AQ vs. GVSU

Should I go to Aquinas College or Grand Valley State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if AQ 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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Aquinas College vs. Grand Valley State University comparison
Aquinas College Grand Valley State University College 3 College 4
Aquinas College Grand Valley State University
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Overview

AQ GVSU
Location Grand Rapids, MI Allendale, MI
Setting Midsize City Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,265 21,648
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #819 #583
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website aquinas.edu gvsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

AQ GVSU
Tuition (In State) $36,480 $13,952
Tuition (Out of State) $36,480 $19,856
Room & Board $10,572 $10,140
Avg Net Price $18,605 $17,105
Avg Grant Aid $30,049 $8,811
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 93%

Admission

AQ GVSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,116 17,123
Admitted 1,921 15,474
Acceptance Rate 90.8% 90.4%
Enrolled % 16% 25%
Avg High School GPA 3.52 3.65
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/27
SAT Range 1000/1180 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 May 1, 2025

Academics

AQ GVSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)

Outcomes

AQ GVSU
Graduation Rate 52% 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,000 $44,600
Making Student Loan Payments 60% 62%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $268 $258

Diversity

AQ GVSU
% Men 43% 38%
% Women 57% 62%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 82% 83%
% Black 3% 5%
% Hispanic 6% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 3% 0%

Students

AQ GVSU
% In-State 84% 91%
% Out-of-State 13% 8%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Grand Valley State University is larger than than AQ based on total student enrollment (21,648 students vs. 1,265 students)

AQ vs. GVSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AQ or GVSU?

  • Aquinas College is 161.5% more expensive to attend than GVSU for in-state tuition ($36,480.00 vs. $13,952.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 83.7% higher at AQ than Grand Valley State University ($36,480.00 vs. $19,856.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Grand Valley State University than AQ ($17,105 vs. $18,605)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grand Valley State University are 4.3% lower than costs at Aquinas College ($10,140 vs. $10,572)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Aquinas College than Grand Valley State University (100% vs. 93%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Aquinas College students is 241% larger than aid received Grand Valley State University ($30,049 vs. $8,811)

AQ vs. GVSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Aquinas College (1090) is the same at GVSU (1090)
  • Incoming AQ students have at the same average ACT score (24) as students at GVSU (24)
  • Accepted freshman GVSU students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at AQ (3.52)
  • AQ has a higher acceptance rate (90.8%) than GVSU (90.4%)

AQ vs. GVSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, AQ 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 AQ.

  • The graduation rate at GVSU is higher than Aquinas College (63% vs. 52%)
  • Graduates from Grand Valley State University earn on average $4,600 more per year than AQ graduates after ten years. ($44,600 vs. $40,000)
  • Grand Valley State University students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than AQ graduates. ($25,000 vs. $26,000)
  • GVSU graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than AQ graduates. ($258 vs. $268)
  • More GVSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AQ students, three years after graduation. (62% vs. 60%)

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