GVSU acceptance rate, cost and outcomes
Grand Valley State University · Public · Allendale, MI · 19,243 undergraduates (IPEDS fall 2023)
GVSU admitted 94.7% of applicants for fall 2023, up from 82.6% in 2013. Michigan residents pay $15,872 in tuition and fees for 2025-26; out-of-state students pay $22,588.
Admit rate, 2013 to 2023
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| Fall | Admit rate | Applicants | Admitted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 82.6% | 18,122 | 14,969 |
| 2014 | 80.4% | 16,886 | 13,582 |
| 2015 | 81.1% | 16,989 | 13,785 |
| 2016 | 81.7% | 17,107 | 13,973 |
| 2017 | 80.9% | 17,533 | 14,184 |
| 2018 | 82.8% | 17,133 | 14,178 |
| 2019 | 83.0% | 16,511 | 13,707 |
| 2020 | 87.5% | 15,465 | 13,535 |
| 2021 | 91.7% | 17,163 | 15,730 |
| 2022 | 90.4% | 17,123 | 15,474 |
| 2023 | 94.7% | 24,297 | 23,008 |
Applications went from 18,122 in fall 2013 to 24,297 in fall 2023. Admit rate = admitted ÷ applicants. Source: IPEDS fall admissions.1
What families actually pay
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| Family income | Net price / year, 2024-25 |
|---|---|
| $0 to $30,000 | $12,444 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $12,223 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $12,816 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $16,724 |
| Over $110,000 | $23,196 |
| Tuition and fees, in-state (2025-26) | $15,872 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state (2025-26) | $22,588 |
| Cost of attendance (2024-25) | $28,770 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid (2024-25) | $16,495 |
Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants, for first-time full-time students with federal aid paying the in-state rate, 2024-25. Tuition is 2025-26. Source: College Scorecard.2
SAT and ACT
Middle 50% (25th to 75th percentile) of enrolled first-year students who submitted scores: 59% submitted the SAT, 5% the ACT. Source: IPEDS fall 2023.1
Similar public colleges
| College | Admit rate | Tuition and fees |
|---|---|---|
| Central Michigan MI | 91.0% | $15,420 same for all |
| Western Michigan MI | 84.7% | $15,954 in-state |
| Michigan State MI | 83.9% | $17,256 in-state |
Same state and type first, then the nearest admit rate. Fall 2023 and 2025-26 figures.
What the numbers say
Grand Valley State University took in 24,297 applications for fall 2023, a jump from 17,123 the year before, and admitted 94.7%.1 The 2013 rate was 82.6%, making the change 12.1 percentage points higher, and the rate declined in 3 of the 10 yearly comparisons.1 Admitted students numbered 14,969 in 2013 and 23,008 in 2023, growth of 54%, while applications grew 34%.1
The university is test-optional. Reported middle 50% ranges are 480 to 600 on SAT reading and writing, 460 to 590 on SAT math, and 21 to 28 on the ACT.1
Michigan residents pay $15,872 in tuition and fees for 2025-26, equal to the median of 15 public bachelor's colleges in Michigan, and out-of-state students pay $22,588.2 The average net price was $12,444 for families earning $0 to $30,000, $12,816 for $48,001 to $75,000, and $23,196 for those over $110,000 in 2024-25.2
65% of 2019 entrants graduated within 6 years, compared with 59% as the median of 42 Michigan colleges.2 Of Grand Valley undergraduates, 36% received Pell grants, and the retention rate was 76%.2 Median earnings of $60,120 at 10 years after entry sit near the $59,874 state median, and median federal debt is $22,500.2
Every number on this page, with its source field
| Figure | Value | File, field, year |
|---|---|---|
| Applicants | 24,297 | IPEDS ADM2023, APPLCN, fall 20231 |
| Admitted | 23,008 | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMSSN, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled first-years | 4,836 | IPEDS ADM2023, ENRLT, fall 20231 |
| Undergraduates | 19,243 | IPEDS DRVEF2023, EFUG, fall 20234 |
| Admission policy | Selective (not open admission) | IPEDS IC2023, OPENADMP, 2023-243 |
| Test policy | Test-optional | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMCON7, fall 20231 |
| SAT reading/writing, 25th percentile | 480 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATVR25, fall 20231 |
| SAT reading/writing, 75th percentile | 600 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATVR75, fall 20231 |
| SAT math, 25th percentile | 460 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATMT25, fall 20231 |
| SAT math, 75th percentile | 590 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATMT75, fall 20231 |
| ACT composite, 25th percentile | 21 | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTCM25, fall 20231 |
| ACT composite, 75th percentile | 28 | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTCM75, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled students submitting SAT | 59% | IPEDS ADM2023, SATPCT, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled students submitting ACT | 5% | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTPCT, fall 20231 |
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $15,872 | College Scorecard, TUITIONFEE_IN, 2025-262 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state | $22,588 | College Scorecard, TUITIONFEE_OUT, 2025-262 |
| Cost of attendance | $28,770 | College Scorecard, COSTT4_A, 2024-252 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid | $16,495 | College Scorecard, NPT4_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $0 to $30,000 | $12,444 | College Scorecard, NPT41_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $30,001 to $48,000 | $12,223 | College Scorecard, NPT42_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $48,001 to $75,000 | $12,816 | College Scorecard, NPT43_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $75,001 to $110,000 | $16,724 | College Scorecard, NPT44_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income over $110,000 | $23,196 | College Scorecard, NPT45_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Graduation rate within 6 years | 65% | College Scorecard, C150_4, 2019 entrants2 |
| First-year retention | 76% | College Scorecard, RET_FT4, fall 2023 entrants2 |
| Undergraduates with a Pell grant | 36% | College Scorecard, PCTPELL, 2024-252 |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $60,120 | College Scorecard, MD_EARN_WNE_P10, 2022-232 |
| Median federal debt of graduates | $22,500 | College Scorecard, GRAD_DEBT_MDN, FY2024-252 |
| Median in-state tuition and fees, public colleges, Michigan (N = 15) | $15,872 | College Scorecard, median TUITIONFEE_IN, public bachelor's institutions, 2025-262 |
| Median graduation rate within 6 years, Michigan (N = 42) | 59% | College Scorecard, median C150_4, bachelor's institutions, 2019 entrants2 |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry, Michigan (N = 43) | $59,874 | College Scorecard, median MD_EARN_WNE_P10, bachelor's institutions, 2022-232 |
Sources
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS admissions files, fall 2013 to fall 2023 (IC2013, ADM2014, ADM2015, ADM2016, ADM2017, ADM2018, ADM2019, ADM2020, ADM2021, ADM2022, ADM2023). Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- U.S. Department of Education: College Scorecard, Most Recent Institution-Level Data (Most-Recent-Cohorts-Institution (release of 15 Oct 2026)). Data years: 2019 entrants, 2022-23, 2024-25, 2025-26, FY2024-25, fall 2023 entrants. Checked 25 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Institutional Characteristics 2023-24 (IC2023.zip). Data years: 2023-24. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Fall Enrollment, derived variables, fall 2023 (DRVEF2023.zip). Data years: 2023. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
AdmitFacts is not affiliated with GVSU, the U.S. Department of Education or NCES. Missing values are shown as Not reported, never estimated. The file field behind each figure is listed under "Every number on this page". How we build each page