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| Grand Valley State University | Western Michigan University | Michigan State University | Michigan Technological University | |
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Overview |
GVSU | WMU | Michigan State | Michigan Tech |
| Location | Allendale, MI | Kalamazoo, MI | East Lansing, MI | Houghton, MI |
| Setting | Large Suburban | Small City | Rural Fringe | Remote Town |
| Enrollment | 22,269 | 16,693 | 51,316 | 7,313 |
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year |
| National Ranking | #559 | #631 | #227 | #245 |
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | Non-profit | Non-profit |
| Website | gvsu.edu | wmich.edu | msu.edu | mtu.edu |
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Costs |
GVSU | WMU | Michigan State | Michigan Tech |
| Tuition (In State) | $14,628 | $15,198 | $15,648 | $18,074 |
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $20,820 | $18,998 | $43,032 | $41,022 |
| Room & Board | $11,142 | $11,713 | $11,754 | $12,774 |
| Avg Net Price | $17,995 | $20,183 | $24,630 | $17,928 |
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,925 | $8,217 | $8,147 | $16,889 |
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 86% | 91% | 96% | 97% |
Admission |
GVSU | WMU | Michigan State | Michigan Tech |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 24,297 | 20,100 | 58,879 | 12,434 |
| Admitted | 23,008 | 17,020 | 49,414 | 10,935 |
| Acceptance Rate | 94.7% | 84.7% | 83.9% | 18.6% |
| Enrolled % | 21% | 14.5% | 19.3% | 3% |
| Avg High School GPA | 3.65 | 3.5 | 3.72 | 3.78 |
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | A- | A- |
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Moderate | Very High | Difficult |
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/28 | 20/27 | 26/31 | 25/31 |
| SAT Range | 940/1190 | 990/1220 | 1150/1350 | 1120/1330 |
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) |
| Application Deadline | May 1, 2026 |
Academics |
GVSU | WMU | Michigan State | Michigan Tech |
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 16:1 | 17:1 | 13:1 |
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Outcomes |
GVSU | WMU | Michigan State | Michigan Tech |
| Graduation Rate | 63% | 56% | 77% | 65% |
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $44,600 | $48,900 | $60,000 | $66,000 |
| Making Student Loan Payments | 62% | 54% | 68% | 79% |
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $26,633 | $25,484 | $26,900 |
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $275 | $263 | $278 |
Diversity |
GVSU | WMU | Michigan State | Michigan Tech |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 8% | 9% | 13% |
| % Women | 10% | 14% | 12% | 6% |
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Low | Medium | Very Low |
| HBCU | No | No | No | No |
| % White | 83% | 72% | 67% | 86% |
| % Black | 5% | 12% | 7% | 1% |
| % Hispanic | 5% | 5% | 4% | 2% |
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | 3% | 3% |
| % International | 1% | 4% | 13% | 4% |
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 1% | 1% | 3% |
Students |
GVSU | WMU | Michigan State | Michigan Tech |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 91% | 78% | 76% | 76% |
| % Out-of-State | 8% | 21% | 18% | 24% |
Campus |
GVSU | WMU | Michigan State | Michigan Tech |
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | No | No |
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Learn More | Details | Details | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Grand Valley State University is larger than than WMU based on total student enrollment (22,269 students vs. 16,693 students)
GVSU vs. WMU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, GVSU or WMU?
- Western Michigan University is 3.9% more expensive to attend than GVSU for in-state tuition ($15,198.00 vs. $14,628.00)
- Out of state tuition is 9.6% higher at GVSU than Western Michigan University ($20,820.00 vs. $18,998.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Grand Valley State University than WMU ($17,995 vs. $20,183)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grand Valley State University are 5.1% lower than costs at Western Michigan University ($11,142 vs. $11,713)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Western Michigan University than Grand Valley State University (91% vs. 86%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Grand Valley State University students is 8.6% larger than aid received Western Michigan University ($8,925 vs. $8,217)
GVSU vs. WMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, GVSU or WMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WMU or GVSU .
- The average SAT score at Grand Valley State University (1090) is 60 points higher than at WMU (1030)
- Incoming GVSU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at WMU (22)
- Accepted freshman GVSU students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at WMU (3.5)
- GVSU has a higher acceptance rate (94.7%) than WMU (84.7%)
GVSU vs. WMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, GVSU or WMU? 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 WMU and GVSU.
- The graduation rate at GVSU is higher than Western Michigan University (63% vs. 56%)
- Graduates from Western Michigan University earn on average $4,300 more per year than GVSU graduates after ten years. ($48,900 vs. $44,600)
- Grand Valley State University students graduate with a $1,633 lower median federal student loan debt than WMU graduates. ($25,000 vs. $26,633)
- GVSU graduates are paying $17 less per month on federal student loans than WMU graduates. ($258 vs. $275)
- More GVSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WMU students, three years after graduation. (62% vs. 54%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/