Rankings & Recognitions
Our teaching, staff, facilities, and student experience have all been recognized as some of the best available as we continue to build our reputation as a top modern university.
We are proud of the outstanding achievements that have been made across these areas. The following awards are a testament of our commitment to academic excellence, service, accessibility, and empowerment.
Niche places Grand Valley in the top 17% on their lists of Colleges with the Best Student Life in America and Best College Campuses in America.
The Princeton Review named Grand Valley to its list of Best Midwest Colleges, which recognizes academic rigor, affordability, and career outcomes for graduates.
College Factual recognizes Grand Valley as one of the nation's best bachelor's degree colleges with its 34 top-ranked majors and the bachelor's in general education program ranking 6th in the nation.
Scholarship360 named Grand Valley to their list of Top Colleges for Affordability.
For every $100,000 in state appropriations, Grand Valley retains nearly five graduates in Michigan — more than any other public university in the country.
Money considers Grand Valley one of America's Best Colleges, focusing on affordability and student outcomes to help families make informed decisions about where to spend their tuition dollars.
Niche considers Grand Valley one of the Best Value Colleges in America.
Washington Monthly included Grand Valley on their "Best Bang for the Buck" list, which ranks schools according to how well they help students attain marketable degrees at affordable prices.
Metro Parent considers Grand Valley to be one of the Best Value Colleges in Michigan.
Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement
Grand Valley State University has earned the 2026 Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement, recognizing its deep commitment to partnerships and societal impact. This prestigious designation, valid through 2032, highlights GVSU’s exemplary alignment of mission, resources, and practices that foster meaningful community engagement.
A Place for Everyone
- Excelencia in Education awarded Grand Valley the Seal of Excelencia for its intentional service to Latino students and demonstration of positive outcomes.
- AISES (Advancing Indigenous People in STEM) named Grand Valley one of the top 200 colleges in the nation for Indigenous students.
Environmentally Responsible
- Grand Valley was honored by the National Wildlife Federation in their NWF GameDay Football Zero Waste Touchdown Challenge for working to reduce landfill-bound trash. GVSU was the only Division II program recognized nationally.
- Niche considers Grand Valley a "Best College for Environmental Science in America".
Athletic Excellence
- 32 NCAA Division II national championship wins, with 24 coming from our women's teams.
- Awarded the 2024-2025 Learfield Directors’ Cup for the 17th time (a Division II record) for offering the best Division II athletic program in the nation.
- For the 26th consecutive year, Grand Valley took home the 2024-2025 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) President's Cup Trophy. This marked the 31st in school history.
CollegeChoice places Grand Valley at #14 on their list of the safest large colleges and universities in the nation.
The Grand Valley Police Department is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA®), the gold standard for public safety accreditation. It is the only CALEA®-accredited university police department in Michigan.
U.S. News & World Report recognizes our graduates' successes and named Grand Valley one of its Top Performers on Social Mobility.
Gold status on the Michigan Veteran Affairs Agency's list of Michigan's Veteran-Friendly Schools for 11 consecutive years, as well as their 2024 MVAA Innovator Award for "demonstrated exceptional dedication to empowering those who have served our country."
Military Times ranks Grand Valley at the top of Michigan colleges and at #11 in the nation in their list of Best for Vets Colleges 2025.
Silver status for the 2025-2026 school year from MilitaryFriendly.com.
For the 15th consecutive year, The Princeton Review recognized Grand Valley as one of the country's most environmentally responsible colleges. Grand Valley was the only Michigan school to make the list and is ranked #13 nationally.
The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) awarded Grand Valley gold status for its sustainability practices and performance as part of their Sustainable Campus Index.
The Meadows at Grand Valley State University has been named one of the top college golf courses in the country by GolfNow, a partner brand of the Golf Channel. The recognition comes as part of GolfNow’s annual “Golfers’ Choice Awards,” which are based on the reviews and ratings submitted by golfers nationwide.
Grand Rapids is #1 in the nation according to LinkedIn's 2025 "Cities on the Rise".
WalletHub cites Grand Rapids as one of the best-run cities in America, ranking it #1 in the State of Michigan. U.S. News & World Report named Grand Rapids one of the Best Place to Live in the U.S.
Grand Rapids is the best area to get a job and start a career, according to WalletHub, and Niche lists it among the nation's Best Cities for Young Professionals.
Niche considers Grand Rapids one of the Best Cities to Buy a House in the nation and Business Insider included it on their list of U.S. Cities with Best Quality of Life.