How fast you can earn a bachelor's degree in this program depends on your existing credits. We want to maximize your transfer credit, so our advisors will review your credits and help you create an individualized academic plan. This degree offers full- and part-time schedules, allowing you to move at your own pace and making it a great choice for an accelerated degree program for working adults. If you already have approximately 60 credits completed, you can take two classes at a time and finish your degree in as few as 19 months, or you can take one class at a time and finish in a little over three years.

Students enrolled in the adult degree completion program pay $500 per credit hour for all courses required to complete their degree. 

• There are no additional course fees.
• The rate is the same regardless of residency status.

If you are completing your bachelor’s degree, you need to take a minimum of six credits each semester to be eligible to receive financial aid. Our advisors can explain this and offer other options for financing your degree, such as scholarships for adult learners and a company deferment plan, which will allow you to defer the amount your employer will pay in tuition benefits until the end of the semester. 

Here are a few Grand Valley scholarships that are directly applicable to adult/nontraditional students:

• Grand Forum Scholarship for continuing education
• Margaret "Peggy" Boyce Nontraditional Student Scholarship
• Center for Women and Gender Equity Non-Traditional Scholarship

At this time, you cannot receive financial aid if you are only completing the courses for the certificates. 

Yes! Our advisors will help you determine which of your previously earned courses may already count toward this degree.

There are several ways you can earn credit or show expertise for the experiences and knowledge you have.

• Challenge exams: We have internal challenge exams for several different areas including math and language - Please note that you will be waived out of a particular level of a course and be placed into a higher level course based on your performance on these exams.
• Credit by exam: Through CLEP and DSST
• Military evaluation and credit: For military coursework

Your advisor will work with you to determine what might help you complete your degree.

Course sizes are small, ensuring a high ratio of student-faculty contact. Your professors will let you know when and how they’ll be accessible to you. In addition to the faculty members who are teaching your classes, you will have both a faculty and a professional advisor in your region with whom you can connect both virtually and in person.

Yes! This is a great option for returning students, as you can use many of the credits you’ve already earned. An advisor will review your transcript and help you explore your options at Grand Valley.

You will receive a Bachelor of Science or Arts degree in integrative studies. When you earn an accelerated bachelor's degree in this program it is no different from any other degree offered at Grand Valley, except you are completing it in an accelerated format with other adult students. 

We will work with you to evaluate how your credits will transfer and create an individual course of study. This degree allows you to combine credits earned from multiple colleges or universities so that you can graduate with your degree at a faster pace.

If you are applying to complete your degree, a minimum of 30 credits from an accredited institution are required. If you do not have 30 college credits, you will be required to submit your high school transcripts in addition to your college transcripts.

If you are applying just to complete a stand-alone certificate, a minimum of 55 completed college credits are required. 

If you are applying for the Integrative Studies online degree or one of the certificates you will use this online application. There is no application fee. Because you can start the program at any time, you simply need to complete an application at least five days before your first class begins.

All classes are offered online.  Two classes will have the expectation of a one-day meeting, typically held on a Saturday.  You will have the option to come to Campus or do this online and these days will offer you networking, mentoring, career coaching, and professional development training in addition to instruction related to your courses. 

If you are pursuing only a certificate, you can complete it fully online with no trips to campus.

If you require accommodations due to a documented disability, please contact Disability Support Resources (DSR). An online course will be accommodated.  All students with disabilities are expected to meet the same standards, requirements, and expectations of the course. Accommodations allow for “equal access” and “equal opportunity”. Timely collaboration with faculty is necessary and essential.

It is the responsibility of a student with a disability to disclose and complete a DSR application, along with providing supporting documentation.

Complete the DSR profile application.

If you have not yet met with an advisor, you can schedule an appointment with any of our advisors to learn more about our accelerated degree programs online by calling us at (616) 331-7180 or by scheduling online.

If you’ve already met with an advisor and are ready to apply, you can fill out the application online.