Grand Valley State: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Officially Grand Valley State University · Allendale, Michigan · Public · Open access · CDS 2025-2026
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2025-2026
- Test-optional
- 27,261
- Applicants
- 25,274
- Admitted93%
- 4,335
- Enrolled
- 17%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Open access93% admittedRanked #15 (tie) in Regional Universities Midwest; Business Programs #301 (tie), Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs #55 (tie), Computer Science #319 (tie), Nursing #135 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by Grand Valley State University (see the source), read on 2026-09-20. The admission-factor grid was re-read from that file to confirm each weighting.
Is Grand Valley State a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places Grand Valley State against it in about a minute. No account needed.
Grand Valley State is a public university in Allendale, Michigan that admits about 93% of applicants, making it a open access school. The average family pays about $16,317 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Biology, General, Psychology, General and Marketing, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 3.2 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Grand Valley State is a public institution located in Allendale, Michigan. For the most recent reporting cycle, Grand Valley State admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 93%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT around 1030. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $16,317 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Grand Valley State?
57% of enrolled students at Grand Valley State had a high school GPA of 3.50 or above, and the average was 3.4, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
Compare Grand Valley State with the other schools on your list
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What does Grand Valley State weight in admissions?
Grand Valley State reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
Very Important
2- Rigor of secondary school record
- Academic GPA
Important
1- Standardized test scores
Considered
8- Class rank
- Application essay
- Recommendations
- Extracurricular activities
- Character/personal qualities
- First generation status
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
Not Considered
7- Interview
- Talent/ability
- Alumni/ae relation
- Geographical residence
- State residency
- Religious affiliation/commitment
- Level of applicant's interest
SAT and ACT scores Grand Valley State typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 460–590. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 22–30. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.
| 25th percentile | 920 |
| 50th percentile | 1030 |
| 75th percentile | 1170 |
| % submitting SAT | 54% |
| 25th percentile | 21 |
| 50th percentile | 26 |
| 75th percentile | 30 |
| % submitting ACT | 3% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • SAT/ACT optional for domestic applicants; required for top scholarships.
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on Grand Valley State's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
How much does Grand Valley State actually cost?
Published tuition is $15,140 for in-state students and $21,548 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $11,550 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $16,317 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 29% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $15,872 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $22,588 |
| Room and board | $10,788 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $16,317 |
| Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need | 78% |
| Average need-based grant | $15,400 |
| Average merit award, no financial need1,239 first-year students received one | $5,217 |
| Graduates who borrowed | 60% |
| Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed | $27,856 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | — |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Grand Valley State
| Rolling admissions | Yes |
Will my child graduate from Grand Valley State?
These predict outcomes at Grand Valley State better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Grand Valley State
The most popular undergraduate programs at Grand Valley State, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Biology, General, Psychology, General and Marketing. Across all programs, Grand Valley State confers roughly 2,259 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Biology, General program report a median income of about $52,780 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Biology, General | 335 | $52,780 |
| Psychology, General | 334 | $50,042 |
| Marketing | 325 | $69,915 |
| Education, General | 276 | $48,711 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 267 | n/a |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 260 | $74,838 |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other | 247 | $60,572 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 215 | $72,866 |
Is Grand Valley State safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Grand Valley State disclosed 61 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 3.2 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 21 violent offenses and 19 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at Grand Valley State?
About 31% of undergraduates at Grand Valley State live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in Michigan parents ask about
Colleges that admit at a similar rate
Next steps for Grand Valley State
Common questions parents ask about Grand Valley State
What GPA do I need for Grand Valley State?
57% of enrolled students at Grand Valley State had a high school GPA of 3.50 or above, and the average was 3.4, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does Grand Valley State typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 460–590. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 22–30.
How much does Grand Valley State actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Grand Valley State after grants and scholarships is $16,317 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $15,140 and $21,548 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is Grand Valley State realistic for my child?
Grand Valley State admits 93% of applicants, so 460–590 SAT Math is target range and below 460 is a reach. Then check the $16,317 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Grand Valley State?
Grand Valley State accepts about 93% of applicants out of roughly 27,261 who apply each year. It admits the majority of qualified applicants.
Is Grand Valley State test-optional?
Yes. Grand Valley State is test-optional for Fall 2027 applicants, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What does Grand Valley State look for in applicants?
Grand Valley State rates course rigor and GPA as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Grand Valley State a public or private school, and where is it located?
Grand Valley State is a public institution located in Allendale, Michigan.
What are the most popular majors at Grand Valley State?
The largest undergraduate majors at Grand Valley State by annual graduates are Biology, General, Psychology, General and Marketing. The school awards about 2,259 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Grand Valley State safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Grand Valley State reported 61 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 3.2 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at Grand Valley State?
At Grand Valley State, 31% of undergraduates live on campus, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Grand Valley State University, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers