Grand Valley State University

grand valley state university accreditation

Degrees Offered at Grand Valley State University

Grand Valley State University appears in our ranking of 50 Great Affordable Colleges in the Midwest.

Grand Valley State University has a total of 131 individual degree programs across eight different colleges including the Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Study, the College of Engineering and Computing, and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Healthcare-related programs are offered through the Kirkhof College of Nursing and the College of Health Professions. These include bachelor’s degrees in sonography, medical laboratory science, and radiation therapy as well as an accelerated nursing program. The Bachelor of Science in Allied Health Sciences provides an introduction to the field, and students can follow one of five tracks, generalist, histotechnology, respiratory care, or pre-professional programs in physical therapy or physician assistant studies. All allied health students are encouraged to complete an internship at a local hospital, lab, or clinic to gain experience and professional references. Health-related graduate programs are available and prepare students for careers as occupational therapists, physician assistants, speech-language pathologists, nurse practitioners, and other health professionals. GVSU pass rates for related certifying exams consistently range from 90% to 100%.

The College of Community and Public Service offers programs for students interested in non-medical helping professions with degrees in criminal justice, legal studies, hospitality, and public, nonprofit, and healthcare administration. In addition, the college offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees in social work. The Bachelor of Social Work program requires 44 credit hours in the major including classes like Child Welfare and Policy Practice, Human Behavior and the Social Environment, Cross Cultural Service Learning, and Professional Development in Social Work. During their senior year, students complete two practicums totaling 450 hours of fieldwork as well as a senior capstone project. The Master of Social Work program at GVSU consists of 60 credit hours beginning with a primary foundation, followed by the advanced generalist track which includes clinical courses like Diagnosis and Treatment Planning and Substance Abuse and Social Work Practice. Throughout the program, students also complete classes in policy, administration, and group dynamics as well as 900 hours of supervised field education.

While most programs at GVSU are primarily completed on campus, about ten can be completed via online or hybrid delivery. For example, the professional MBA through Seidman College of Business consists of one class in person and one online each semester. The M.Ed. in Education Technology is offered in hybrid or 100% online formats. For this program, students take 11 courses beginning with a social foundation and a research foundation class. These are followed by the seven emphasis area classes like Evaluating and Applying Instructional Media, Online Instructional Design/Development, and Assessment/Evaluation with Education Technology as well as final thesis. All online degrees and classes are considered equivalent to those completed on campus, and GVSU plans to introduce more online programs in the near future.

About Grand Valley State University

After discovering that the existing university system did not meet the needs of the southwest portion of the state, the Michigan legislature founded Grand Valley State University in 1963. The main campus is in Allendale which is a suburb of Grand Rapids, the second largest city in Michigan, and there are currently five satellite campuses in this metropolitan area as well as one in Detroit. The university currently enrolls almost 25,000 students with an average class size of 26. GVSU strives to help students develop a global perspective by encouraging participation in study abroad programs, and at least 40% of undergraduates have taken advantage of these opportunities. Sustainability is another campus value, and faculty in all disciplines stress the concept of social and environmental responsibility. According to the U.S. News and World Report, Grand Valley State University is one of top schools in the Regional Universities Midwest category, ranking #9 for innovation and #14 for value.

Grand Valley State University Accreditation Details

The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is responsible for evaluating the colleges and universities in Michigan and 18 other states in the central region of the United States. The commission has developed a set of standards spanning all aspects of an institution from its education programs to administrative policies as well as a 10-year review cycle with periodic reporting deadlines and campus visits, culminating in reaffirmation of accreditation if appropriate. This process ensures that students are receiving an adequate education and that the university maintains eligibility for federal funding. Grand Valley State University has passed all reviews and has held continuous accreditation since 1968. There are also a variety of professional associations that provide accreditation to individual departments. Some organizations that have certified GVSU programs include the following.

  • Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant
  • Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology
  • Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology

Grand Valley State University Application Requirements

Freshmen applicants and transfer applicants with fewer than 30 hours of college credit can submit the application either online or via mail and need to include official high school and college transcripts along with ACT or SAT scores. All other transfer students only need to send college transcripts but must have a minimum GPA of 2.5. Admission to GVSU is not generally considered selective, but certain programs like the nursing and allied health programs are competitive and may have additional application requirements. Aside from submitting an application and transcripts showing a completed bachelor’s degree, the graduate admission process is dependent on desired degree program. Some programs require standardized test scores, a minimum GPA, resume, or a personal statement. Others, most notably in nursing and education, require a current professional license. Applicants are encouraged to speak with an admissions counselor for more information

Tuition and Financial Aid

Undergraduate tuition for Michigan residents is about $12,750 per year with out-of-state students paying around $18,000. For graduate level courses, tuition rates are solely based on program of study, not residency status, ranging from $651 to $822 per credit hour. GVSU offers scholarships for incoming undergraduate students based on academic achievement as well as need-based grants. Graduate students can apply for assistantships, fellowships, and presidential research grants to help offset costs. Staff at the Grand Valley State University financial aid office can help students understand other forms of aid including employer tuition reimbursement and loan forgiveness programs.