Ranked 228th nationally by the U.S. News & World Report, Grand Valley State University is a public, coed AASCU member in West Michigan that offers 90 bachelor’s, 35 master’s, two specialists, and four doctoral degrees, including 23 fully online graduate programs, with a 16:1 student-teacher ratio. For example, the Professional Social Innovation M.A. builds a 36-credit humanistic track to train change agents in fast six-week courses from Environmental Justice to Resource Development for 100 percent job placement with an average $60,926 salary. Chaired by Dr. Cynthia McCurren, the Nursing M.S.N. has a 37-credit, CCNE-accredited Kirkhof College sequence online to prepare RNs for the Clinical Nurse Leader exam with under 20 months of courses like Health Informatics and 405 practicum hours.
Accredited, Accelerated Online Master’s Degrees at GVSU
Grand Valley State University appears in our ranking of the Top 35 Most Affordable Accelerated Masters in Higher Education Online.
Online on Blackboard Collaborate since Fall 2011, the College of Education has delivered a 33-credit, one-year Education Technology M.Ed. with 24/7 access to courses from Instructional Systems Design to Educational Inquiry for certified K-12 teachers to add ISTE certification. Directed by Dr. Roy Olsson, the Medical Dosimetry M.S. follows a 37-credit, JRCERT-accredited path to the Certified Medical Dosimetrist test with online courses like Radiation Physics, two Cook-DeVos Center sessions, and thesis research for 100 percent completion.
Other online options include the Occupational Therapy M.S., School Counseling M.Ed., Public Health M.P.H., Early Childhood M.Ed., Literacy Studies M.Ed., Business Administration M.B.A., Educational Differentiation M.Ed., and Special Education Administration M.Ed.
About Grand Valley State University
Grand Valley State University originated on October 25, 1958, when L. William Seidman started the Committee to Establish a Four-Year College in the Michigan Legislature. In April 1960, House Bill 477 was passed to allocate $1.35 million for the new Grand Rapids college. On September 26, 1963, Grand Valley State College welcomed an inaugural class of 226 freshmen. In 1966, Grand Valley was approved by the Michigan Commission on College Accreditation. Three years later, the James H. Zumberge Library was opened. In January 1973, Governor William G. Milliken renamed it the Grand Valley State Colleges. In 1974, the first distance education program debuted in Holland. In Fall 1975, the College of Graduate Studies was created. In 1987, Governor James Blanchard approved the Grand Valley State University name. By 2004, GVSU enrolled its first doctoral candidates for a Doctor of Physical Therapy.
Endowed for $127.8 million, Grand Valley State University now employs 1,154 full-time and 591 part-time faculty instructing 24,677 Lakers from 79 different nations online, on its 1,322-acre Allendale campus, or at six satellites with 400+ clubs like the Graduate Student Association. In 2019, GVSU accepted its 21st Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference President’s Cup. In 2018, Grand Valley received the AASCU Innovative Project Award. Grand Valley State University won a 2019 CASE Pride of District V Excellence Award too. The U.S. News & World Report placed GVSU 161st for online master’s education. On Niche, GVSU boasts America’s 205th best nursing school and 289th top teaching degrees. Forbes picked Grand Valley State University 106th in the Midwest. Money magazine declared GVSU the 502nd top value. The Center for World University Rankings named GVSU the 342nd best.
Grand Valley State University Accreditation Details
On March 8, 2019, the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA) Institutional Actions Council mailed formal notification to Grand Valley State University that the Level VI accreditation was extended through 2028-29 under President Thomas J. Haas, Ph.D., who earned the Paul I. Phillips Presidential Legacy Award. Located 170 miles west via Interstate 94 in Chicago, this mega 19-state Midwest Region accreditor is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and Michigan Department of Education (MDE). The Graduate School also lists the following online degree accreditations:
- Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education
- Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
- Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education
- Council on Education for Public Health
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
- Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
Grand Valley State University Application Requirements
Getting into Grand Valley State University is classified “moderately difficult” by Peterson’s since 14,178 of the 17,133 Fall 2018 applicants were selected for 83 percent acceptance. Post-grad Lakers must hold a four-year bachelor’s or foreign equivalent degree from an accredited senior institution. Most programs mandate a minimum 2.50 cumulative GPA. The last 60 credits should have a “B” average. Certain master’s, such as the Clinical Dietetics M.S. and Biostatistics M.S., always require 3.0 or higher GPAs. International students must pass an ELS 112 course or achieve at least 80 TOEFL, 6.5 IELTS, 77 MELAB, and 53 PTE scores. Non-U.S. residents must verify financial support of $22,500 or more. Online Nursing M.S.N. cohorts need to submit a valid, unencumbered registered nurse license. The College of Education requires current K-12 teaching certification in one’s home state. The Graduate School seeks a minimum 282 GRE General Test score. If taken before August 2011, scores of 760 or greater are necessary. Online Seidman College of Business programs accept an average GMAT score of 567.
Grand Valley State University’s Graduate School has general deadlines of July 1st for Fall and December 1st for Winter. International students must file by May 1st or October 15th. Several online degrees have program-specific deadlines though. For example, Online MPH cohorts must apply before March 1st. The Occupational Therapy M.S. closes on February 1st. Online Educational Leadership M.Ed. candidates are considered until February 15th and September 15th. Accordingly, complete the GVSU Graduate Application online for $30. Send official transcripts to 318C DeVos Center at 401 West Fulton Street in Grand Rapids, MI 49504. Forward entrance exams using GRE code 2524 or GMAT code F56-MM-31. Forward additional materials, such as the personal essay, 2-3 recommendations, current resume or CV, and writing sample. Contact (616) 331-7105 or gradschool@gvsu.edu with questions.
Tuition and Financial Aid
For 2019-20, Grand Valley State University charged traditional upper-division Michiganders $13,500 annually. Non-resident, upper-division tuition was $18,924 each year. Semester costs were $6,750 to $9,462 full-time. Studying part-time incurred $566 in-state and $792 out-of-state per credit. However, the Graduate School has varying rates for online programs. The Business Administration M.B.A. bills $733 per credit. Online Education M.Ed. cohorts spend $697 per credit. The Medical Dosimetry M.S. is priced $702 per credit. Nursing M.S.N. students pay $733 per credit online. Pursuing the Professional Social Innovation M.A. requires $671 per credit. Online Nursing Practice D.N.P. tuition is $823 per credit.
According to the NCES College Navigator, the Office of Financial Aid in Arend & Nancy Lubbers Center Room 100 connects 90 percent of new full-time GVSU Lakers to assistance averaging $6,734 each for $19.33 million total. Graduate School funds include the Windstream Technology Scholarship, William Hegarty Scholarship, Richard Giles Scholarship, Richard Veazey Academic Scholarship, Nedra Smith Otis Scholarship, Maribeth Wardrop Leaders in Philanthropy Scholarship, Marilyn & Budge Sherwood Scholarship, McGadden International Scholarship, Jean Martin Nursing Scholarship, Dr. Esther & Enrico Sobong Scholarship, and Ryan Short Memorial Scholarship. The King-Chavez-Parks Future Faculty Fellowship presents up to $20,000 to in-state master’s students of underrepresented minorities. The Phi Kappa Phi Fellowship provides $8,500 to post-grad members who’ve completed 10+ master’s credits with minimum 3.25 GPAs. Federal resources, such as the Direct Unsubsidized Loan or Graduate Plus Loan, are also available with FAFSA applications coded 002268.
Keep reading about Grand Valley State University at the Online Education Division website.
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