The accolade underscores what many already know ¿ that Grand Valley offers exceptional value. An average class size of 27, collaborative faculty/student research opportunities, and classes taught by faculty rather than teaching assistants contribute to an interactive learning environment. Grand Valley degrees are recognized and valued by employers and graduate schools.
To be considered for the designation, an institution must:
On each of the criteria, Grand Valley bettered the national average. Nationally, the average cost of attendance was $21,308 (using out-of-state rates for public schools and regular cost at private institutions). Grand Valley's total cost for in-state students was $11,416 and $17,984 for out-of-state students. The national average for entering freshmen's high school grade point averages was 3.22, while Grand Valley's was 3.41. Likewise, the national average ACT score was 23, while Grand Valley's was 24.
Institutional Research and Evaluation, Inc., is an independent research and consulting organization specializing in the recruiting and retention of students for institutions of higher education.
Grand Valley State University, established in 1960, is a four-year public university. It attracts more than 21,000 students with its high quality programs and state-of-the-art facilities. Grand Valley provides a fully accredited liberal arts undergraduate and graduate education and has campuses in Allendale, Grand Rapids, Holland, Muskegon and Traverse City. Grand Valley is the comprehensive regional university for the state's second largest metropolitan area and offers 64 undergraduate and 20 graduate degree programs. The university is dedicated to individual student achievement, going beyond the traditional classroom experience, with research opportunities and business partnerships. Grand Valley employs more than 1,700 people and is committed to providing a fair and equitable environment for the continued success of all.
