Grand View University
Des Moines, Iowa · Private Nonprofit · 99.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 48/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa scores ROI 48 (Below Average Value) - a small ELCA-affiliated liberal arts school with 1,486 undergraduates. The school admits 99.1% of applicants, making it effectively open-enrollment. Average 6-year earnings reach $39,800, rising to a median $52,824 at 10 years. Registered Nursing is the highest-earning program at 41 graduates per year. Business Administration and Finance fill out the top programs. With 45% Pell recipients, Grand View serves a high proportion of lower-income students at private-school pricing - a combination that demands careful major selection. The ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran) identity shapes campus culture for students who want a faith-affiliated small-college environment.
Grand View University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $34,762/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $34,762/yr |
| Average net price | $21,774/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $87,096 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $52,824 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $39,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $22,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $239 |
| Estimated payback period | 12.7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 54.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,486 |
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: $34,762/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $21,774/year, or roughly $87,096 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 $18,512/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $24,601/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $22,500, which works out to about $239 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($39,800) and comes to 0.56, 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 | $18,512 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $18,773 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $20,254 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $23,414 |
| $110,001+ | $24,601 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $18,512 per year - below the $21,774 average, reflecting Pell and institutional aid for lowest-income students. Over four years that is roughly $74,048. With 45% Pell recipients, this school's low-income population is significant. Against $39,800 average 6-year earnings and a 54% completion rate, low-income students face real risk: private-school costs + open-enrollment completion dynamics + lower-earning majors = a difficult financial trajectory.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 30,001-48,000 bracket pays $18,773 - slightly above the lowest tier. The 48,001-75,000 bracket rises to $20,254, and the 75,001-110,000 bracket climbs to $23,414. The cost slope is relatively gradual.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $24,601 per year. Over four years that is roughly $98,404. Against 10-year earnings of $52,824, high-income families should scrutinize major-specific outcomes carefully. Nursing at $24,601/year is defensible; Kinesiology or Design is not.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Grand View University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $54,875 | D |
| Registered Nursing | $73,047 | B |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $49,263 | C |
| Business Administration and Management | $64,126 | C+ |
| Psychology | $47,798 | D |
| Teacher Education | $49,409 | C |
| Marketing | $65,010 | C |
| Finance and Financial Management | $67,234 | C+ |
| Accounting | $66,906 | C+ |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $56,906 | 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 produces 41 graduates per year and is Grand View's clear ROI anchor. Median 1-year earnings of $64,042 and 4-year earnings of $73,047 reflect Des Moines's healthcare market, which includes UnityPoint Health, MercyOne, and Broadlawns Medical Center. The 0.422 debt-to-earnings ratio (ROI grade B) with $27,000 median debt is manageable. Des Moines's growing healthcare footprint creates consistent RN demand. At Grand View's net price, nursing works financially if a student completes the program.
Accounting
Accounting produces 19 graduates per year with median 1-year earnings of $56,692 and 4-year earnings of $66,906. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.476 (ROI grade C+) with $27,000 median debt is functional. Grand View accounting students who pursue CPA certification differentiate; those who do not face a competitive salary environment relative to graduates from better-resourced programs.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance produces 20 graduates per year with median 1-year earnings of $51,299 and 4-year earnings of $67,234. The 0.526 debt-to-earnings ratio (ROI grade C+) with $27,000 median debt is manageable. Finance in Des Moines benefits from the city's insurance company concentration (Wellmark, EMC, AEGON) and regional banking sector. Students who target specific financial services employers through internships at Grand View tend to outperform the median trajectory.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 67.9% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 71.6% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 67.1% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 75.6% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Grand View 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 | 99.1% |
| Enrollment | 1,486 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 45.0% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,384 |
Grand View does not publish SAT/ACT band data. The 99.1% admission rate means this is open-enrollment in practice.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Grand View's 54% completion rate and 12.7-year payback are the school's primary drags.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand View University (this school) | 48 | $21,774 | $52,824 |
| Trinity Washington University | 53 | $9,302 | $53,804 |
| University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne | 50 | $18,196 | $55,362 |
| Bob Jones University | 47 | $16,641 | $44,354 |
| Briar Cliff University | 46 | $23,907 | $54,475 |
| Buena Vista University | 39 | $18,846 | $49,156 |
Who Thrives Here
Grand View fits students who need Des Moines market access in a small, faith-affiliated environment, with limited academic competition for admission. No SAT/ACT data is reported. With 45% Pell recipients, a significant share of students arrive with limited financial resources at a school charging $21,774 average net price. Nursing students have the best earnings trajectory. Students entering Kinesiology, Design, or Psychology face debt ratios above 0.80 and starting salaries in the mid-$30,000s.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Grand View University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $21,774 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $52,824 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 12.7 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost.
Median debt of $22,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $39,800 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Grand View University: Common Questions
Is Grand View University worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Grand View University scores 48/100 on our ROI scale. At $21,774 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $52,824 ten years after entry, so it takes about 12.7 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Grand View 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 $21,774 a year, or roughly $87,096 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 View University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $52,824 ten years after enrolling, roughly $11,024 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 View 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 12.7 years for Grand View University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Grand View University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $22,500, against average earnings of $39,800 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Grand View University?
The six-year graduation rate is 54.0%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (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.