GVSU's Impact on Michigan: $3 Billion -

As part of the Laker family, you know firsthand the impact that GVSU makes on people, places and the greater good. Now, I’m excited to share details of a report that shows the magnitude of the positive impact being created by Grand Valley.

Data illustrates how GVSU is a major economic engine for Michigan, generating more than $3 billion annually for the state. That’s the equivalent of hosting 10 Super Bowls every year!

Additional highlights include:

Nearly 100,000 GVSU alumni live and work in Michigan, earning $7.6 billion in wages every year
One out of every 20 college-educated jobs in Michigan is filled by a Laker
GVSU grads, on average, earn $1.4 million more in their lifetime than people with a high school diploma
GVSU is one of the best public investments in the state, returning $31 for every $1 of state investment
And Grand Valley provides great value, as 44% of graduates leave with no debt and the percentage of GVSU students with student loans continues to decline. In 2024, that figure was 49%, down 20 percentage points from 10 years earlier.

$3 BILLION

ANNUAL IMPACT

GVSU generates
more than $3 Billion
annually for Michigan.

116,000+

JOBS SUSTAINED

Includes nearly 100,000 GVSU alumni in Michigan plus 17,297 jobs supported by the activities of GVSU and its students.

$7.6 BILLION

ALUMNI WAGES

GVSU alumni earn $7.6 Billion
in wages in the state
of Michigan every year.

Read the full economic impact report.

Everyone who is connected to Grand Valley experiences the influence that we make every day and we’re excited to have these results to prove it. This report, combined with strong fall enrollment numbers that include our second-largest incoming class and a 1% overall increase, shows that GVSU’s focus on providing value, impact and relevance is working.

While we’re thrilled to share these results, we're not resting on our laurels and are already working to maintain and increase this success. This includes the transition from our Reach Higher 2025 strategic plan to an updated plan, called Reach Higher Together, and the planned groundbreaking in the spring for our Blue Dot Lab, which will serve as a collaborative center for West Michigan’s tech growth.

Thank you for being part of the Laker story. The results we celebrate today are only the beginning, and with your continued support, Grand Valley will continue to redefine higher education, fuel innovation and shape a brighter future for our students, our state and our world.