Grand Valley State University is a catalyst for what could be. Where new ideas are explored. Where new interests are ignited. And where every student is encouraged to ask, “What if?”
Through personalized learning enhanced by active scholarship, we prepare globally minded citizens for the future they face and the communities they shape, and we accomplish our mission of empowering learners in their pursuits, professions, and purpose.
Grand Valley prepares students to become agile problem solvers by equipping them with the skills needed to succeed in a rapidly changing world.
Digital Literacy
Grand Valley students graduate with the skills needed to equip the future workforce to lead, innovate,and thrive in the region’s digital economy and beyond
Student Agency
Our students are motivated and purposeful learners who play an active role in shaping their own educations as they pursue meaningful careers.
Experiential Learning
At Grand Valley, students build valuable experience in collaboration with their professors as well as the business and professional community.
107
Undergraduate Degrees
31
Combined Degrees
45
Graduate Degrees
At Grand Valley, our accomplished faculty members are more than experts; they are champions for lifelong learning whose deep knowledge translates into an educational experience that doesn’t just inform — it transforms.
Grand Valley students are connecting theory with practice, while building experience that will benefit them for the rest of their lives.
Overall, nearly 91% of students complete at least one type of experiential education activity. In addition to internships, practica, and field work, GV students earned credit for:
- Clinical rotations
- Student teaching
- Research
- Service learning
- Study abroad
- Co-ops
Grand Valley has established itself as a leader in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education by expanding our STEM programs, investing substantially in cutting-edge facilities, such as our groundbreaking Blue Dot Lab, and undergraduate research, and building strategic alliances with regional and national employers.
Student Researchers Answer "What If?"
Katie Tyrell, Mya Hammer, and Alexis Porter, at the Robert B. Annis Water Resources Institute, measured salt levels in 50 Michigan lakes, researching the effects of road salt runoff. The study, led by professors Al Steinman and Sean Woznicki, was funded by the U.S. Geological Survey. Read more at gvsu.edu/lakes.
For Cruz Peña’s Student Scholars Day research project, he traveled across West Michigan, discovering and recording Mexican and Latin American musicians, preserving the music that resonates throughout one of the region’s strongest cultural communities.Read more about Cruz and Student Scholars Day at gvsu.edu/cruz
Our vibrant Valley Campus in Allendale serves as the academic, residential, and social heart of our university, fostering a welcoming community brimming with resources and support to fuel our students’ growth.
Just a short distance away, our dynamic City Campus in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids is a launchpad for real-world impact. Home to the Robert C. Pew Grand Rapids Campus and Health Campus and programs including business, engineering, and health care, our City Campus offers students unparalleled opportunities to turn classroom knowledge into practical experience.
Life at GVSU
Warm, vibrant campuses filled with opportunities to connect.
370 Student Organizations
65 Club and Intramural Sports
35 Fraternities and Sororities
19 Esports Teams
Grand Valley is one of the top Division II athletic programs in the nation, competing in 22 varsity sports.
For best NCAA Division II Athletics in the U.S.
Winning the Presidents' Trophy for Top GLIAC Athletics
Fun fact: Students who live on campus earn higher grades, are more likely to graduate, and enjoy an overall more rewarding experience than students who live off campus. Grand Valley has some of the newest living centers in the state to help students thrive in a supportive community. Explore GVSU'S housing options.
Tutoring and reading center.
At Grand Valley, students are welcomed into a community where they are truly seen and supported. Here, the college journey is a shared one, with resources like personalized one-on-one tutoring, engaging community-based scholar programs, wide-ranging career services support, and dedicated spaces where students can be their authentic selves.
Grand Valley’s dedication to serving people and planet runs deep and results in tangible outcomes. We’ve been recognized nationally for our support of first-generation students and Indigenous students. We’re also widely known for our campus sustainability efforts, being home to nearly 2 million square feet of LEED-certified structures, as well as the first university student-housing unit in Michigan to receive the Energy Star designation. Learn more about our commitment.
Students volunteering at the Sustainable Agriculture Project (S.A.P.).
Our campuses are in the heart of a thriving West Michigan economy, and our long-standing partnerships with state and regional businesses provide students with opportunities in a variety of industries from health sciences to engineering to entrepreneurship and more — both as a student and beyond graduation. Learn more about top Michigan employers for GVSU graduates.
$3B
ANNUAL IMPACT
17k+
JOBS SUPPORTED
84%
OF GVSU GRADS WORK IN MICHIGAN
TOP GLOBAL EMPLOYERS OF GRAND VALLEY GRADUATES
Though we are located in West Michigan, our impact is felt worldwide.
- Ally Logistics
- Amazon
- BDO
- Belcan, LLC
- Dematic
- Fifth Wheel Freight
- GE Aerospace
- General Motors
- Gentex Corportation
- Gordon Food Service
- Haworth
- Koops Automation Systems
- Magna International
- MillerKnoll
- Perrigo
- Plante Moran
- Steelcase
- Stryker
- TQL (Total Quality Logistics)
- Trane Technologies
Your next steps
Now that you know more about Grand Valley State University, here are some resources and next steps to help you on your journey.
