Adrian College vs. GVSU

Should I go to Adrian College or Grand Valley State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Adrian College or GVSU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Adrian College vs. Grand Valley State University comparison
Adrian College Grand Valley State University College 3 College 4
Adrian College Grand Valley State University
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Overview

Adrian College GVSU
Location Adrian, MI Allendale, MI
Setting Distant Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,821 21,648
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #846 #583
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website adrian.edu gvsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Adrian College GVSU
Tuition (In State) $38,321 $13,952
Tuition (Out of State) $38,321 $19,856
Room & Board $12,980 $10,140
Avg Net Price $24,870 $17,105
Avg Grant Aid $31,555 $8,811
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 93%

Admission

Adrian College GVSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,329 17,123
Admitted 2,299 15,474
Acceptance Rate 69.1% 90.4%
Enrolled % 22.1% 25%
Avg High School GPA 3.2 3.65
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Easy Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 17/25 21/27
SAT Range 940/1160 960/1210
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025 May 1, 2025

Academics

Adrian College GVSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (21%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (12%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)

Outcomes

Adrian College GVSU
Graduation Rate 49% 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,900 $44,600
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 62%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $258

Diversity

Adrian College GVSU
% Men 53% 38%
% Women 47% 62%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 72% 83%
% Black 9% 5%
% Hispanic 5% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 0% 1%
% Unknown Race 9% 0%

Students

Adrian College GVSU
% In-State 64% 91%
% Out-of-State 30% 8%

Campus

Adrian College GVSU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Grand Valley State University is larger than than Adrian College based on total student enrollment (21,648 students vs. 1,821 students)

Adrian College vs. GVSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Adrian College or GVSU?

  • Adrian College is 174.7% more expensive to attend than GVSU for in-state tuition ($38,321.00 vs. $13,952.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 93% higher at Adrian College than Grand Valley State University ($38,321.00 vs. $19,856.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Grand Valley State University than Adrian College ($17,105 vs. $24,870)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grand Valley State University are 28% lower than costs at Adrian College ($10,140 vs. $12,980)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Adrian College than Grand Valley State University (99% vs. 93%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Adrian College students is 258.1% larger than aid received Grand Valley State University ($31,555 vs. $8,811)

Adrian College vs. GVSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Adrian College or GVSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between GVSU or Adrian College .

  • The average SAT score at Grand Valley State University (1090) is 82 points higher than at Adrian College (1008)
  • Incoming GVSU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Adrian College (22)
  • Accepted freshman GVSU students have a 0.45 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at Adrian College (3.2)
  • GVSU has a higher acceptance rate (90.4%) than Adrian College (69.1%)

Adrian College vs. GVSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Adrian College or GVSU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between GVSU and Adrian College.

  • The graduation rate at GVSU is higher than Adrian College (63% vs. 49%)
  • Graduates from Grand Valley State University earn on average $4,700 more per year than Adrian College graduates after ten years. ($44,600 vs. $39,900)
  • Grand Valley State University students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Adrian College graduates. ($25,000 vs. $27,000)
  • GVSU graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than Adrian College graduates. ($258 vs. $279)
  • More Adrian College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GVSU students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 62%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/