Grand Valley State University
Allendale, Michigan · Public · 83.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 60/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Grand Valley State University scores 60 (Fair Value) overall. The biggest strength is completion: 67% of entering students finish. Earnings premium (71) is also strong, reflecting a 32.4% wage lift on the median high-school comparator. Earnings hit $37,700 at six years and $56,118 at ten years, supporting a 9.7-year payback period. Where GVSU shows weakness is the debt-to-earnings sub-score (39): $24,500 median debt against $37,700 early earnings produces a 0.65 ratio that pulls the overall score down. In-state tuition is $15,140, net price $16,317, four-year cost $65,268. The 18,854-student enrollment supports a broad program lineup with multiple high-ROI engineering and nursing tracks.
Grand Valley State University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $15,140/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $21,548/yr |
| Average net price | $16,317/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $65,268 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $56,118 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $37,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $260 |
| Estimated payback period | 9.7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 67.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 18,854 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $15,140/year ($21,548/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $16,317/year, or roughly $65,268 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $12,272/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $22,534/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $24,500, which works out to about $260 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($37,700) and comes to 0.65, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $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 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $12,272 net - well below the $16,317 average. Four-year cost is about $49,100, against $56,118 in 10-year median earnings. The math works: aid stacking reduces price below sticker tuition. Note the $30,001-$48,000 bracket is actually lower ($11,902), a tiny anomaly likely from sample variance.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-$75,000) pay $12,861. Median 10-year earnings of $56,118 comfortably exceed the four-year cost for typical mid-income outcomes.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income families ($75,001-$110,000) pay $16,609 (essentially sticker); above $110,000 the net price jumps to $22,534. Four-year cost at the top tier is roughly $90,100. For high-income families this is essentially a full-pay comprehensive public decision.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Grand Valley State University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | $52,176 | C |
| Psychology | $51,460 | D |
| Marketing | $69,592 | C+ |
| Registered Nursing | $79,188 | B |
| Finance and Financial Management | $71,348 | C+ |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $53,175 | D |
| Education, General | $49,225 | C |
| Health Professions, Residency Programs | $62,482 | D |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $57,599 | C |
| Accounting | $80,153 | C+ |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is GVSU's largest high-ROI program with 239 graduates earning $71,181 in year one and $79,188 by year four. Median debt of $27,000 produces a 0.379 debt-to-earnings ratio and B grade. The Grand Rapids healthcare market (Spectrum, Mercy) absorbs most of these graduates at strong starting salaries, and four-year earnings growth is modest - a function of the relatively flat RN pay curve absent graduate credentialing.
Computer and Information Sciences
CIS produces 114 graduates earning $74,360 in year one and $94,330 by year four, with $27,000 debt for a 0.363 ratio (B grade). Strong four-year earnings growth signals career-track mobility.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering has 57 graduates earning $75,777 in year one and $90,565 by year four (0.370 ratio, B grade). West Michigan manufacturing (Steelcase, Stryker, Whirlpool, Tier-1 auto suppliers) provides deep employer demand. This is one of GVSU's strongest career pipelines.
Computer Engineering
Computer Engineering is the highest-paying program: $80,746 in year one rising to $103,253 by year four. Only 23 graduates - a small cohort - with $26,676 debt for a 0.330 ratio and B+ grade. Six-figure four-year earnings put this program among GVSU's strongest outcomes, and the graduate count keeps employers competing for talent.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance graduates 239 students earning $52,872 in year one and $71,348 by year four against $24,199 debt (0.458 ratio, C+ grade). This is GVSU's largest business program after marketing.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 67.0% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 70.8% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 68.1% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 75.3% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Grand Valley State University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 83.0% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 460-590 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 480-600 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 22-30 |
| Enrollment | 18,854 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 29.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $10,156 |
GVSU admits 83% of applicants - a broadly accessible public. SAT mid-ranges (Math 460-590, Reading 480-600) and ACT 22-30 reflect a college-ready academic profile. The 67% completion rate - well above similarly admitting publics - suggests GVSU does an effective job supporting admitted students through to a degree. Prepared students should have strong odds of finishing.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Valley State University (this school) | 60 | $16,317 | $56,118 |
| Temple University | 64 | $28,198 | $63,727 |
| East Carolina University | 61 | $15,739 | $55,146 |
| Appalachian State University | 58 | $16,836 | $51,836 |
| Central Michigan University | 51 | $17,597 | $55,874 |
| Eastern Michigan University | 42 | $15,407 | $51,793 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See Grand Valley State University side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
GVSU fits West Michigan students aiming at engineering, nursing, business, and pre-health pathways. Pell rate of 29.2% is moderate - this is a mixed-income student body. Outcomes look outstanding for the engineering/CIS/nursing cohorts and weaker for arts and humanities.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Grand Valley State University is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $16,317 a year after aid ($65,268 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $56,118 a decade out, the cost takes about 9.7 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What to keep an eye on: a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 70.8% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $24,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $37,700 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Grand Valley State University: Common Questions
Is Grand Valley State University worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Grand Valley State University is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 60/100 on our ROI scale. At $16,317 a year after aid ($65,268 over four years) against $56,118 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 9.7 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Grand Valley State University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $16,317 a year, or roughly $65,268 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Grand Valley State University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $56,118 ten years after enrolling, roughly $14,318 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Grand Valley State University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 9.7 years for Grand Valley State University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Grand Valley State University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $24,500, against average earnings of $37,700 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Grand Valley State University?
The six-year graduation rate is 67.0%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.