Grand View University
Des Moines, Iowa · Private Nonprofit · 99.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 48/100 · Below Average Value
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. Median 6-year earnings reach $39,800, rising to $52,824 at 10 years. Completion at 54% and a 12.7-year payback period put Grand View below the midpoint for private schools at its net price ($21,774). 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 |
| Median 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 sticker price at Grand View University is $34,762/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $21,774/year, or roughly $87,096 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $18,512/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $24,601/year.
The median graduate leaves with $22,500 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $239 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $52,824 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.56 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
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 median 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. Middle-income families at $48-75k in Iowa have Iowa State and University of Iowa as lower-cost alternatives worth comparing directly before choosing Grand View.
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. Accounting at a small private school in Des Moines faces direct competition from Iowa State and Drake University graduates in the same market. 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 | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 67.9% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 71.6% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 67.1% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 75.6% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
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. The relevant filter is not selectivity but fit: students should honestly assess whether the program they want at Grand View has ROI data that justifies the private-school price over Iowa's public university system.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Grand View (ROI 48) sits below Briar Cliff University (ROI 46, earn6yr $37,000) on earnings and comparable on ROI score. Bob Jones University (ROI 47, earn6yr $31,200) earns less but completes more students (64.8%). University of Saint Francis (Fort Wayne) is in the peer set but was not available for direct comparison. Grand View's 54% completion rate and 12.7-year payback are the school's primary drags. Des Moines location is a meaningful labor market asset that separates Grand View from truly rural small privates, but the earnings data does not yet reflect a clear metropolitan wage premium for most programs.
| 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, this is one of the most economically diverse schools in this analysis -- 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 financial case for Grand View University is mixed. At $21,774 per year net cost, graduates earn a median of $52,824 ten years after entry - a payback period of 12.7 years. That's below the average return for four-year institutions, and prospective students should carefully consider whether the investment aligns with their financial goals.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost.
Median debt of $22,500 against $52,824 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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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.