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Michigan State WMU CMU Oakland Ferris State University Saginaw Valley State University WSU Michigan South Dakota State University Hope College Eastern Michigan University UM-Dearborn| Grand Valley State University | Dakota State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
GVSU | Dakota State | ||
| Location | Allendale, MI | Madison, SD | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 22,269 | 3,508 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #559 | #813 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | gvsu.edu | dsu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
GVSU | Dakota State | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $14,628 | $7,616 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $20,820 | $10,718 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,142 | $8,990 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $17,995 | $19,115 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,925 | $5,263 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 86% | 87% |
Admission |
GVSU | Dakota State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 24,297 | 988 | ||
| Admitted | 23,008 | 967 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 94.7% | 97.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21% | 40.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.65 | 3.33 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/28 | 20/26 | ||
| SAT Range | 940/1190 | 1020/1340 | ||
| 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 | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 19:1 | ||
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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 | 4% | 12% | ||
| % Women | 10% | 4% | ||
| 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% | 56% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 8% | 38% | ||
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 (22,269 students vs. 3,508 students)
GVSU vs. Dakota State Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, GVSU or Dakota State?
- Grand Valley State University is 92.1% more expensive to attend than Dakota State for in-state tuition ($14,628.00 vs. $7,616.00)
- Out of state tuition is 94.3% higher at GVSU than Dakota State University ($20,820.00 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 ($17,995 vs. $19,115)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dakota State University are 23.9% lower than costs at Grand Valley State University ($8,990 vs. $11,142)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Dakota State University than Grand Valley State University (87% vs. 86%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Grand Valley State University students is 69.6% larger than aid received Dakota State University ($8,925 vs. $5,263)
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)
- Dakota State has a higher acceptance rate (97.9%) than GVSU (94.7%)
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/