North Dakota State University-Main Campus (NDSU) vs Grand Valley State

North Dakota State University-Main Campus and Grand Valley State University stand out as two distinct institutions of higher learning, each offering unique opportunities and experiences to their students. While both universities share a commitment to academic excellence, they differ in several key aspects. NDSU boasts a higher acceptance rate, making it a more accessible option for prospective students. In contrast, GVSU has a slightly higher graduation rate, indicating a strong focus on student success and retention. When it comes to popular majors, NDSU excels in fields like agriculture, engineering, and nursing, while GVSU shines in business, education, and health professions. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve deeper into these differences and discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Grand Valley State University logo

Grand Valley State University

North Dakota State University-Main Campus logo

North Dakota State University-Main Campus

Overview

Location Allendale, Michigan Fargo, North Dakota
Campus setting Suburb: Large City: Midsize
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 83.0% 76.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 91.7% 95.5%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $30

Graduate: $30
Undergraduate: $35

Graduate: $35
SAT range N/A 1096 - 1313
ACT range N/A 20 - 26
Students submitting SAT score 1.0%
Students submitting ACT score 63.0%
Total number of applicants 17,163 8,143
Total number of admissions given out 15,730 7,773
Admitted students who chose to enroll 3,807 2,491
Yield rate 24.2% 32.0%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $23,604

Out of state: $29,340
In state: $23,879

Out of state: $28,354
Average net price $16,947 $16,677
Tuition
In state: $13,560

Out of state: $19,296
In state: $8,951

Out of state: $13,426
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $6,380

Meal plan: $3,500
Room/dormitory: $4,100

Meal plan: $4,778
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

80.0%
Average amount $8,376
91.0%
Average amount $4,089
Students receiving federal student loan 50.0%
Average amount $5,161
60.0%
Average amount $5,226
Students taking out private loans 6.0%
Average amount $13,024
28.0%
Average amount $11,868

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 19,379
Men 38.9% Women 61.1%
10,199
Men 49.8% Women 50.2%
Graduate students 3,027
Men 28.0% Women 72.0%
2,262
Men 47.4% Women 52.6%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Very Low
Out-of-state students 10.6% 64.0%
International students 1.8% 5.5%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity 6,012 5,563
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Michigan Illinois Indiana Ohio Texas Minnesota North Dakota Wisconsin South Dakota California

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Business
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Health Professions
  • Engineering
  • Education
  • Business
  • Agriculture
Students to faculty ratio 15:1 18:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 67.1% 64.9%
Dropout rate 15.6% 10.7%
Transferred out 15.4% 22.3%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $103,525
  • Year 2: $105,839
  • Year 3: $111,967
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $91,846
  • Year 2: $96,539
  • Year 3: $93,695
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $79,623
  • Year 2: $71,015
  • Year 3: $83,454
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,965
  • Year 2: $68,666
  • Year 3: $73,434
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,881
  • Year 2: $62,691
  • Year 3: $72,792
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,211
  • Year 2: $65,969
  • Year 3: $72,474
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $70,095
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: $71,736
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,039
  • Year 2: $58,479
  • Year 3: $69,240
Information Science/Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,382
  • Year 2: $59,124
  • Year 3: $68,410
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $69,161
  • Year 2: $67,939
  • Year 3: $68,289
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $112,561
  • Year 2: $117,751
  • Year 3: $125,733
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $98,645
  • Year 2: $101,072
  • Year 3: $116,073
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $72,828
  • Year 3: $93,292
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $69,521
  • Year 2: $66,401
  • Year 3: $74,017
Construction Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,785
  • Year 2: $64,865
  • Year 3: $72,508
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,224
  • Year 2: $65,409
  • Year 3: $72,103
Agricultural Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,019
  • Year 2: $67,660
  • Year 3: $69,536
Industrial Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,818
  • Year 2: $59,576
  • Year 3: $68,476
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,258
  • Year 2: $58,673
  • Year 3: $68,399
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,793
  • Year 2: $58,866
  • Year 3: $67,481

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