GVSU vs. Defiance College

Should I go to Grand Valley State University or Defiance College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if GVSU or Defiance College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Grand Valley State University vs. Defiance College comparison
Grand Valley State University Defiance College College 3 College 4
Grand Valley State University
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Overview

GVSU Defiance College
Location Allendale, MI Defiance, OH
Setting Large Suburban Rural Fringe
Enrollment 21,648 540
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #583
Religious Affiliation - United Church of Christ - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website gvsu.edu defiance.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

GVSU Defiance College
Tuition (In State) $13,952 $34,556
Tuition (Out of State) $19,856 $34,556
Room & Board $10,140 $10,940
Avg Net Price $17,105 $23,196
Avg Grant Aid $8,811 $24,970
% Receiving Grant Aid 93% 99%

Admission

GVSU Defiance College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 17,123 2,722
Admitted 15,474 1,711
Acceptance Rate 90.4% 62.9%
Enrolled % 25% 8.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.65 3.12
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Moderate Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/27 17/23
SAT Range 960/1210 860/1110
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline May 1, 2024

Academics

GVSU Defiance College
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Business (26%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (11%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Health Professions (8%)

Outcomes

GVSU Defiance College
Graduation Rate 63% 51%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,600 $43,700
Making Student Loan Payments 62% 58%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $258 $279

Diversity

GVSU Defiance College
% Men 38% 60%
% Women 62% 40%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 83% 80%
% Black 5% 8%
% Hispanic 5% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 0% 0%

Students

GVSU Defiance College
% In-State 91% 66%
% Out-of-State 8% 31%

Campus

GVSU Defiance College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Grand Valley State University is larger than than Defiance College based on total student enrollment (21,648 students vs. 540 students)

GVSU vs. Defiance College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GVSU or Defiance College?

  • Defiance College is 147.7% more expensive to attend than GVSU for in-state tuition ($34,556.00 vs. $13,952.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 74% higher at Defiance College than Grand Valley State University ($34,556.00 vs. $19,856.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Grand Valley State University than Defiance College ($17,105 vs. $23,196)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grand Valley State University are 7.9% lower than costs at Defiance College ($10,140 vs. $10,940)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Defiance College than Grand Valley State University (99% vs. 93%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Defiance College students is 183.4% larger than aid received Grand Valley State University ($24,970 vs. $8,811)

GVSU vs. Defiance College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, GVSU or Defiance College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Defiance College or GVSU .

  • The average SAT score at Grand Valley State University (1090) is 106 points higher than at Defiance College (984)
  • Incoming GVSU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Defiance College (22)
  • Accepted freshman GVSU students have a 0.53 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at Defiance College (3.12)
  • GVSU has a higher acceptance rate (90.4%) than Defiance College (62.9%)

GVSU vs. Defiance College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, GVSU or Defiance College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Defiance College and GVSU.

  • The graduation rate at GVSU is higher than Defiance College (63% vs. 51%)
  • Graduates from Grand Valley State University earn on average $900 more per year than Defiance College graduates after ten years. ($44,600 vs. $43,700)
  • Grand Valley State University students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Defiance College graduates. ($25,000 vs. $27,000)
  • GVSU graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than Defiance College graduates. ($258 vs. $279)
  • More GVSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Defiance College students, three years after graduation. (62% vs. 58%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/