
Retention Rate
The student retention rate is the percentage of students who re-enroll from one year to the next. This piece of data is important as it can reveal to the prospective students how many freshmen liked the school enough to return to it as sophomores.
As reported in 2023, the freshman retention rate for Grand Valley State University was 78.8%, a testament to the outstanding educational experience provided by this institution.
Student Body
Making the choice of which school is the right fit for you is not easy. Knowing more about the student population can help you get a better idea of the school's culture and life.
Main Student Body
In 2023, the institution had an enrollment of 21,648 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 school was 18,665, 233 of which were international students. The school admitted a total of 1,295 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 6,926 male and 11,098 female full-time students in 2023. There were 458 full-time graduate male and 1,134 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
When it comes to improving a sense of inclusion and belonging among students, there is no denying the importance of student diversity. A heterogeneous student body brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
This school had 522 Asian students and 977 Afro-American students in 2023. 1,256 undergraduate students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 670 as multirace. The school also had 10 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 60 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 86 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before you submit an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. Here are some details you should know about the expenses at Grand Valley State University that the majority of students face.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at Grand Valley State University? Here is what you need to know.
According to the reports from public county and municipal institutions, tuition fees were $14,736 for area residents. For students who don't live in the state in which the university is located, the tuition was $20,976 in 2023. For international students, tuition fees at this school were $20,976, as well. Fees per academic year required of full-time students reached $242 in 2023.
| Tuition | Fees | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $20,976 | $242 | $21,218 |
| In-State | $14,736 | $242 | $14,978 |
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to consider the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The approximate cost of books and supplies for a full-time student of this school is $756.
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?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at Grand Valley State University was $10,350 in 2023. If you only needed a dorm room, it cost $6,400 for the 2023 academic year.
| Tuition | $ 14,736 |
| Room and Board | $ 10,350 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 756 |
| Total Expense | $ 25,842 |
Financial Aid
Be it a grant, loan, scholarship, or work-study program, any type of financial help can be a great deal for most students. Check out some recent data to get the information about need-based and non-need-based aid at Grand Valley State University.
The most recent records show that 2,269 freshmen received some sort of financial help. Students of this school received an average of $12,491 in financial help.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
7,678 students were awarded 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 overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was found to be 8,815. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution came to $26,044,390, and state $2,258,113. The students of Grand Valley State University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $50,762,808, and external in the amount of $3,798,498.
$4,429
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. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like 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 917 students overall (including freshmen) at Grand Valley State University in 2023. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 211 full-time freshmen. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $22,984,951. 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 $1,747,016 USD.
Majors
Faculty
15:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.
In 2023, this ratio at Grand Valley State University was 15:1. That means that there were 15 times more students than teachers at this school. According to the most recent information, there are 1,743 teachers at this school. This number included 753 male and 961 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality 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. Check out some details about campus life at Grand Valley State University.
Student Organizations
A student organization is run by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
The number of student organizations and groups with open membership at this school is 486. This number includes sororities and fraternities. The student organization that attracts the greatest number of students is Colleges Against Cancer, followed by Dance Troupe and Hospitality and tourism Management Club. Other popular student organizations at this school are Alternative Breaks and Habitat for Humanity.
Students who like music can join the Grand Valley State University band or chorus. For individuals with a passion for acting, there is a drama club available. For individuals with an interest in media and communication, Grand Valley State University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At Grand Valley State University, there are many amenities that make life on campus comfortable and safe.
24/7 emergency phone and alarm devices are available. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a security patrol available 24/7. The transport/escort service operates during late hours.
There is a medical clinic with personal/psychological counseling. 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, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be a great asset 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 has an official test-optional admission policy but makes use of SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, or other standardized test scores in admission decisions for the candidates who choose to submit them.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Grand Valley State University is 76%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Grand Valley State University is 78.8%.
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.