Committed to exceeding expectations
Grand Valley has all the hallmarks of an established institution--more than 200 areas of study, championship athletics teams, excellent faculty and staff benefits, and exciting student life.
Our mission of educating students to shape their lives, their professions, and their societies includes faculty and staff as students, too. Our strong liberal education serves as the foundation for our wide array of undergraduate and graduate programs, fostering critical thinking, creative problem solving, and cultural understanding. We are also committed to economic, social, and environmental sustainability and an inclusive campus that values diversity. Through this forward-thinking education, students, faculty, and staff are empowered to positively affect the global community now and in the future.
Grand Valley is the leader of two economic development SmartZones--the Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center in Muskegon, and the West Michigan Science and Technology Initiative in Grand Rapids. The university also operates the Robert B. Annis Water Resources Institute in Muskegon, is the state and regional host of the MI-Small Business & Technology Development Center, and is home to the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership and the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. See all of Grand Valley's services to the community at gvsu.edu/centers/.
A community defined by momentum
U.S. News and World Report has named Grand Valley the top "up and coming" university in the Midwest, a designation for institutions who are "worth watching because they are making promising and innovative changes." Our students, faculty, and staff--who come from every corner of Michigan and the globe--share the mindset. Because of programs such as its Sustainable Community Development Initiative, which connects students, faculty, and staff with sustainability best practices through courses, internships, and activities, Grand Valley was named one of only 25 "cutting-edge" green colleges and universities in Kaplan's College Guide 2009.
An ideal destination
West Michigan is a great place to live and Grand Valley helps drive the region's economic growth, making a total estimated impact of almost $644 million in the three-county region surrounding the Allendale Campus. Grand Valley faculty, students, and alumni have unique opportunities to learn and work with up-and-coming industries--because Grand Valley is involved in advancing those new industries.
Value matters
Grand Valley's annual accountability report demonstrates Grand Valley's excellent stewardship of its resources. Our tuition remains well below the state average and we've been named one of America's 100 Best College Buys for 14 years in a row. The university offers $199 million in financial aid, and the average student pays $2,602 less than the posted tuition price despite the fact that the university's state appropriation per student remains the lowest in the state and the university has the second-lowest amount of state-funded instructional space. The university's five-year graduation rate is the fourth highest among the 15 state universities. In addition, all classes are taught by faculty members, not graduate assistants, ensuring a more personal and engaged learning experience.
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