GVSU vs. Dakota State

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

 GVSU Dakota State
Location Allendale, MI Madison, SD
Setting Large Suburban Distant Town
Enrollment 21,648 3,241
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #583 #808
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website gvsu.edu dsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 GVSU Dakota State
Tuition (In State) $13,952 $7,616
Tuition (Out of State) $19,856 $10,718
Room & Board $10,140 $8,018
Avg Net Price $17,105 $17,977
Avg Grant Aid $8,811 $5,467
% Receiving Grant Aid 93% 92%

Admission

 GVSU Dakota State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 17,123 882
Admitted 15,474 696
Acceptance Rate 90.4% 78.9%
Enrolled % 25% 53.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.65 3.33
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/27 19/27
SAT Range 960/1210 940/1240
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

 GVSU Dakota State
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (28%)
  • Business (25%)
  • Education (22%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (3%)

Outcomes

 GVSU Dakota State
Graduation Rate 63% 34%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,600 $42,200
Making Student Loan Payments 62% 67%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $23,500
Median Loan Payment $258 $242

Diversity

 GVSU Dakota State
% Men 38% 64%
% Women 62% 36%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 83% 84%
% Black 5% 4%
% Hispanic 5% 4%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

 GVSU Dakota State
% In-State 91% 58%
% Out-of-State 8% 39%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Grand Valley State University is larger than than Dakota State based on total student enrollment (21,648 students vs. 3,241 students)

GVSU vs. Dakota State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GVSU or Dakota State?

  • Grand Valley State University is 83.2% more expensive to attend than Dakota State for in-state tuition ($13,952.00 vs. $7,616.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 85.3% higher at GVSU than Dakota State University ($19,856.00 vs. $10,718.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Grand Valley State University than Dakota State ($17,105 vs. $17,977)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dakota State University are 26.5% lower than costs at Grand Valley State University ($8,018 vs. $10,140)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Grand Valley State University than Dakota State University (93% vs. 92%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Grand Valley State University students is 61.2% larger than aid received Dakota State University ($8,811 vs. $5,467)

GVSU vs. Dakota State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Grand Valley State University (1090) is 43 points higher than at Dakota State (1047)
  • Incoming GVSU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Dakota State (23)
  • Accepted freshman GVSU students have a 0.32 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at Dakota State (3.33)
  • GVSU has a higher acceptance rate (90.4%) than Dakota State (78.9%)

GVSU vs. Dakota State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, GVSU or Dakota State? 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 Dakota State and GVSU.

  • The graduation rate at GVSU is higher than Dakota State University (63% vs. 34%)
  • Graduates from Grand Valley State University earn on average $2,400 more per year than Dakota State graduates after ten years. ($44,600 vs. $42,200)
  • Dakota State University students graduate with a $1,500 lower median federal student loan debt than GVSU graduates. ($23,500 vs. $25,000)
  • Dakota State graduates are paying $16 less per month on federal student loans than GVSU graduates. ($242 vs. $258)
  • More Dakota State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GVSU students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 62%)

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