GVSU vs. OC Comets

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

GVSU OC Comets
Location Allendale, MI Olivet, MI
Setting Large Suburban Distant Rural
Enrollment 21,648 919
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #583
Religious Affiliation - United Church of Christ - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website gvsu.edu olivetcollege.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

GVSU OC Comets
Tuition (In State) $13,952 $31,664
Tuition (Out of State) $19,856 $31,664
Room & Board $10,140 $11,242
Avg Net Price $17,105 $21,394
Avg Grant Aid $8,811 $23,361
% Receiving Grant Aid 93% 100%

Admission

GVSU OC Comets
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 17,123 1,439
Admitted 15,474 1,218
Acceptance Rate 90.4% 84.6%
Enrolled % 25% 22.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.65 -
Typical High School Grades B+ -
Admissions Standards Moderate Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/27 18/23
SAT Range 960/1210 910/1120
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 OC Comets
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Biology (15%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (15%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)

Outcomes

GVSU OC Comets
Graduation Rate 63% 46%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,600 $39,300
Making Student Loan Payments 62% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $258 $279

Diversity

GVSU OC Comets
% Men 38% 62%
% Women 62% 38%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 83% 75%
% Black 5% 13%
% Hispanic 5% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 0%

Students

GVSU OC Comets
% In-State 91% 85%
% Out-of-State 8% 8%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Grand Valley State University is larger than than OC Comets based on total student enrollment (21,648 students vs. 919 students)

GVSU vs. OC Comets Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GVSU or OC Comets?

  • Olivet College is 126.9% more expensive to attend than GVSU for in-state tuition ($31,664.00 vs. $13,952.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 59.5% higher at OC Comets than Grand Valley State University ($31,664.00 vs. $19,856.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Grand Valley State University than OC Comets ($17,105 vs. $21,394)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grand Valley State University are 10.9% lower than costs at Olivet College ($10,140 vs. $11,242)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Olivet College than Grand Valley State University (100% vs. 93%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Olivet College students is 165.1% larger than aid received Grand Valley State University ($23,361 vs. $8,811)

GVSU vs. OC Comets Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Grand Valley State University (1090) is 159 points higher than at OC Comets (931)
  • Incoming GVSU students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at OC Comets (20)
  • GVSU has a higher acceptance rate (90.4%) than OC Comets (84.6%)

GVSU vs. OC Comets Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, GVSU or OC Comets? 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 OC Comets and GVSU.

  • The graduation rate at GVSU is higher than Olivet College (63% vs. 46%)
  • Graduates from Grand Valley State University earn on average $5,300 more per year than OC Comets graduates after ten years. ($44,600 vs. $39,300)
  • Grand Valley State University students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than OC Comets graduates. ($25,000 vs. $27,000)
  • GVSU graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than OC Comets graduates. ($258 vs. $279)
  • More GVSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former OC Comets students, three years after graduation. (62% vs. 53%)

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