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Grand Valley State University
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Grand Valley State University - Academics - Academics - College ProwlerCollege Prowler2.69

Academics

C+
Where does this grade come from?View all Academics rankingsReview this school to add your opinion

Comparable Schools' Academics Grades:

Quick Stats

Student-Faculty Ratio 17:1
Full-Time Student Population 19,391
Part-Time Student Population 5,017
Full-Time Instructional Faculty 1,036
Part-Time Instructional Faculty 472
Total FT Faculty 1,048
Faculty with Terminal Degree 73%
Average Faculty Salary $62,075
Full-Time Retention Rate 84%
Part-Time Retention Rate 78%
Transfer-Out Rate 9%
Graduation Rate 61%
Programs/Majors Offered 82
Academic/Career Counseling? Yes
Remedial Services? Yes
Class Sizes
  • Fewer than 20 students: 24%
  • 20 to 49 students: 69%
  • 50 or more students: 7%

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

Grand Valley is known for its business, dance, education, film and video, nursing, and physical therapy programs. Many professors at Grand Valley are accepting and helpful, although there are exceptions. The workload depends on the professor, course level, and department, but most classes have a mediocre amount of work. Busy work is generally avoided by professors, while most of the assigned homework will really help with understanding the course material. The Writing Center, which offers students quality tutors, will help with any kind of writing for any class. Tutors can also be found for lots of other subjects, as well. 

It is important to do research before signing up for classes. Some courses require prerequisites, while a few general education classes are required for certain majors, and sometimes one course can cover two sets of requirements, which will save you time and money. Taking classes with good professors is much more important than it might seem. While most programs and professors at Grand Valley State are decent, the "Themes" (part of the general education program) and "Supplemental Writing Skills" requirements can be tedious, especially for students who do not enjoy writing.

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Grand Valley State Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Academics at Grand Valley State University

munleyb

Nursing '15

3.1
B-

Beware of Nursing, Be Ready to Fight

Nursing is one of the most competitive fields at GVSU. Getting into the program is difficult. However, it is a great program, one of the best in the area. Acceptance is hard though and the curriculum in pretty inflexible.

May 24, 2012

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Academics at Grand Valley State University

munleyb

Nursing '15

4.6
A

Honors Is Great

I came into GVSU and was in the Honor's College. It was by far the best decision I have ever made. The teachers were so supported and the environment offered in those classrooms is unlike any other.

May 24, 2012

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Academics at Grand Valley State University

beachmer

Marketing '14

5.0
A+

Stedman Business College

GVSU is a great place for students who are serious about planning for their future. Classroom size is small which allows for alot of interaction between the Professor and the student. GVSU encourages students to carry a 15 pt workload per semester to be able to graduate within 4 yrs. of college to earn a Bachelors degree. I love GVSU. It offers really nice housing options and promotes campus safety.

Apr 19, 2012

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Page 1 of 12
User rating for Grand Valley State University - Academics is 4.6 out of 5 based on 34 user reviews.

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Rate your school’s professors on the following topics

Rate your school’s academic environment on the following topics

Facts

Instructional Programs Occupational: No
Academic: Yes
Continuing Professional: No
Recreational/Avocational: No
Adult Basic Remedial: No
Secondary (High School): No
Special Credit Opportunities Advanced Placement (AP) Credits: Yes
Dual Credit: Yes
Life Experience Credits: No
Undergraduate Schools/Divisions
  • Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies
  • College of Community and Public Services
  • College of Education
  • College of Health Professions
  • College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
  • F.E. Seidman College of Business
  • Frederik Meijer Honors College
  • Kirkhof College of Nursing
  • Seymour and Esther Padnos College of Engineering and Computing
Degrees Awarded
  • Bachelor's degree
  • Doctorate - Professional practice
  • Master's degree
  • Post-bachelor's certificate
  • Post-master's certificate
Most Popular Majors
  • Foundations of Education: 3%
  • Marketing/Marketing Management, General: 2%
  • Psychology: 3%
  • Registered Nursing (RN): 2%
Graduation Requirements
  • Arts/fine arts
  • English (including composition)
  • History
  • Humanities
  • Mathematics
  • Philosophy
  • Sciences (biological or physical)
  • Social science
Special Study Options
  • Distance learning opportunities
  • Study abroad
  • Teacher certification (below the postsecondary level)
  • Weekend/evening college
Other Academic Offerings
  • Distance learning
  • Double major
  • Dual enrollment
  • English as a Second Language (ESL)
  • Honors program
  • Independent study
  • Internships
  • Student-designed major
Best Places to Study
  • Fourth floor of the Zumberge Library
  • Honors College study areas
  • Seidman House

Online Courses

Grand Valley offers a variety of online courses. There are also hybrid courses, which combine online work with some in-classroom time.

Did You Know? The website ratemyprofessors.com is an excellent resource for finding professors who are fun, not terribly difficult, kind, and know their material.

Become a Contributing Author Learn more »

Most Recent Student Author View all

Name
Audrey Rosenau
Hometown
Rochester Hills, MI
Major
Hospitality and Tourism

College Prowler is seeking talented student authors to assist with writing and updating the College Prowler guides to their schools. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain experience and tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is really like at your college.

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How do we get our information? Find out here or report an error here. The statistics on our site are from the National Center for Education Statistics IPEDS database.
We update this information twice annually, most recently in May 2012, but it may not be the most recent information available for a particular school.
For additional information we encourage you to visit school websites or contact the schools directly.