GVSU vs. Hope College

Deciding between Grand Valley State University and Hope College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Grand Valley State University
Hope College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • GVSU Allendale, MI
  • Hope College Holland, MI
  • Setting
  • GVSU Large Suburban
  • Hope College Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • GVSU 22,011
  • Hope College 3,395
  • Type
  • GVSU Public 4 Year
  • Hope College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • GVSU #461
  • Hope College #252
  • Religious Affiliation
  • GVSU -
  • Hope College Reformed Church in America
  • Status
  • GVSU Non-profit
  • Hope College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • GVSU
  • Hope College
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • GVSU $15,140
  • Hope College $41,970
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • GVSU $21,548
  • Hope College $41,970
  • Room & Board
  • GVSU $11,550
  • Hope College $12,950
  • Average Net Price
  • GVSU $17,198
  • Hope College $30,700
  • Average Grant Aid
  • GVSU $11,188
  • Hope College $24,945
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • GVSU 90%
  • Hope College 97%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • GVSU 27,059
  • Hope College 5,150
  • Admitted
  • GVSU 22,464
  • Hope College 4,081
  • Acceptance Rate
  • GVSU 83%
  • Hope College 79.2%
  • Enrolled
  • GVSU 18.6%
  • Hope College 20.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • GVSU 1070
  • Hope College 1220
  • Typical ACT score
  • GVSU 26
  • Hope College 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • GVSU 3.65
  • Hope College 3.83
  • Typical High School Grades
  • GVSU A-
  • Hope College A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • GVSU Average
  • Hope College Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • GVSU
  • Hope College
  • ACT Range
  • GVSU 22/30
  • Hope College 25/31
  • SAT Range
  • GVSU 940/1190
  • Hope College 1100/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • GVSU Test optional
  • Hope College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • GVSU May 1, 2027
  • Hope College
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • GVSU 15:1
  • Hope College 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • GVSU
    • Business (23%)
    • Health Professions (16%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Hope College
    • Education (16%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Physical Sciences (6%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • GVSU 63%
  • Hope College 79%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • GVSU $44,600
  • Hope College $47,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • GVSU 62%
  • Hope College 82%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • GVSU $25,000
  • Hope College $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • GVSU $258
  • Hope College $279
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • GVSU 38%
  • Hope College 40%
  • % Women
  • GVSU 62%
  • Hope College 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • GVSU Low
  • Hope College Very Low
  • HBCU
  • GVSU No
  • Hope College No
  • % White
  • GVSU 83%
  • Hope College 84%
  • % Asian
  • GVSU 2%
  • Hope College 2%
  • % Black
  • GVSU 5%
  • Hope College 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • GVSU 5%
  • Hope College 8%
  • % Native American
  • GVSU 0%
  • Hope College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • GVSU 0%
  • Hope College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • GVSU 3%
  • Hope College 2%
  • % International
  • GVSU 1%
  • Hope College 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • GVSU 0%
  • Hope College 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • GVSU 92%
  • Hope College 58%
  • % Out-of-State
  • GVSU 8%
  • Hope College 30%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • GVSU Yes
  • Hope College Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • GVSU No
  • Hope College No
  • Meal Plan
  • GVSU Yes
  • Hope College Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • GVSU Yes
  • Hope College No
  • Daycare Facility
  • GVSU Yes
  • Hope College No

Comparable Facts

Compare Grand Valley State University in Allendale, MI with Hope College in Holland, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Grand Valley State University is larger than Hope College based on total student enrollment (22,011 students vs. 3,395 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Grand Valley State University is located in Allendale, MI (Large Suburban setting); Hope College is in Holland, MI (Small City setting).
  • Grand Valley State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Hope College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Grand Valley State University 15:1; Hope College 9:1.

GVSU vs. Hope College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GVSU or Hope College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Grand Valley State University than Hope College ($17,198 vs. $30,700).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grand Valley State University are 10.8% lower than at Hope College ($11,550 vs. $12,950).
  • Hope College is 177.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than GVSU (about $26,830 more per year; $41,970.00 vs. $15,140.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 94.8% higher at Hope College than at Grand Valley State University (about $20,422 more per year; $41,970.00 vs. $21,548.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hope College than at Grand Valley State University (97% vs. 90%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Hope College students is 123% larger than aid received by Grand Valley State University students ($24,945 vs. $11,188).

GVSU vs. Hope College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, GVSU or Hope College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Hope College and GVSU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Hope College (1220) is 150 points higher than at GVSU (1070).
  • Incoming Hope College students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 26 at GVSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Grand Valley State University 940/1190; Hope College 1100/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Grand Valley State University 22/30; Hope College 25/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: GVSU - Test optional; Hope College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: GVSU May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Hope College students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at GVSU (3.65).
  • GVSU has a higher acceptance rate (83%) than Hope College (79.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.6% at GVSU vs. 20.1% at Hope College.

GVSU vs. Hope College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for GVSU and Hope College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Hope College's six-year graduation rate (79%) is higher than Grand Valley State University's (63%).
  • Graduates from Hope College earn a median of about $2,900 more per year than GVSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,500 vs. $44,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Grand Valley State University graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Hope College graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, GVSU graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Hope College graduates ($258 vs. $279).
  • More Hope College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GVSU students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 62%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.