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Michigan State UM-Dearborn Oakland WMU CMU Detroit Mercy- UDM- U of D- University of Detroit Eastern Michigan University Ferris State University Saginaw Valley State University Michigan Cleveland State Michigan Tech| Grand Valley State University | Wayne State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
GVSU | WSU | ||
| Location | Allendale, MI | Detroit, MI | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 22,269 | 23,553 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #559 | #580 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | gvsu.edu | wayne.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
GVSU | WSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $14,628 | $12,493 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $20,820 | $28,615 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,142 | $11,762 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $17,995 | $16,021 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,925 | $10,862 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 86% | 95% |
Admission |
GVSU | WSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 24,297 | 15,190 | ||
| Admitted | 23,008 | 12,461 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 94.7% | 82% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21% | 24% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.65 | 3.42 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/28 | 21/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 940/1190 | 1040/1260 | ||
| 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, 2026 | Aug 1, 2026 |
Academics |
GVSU | WSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 13:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
GVSU | WSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 63% | 26% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $44,600 | $51,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 62% | 38% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $22,258 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $230 |
Diversity |
GVSU | WSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 12% | ||
| % Women | 10% | 19% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 83% | 57% | ||
| % Black | 5% | 19% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 1% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 5% |
Students |
GVSU | WSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 91% | 95% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 8% | 2% | ||
Campus |
GVSU | WSU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Wayne State University is larger than than GVSU based on total student enrollment (23,553 students vs. 22,269 students)
GVSU vs. WSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, GVSU or WSU?
- Grand Valley State University is 17.1% more expensive to attend than WSU for in-state tuition ($14,628.00 vs. $12,493.00)
- Out of state tuition is 37.4% higher at WSU than Grand Valley State University ($28,615.00 vs. $20,820.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wayne State University than GVSU ($16,021 vs. $17,995)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grand Valley State University are 5.6% lower than costs at Wayne State University ($11,142 vs. $11,762)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Wayne State University than Grand Valley State University (95% vs. 86%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Wayne State University students is 21.7% larger than aid received Grand Valley State University ($10,862 vs. $8,925)
GVSU vs. WSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, GVSU or WSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WSU or GVSU .
- The average SAT score at Grand Valley State University (1090) is 20 points higher than at WSU (1070)
- Incoming GVSU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at WSU (23)
- Accepted freshman GVSU students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at WSU (3.42)
- GVSU has a higher acceptance rate (94.7%) than WSU (82%)
GVSU vs. WSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, GVSU or WSU? 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 WSU and GVSU.
- The graduation rate at GVSU is higher than Wayne State University (63% vs. 26%)
- Graduates from Wayne State University earn on average $6,400 more per year than GVSU graduates after ten years. ($51,000 vs. $44,600)
- Wayne State University students graduate with a $2,742 lower median federal student loan debt than GVSU graduates. ($22,258 vs. $25,000)
- WSU graduates are paying $28 less per month on federal student loans than GVSU graduates. ($230 vs. $258)
- More GVSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSU students, three years after graduation. (62% vs. 38%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/