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Grand Valley State University
Allendale, MI 19,073 Undergrads 67.2% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$26,578
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$17,096
After Aid
Median Earnings
$56,118
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$17,096
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$56,118
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate67.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients25.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time90.2%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS77.8%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
94.7%
SAT Avg
1,079
SAT Reading
25th: 480-75th: 600
SAT Math
25th: 460-75th: 590
ACT Composite
25th: 21-75th: 28
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$486k
+$90k
+$2k
Median Cost$17k/yr
+$425k
+$28k
-$60k
Full Cost$27k/yr
+$391k
-$6k
-$94k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
61
∞
Median Cost$17k/yr
Never
-97%
Full Cost$27k/yr
Never
-98%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return-78%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return-71%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$21,823
Earnings (5yr)
$73,018
Lifetime Value Added
+$80k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
BachCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$25,375
Earnings (5yr)
$66,629
Lifetime Value Added
+$32k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$40,889
Lifetime Value Added
-$177k
Biological and Physical Sciences
BachCIP: 3001
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$46,679
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (5yr)
$52,780
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$83,452
Lifetime Value Added
+$158k
Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$21,025
Earnings (5yr)
$61,045
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
Business/Managerial Economics
BachCIP: 5206
Median Debt
$24,281
Earnings (5yr)
$74,748
Lifetime Value Added
+$93k
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences
BachCIP: 2604
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$64,698
Lifetime Value Added
+$17k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$23,239
Earnings (5yr)
$57,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$46,747
Lifetime Value Added
-$127k
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other
BachCIP: 0999
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (5yr)
$52,201
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (5yr)
$95,198
Lifetime Value Added
+$246k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$60,671
Lifetime Value Added
-$14k
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$308k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$20,140
Lifetime Value Added
-$344k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$24,904
Earnings (5yr)
$63,288
Lifetime Value Added
+$6k
Education, General
BachCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$28,250
Earnings (5yr)
$48,711
Lifetime Value Added
-$111k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$27,036
Earnings (5yr)
$47,325
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
BachCIP: 0502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$44,436
Lifetime Value Added
-$147k
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
BachCIP: 5006
Median Debt
$24,499
Earnings (5yr)
$41,264
Lifetime Value Added
-$173k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$74,838
Lifetime Value Added
+$94k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$38,662
Lifetime Value Added
-$195k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
$19,324
Earnings (5yr)
$52,050
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (2yr)
$37,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$185k
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
BachCIP: 5199
Median Debt
$24,945
Earnings (5yr)
$60,572
Lifetime Value Added
-$15k
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs
BachCIP: 5111
Median Debt
$25,017
Earnings (5yr)
$65,087
Lifetime Value Added
+$20k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$25,524
Earnings (5yr)
$40,634
Lifetime Value Added
-$179k
Hospitality Administration/Management
BachCIP: 5209
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (5yr)
$49,255
Lifetime Value Added
-$107k
Information Science/Studies
BachCIP: 1104
Median Debt
$28,937
Earnings (5yr)
$94,036
Lifetime Value Added
+$237k
International Business
BachCIP: 5211
Median Debt
$24,295
Earnings (5yr)
$83,990
Lifetime Value Added
+$162k
International Relations and National Security Studies
BachCIP: 4509
Median Debt
$18,535
Earnings (5yr)
$39,625
Lifetime Value Added
-$187k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$35,420
Lifetime Value Added
-$204k
Legal Support Services
BachCIP: 2203
Median Debt
$21,498
Earnings (5yr)
$53,904
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$27,660
Earnings (5yr)
$53,130
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
BachCIP: 5213
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$66,492
Lifetime Value Added
+$31k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$22,530
Earnings (5yr)
$69,915
Lifetime Value Added
+$57k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$25,250
Earnings (5yr)
$54,584
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$26,012
Earnings (5yr)
$85,738
Lifetime Value Added
+$175k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$29,075
Earnings (5yr)
$45,043
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$22,587
Earnings (5yr)
$46,296
Lifetime Value Added
-$131k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$25,466
Earnings (5yr)
$44,259
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$56,023
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$50,042
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
Public Administration
BachCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$50,338
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
BachCIP: 0909
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$55,205
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1507
Median Debt
$28,894
Earnings (5yr)
$84,815
Lifetime Value Added
+$168k
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
BachCIP: 0907
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$46,682
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$72,866
Lifetime Value Added
+$79k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
BachCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$40,878
Lifetime Value Added
-$177k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
BachCIP: 2313
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (5yr)
$38,930
Lifetime Value Added
-$193k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$49,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Social Sciences, General
BachCIP: 4501
Median Debt
$26,932
Earnings (5yr)
$50,160
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$25,216
Earnings (5yr)
$50,014
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (5yr)
$47,684
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$78,011
Lifetime Value Added
+$117k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$29,000
Earnings (5yr)
$51,809
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$20,032
Earnings (5yr)
$93,720
Lifetime Value Added
+$354k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
MastCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$89,091
Earnings (5yr)
$123,503
Lifetime Value Added
+$609k
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology
MastCIP: 2611
Median Debt
$26,133
Earnings (5yr)
$85,684
Lifetime Value Added
+$285k
Business/Commerce, General
MastCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$30,124
Earnings (5yr)
$112,479
Lifetime Value Added
+$515k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$59,065
Earnings (5yr)
$61,619
Lifetime Value Added
+$76k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
MastCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$69,338
Lifetime Value Added
+$181k
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
$21,218
Earnings (5yr)
$58,799
Lifetime Value Added
+$51k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$27,438
Earnings (5yr)
$60,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$63k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$27,226
Earnings (5yr)
$60,975
Lifetime Value Added
+$70k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
MastCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$37,988
Earnings (2yr)
$44,170
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$35,751
Earnings (5yr)
$67,133
Lifetime Value Added
+$125k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$48,000
Earnings (5yr)
$69,872
Lifetime Value Added
+$149k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
MastCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$61,500
Earnings (5yr)
$53,449
Lifetime Value Added
+$1k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$41,693
Earnings (5yr)
$58,895
Lifetime Value Added
+$51k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$23,737
Earnings (5yr)
$70,494
Lifetime Value Added
+$154k
Doctoral Degrees
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
DocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$106,121
Lifetime Value Added
+$279k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
DocCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$101,032
Earnings (5yr)
$82,536
Lifetime Value Added
+$107k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.