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We look forward to welcoming you to
Grand Valley State University (GVSU)!

• Academic Programs (Click here to select your preferences.)
• Featured Program: Engineering
• Featured Program: Hospitality and Tourism Management
• Estimated Tuition, Fees and Expenses
• Scholarships
• Climate / Location / Housing
• Especially for Parents: GVSU maintains national recognition

Grand Valley State University is a comprehensive, public university located in Allendale, Michigan -- on the west side of the state, twelve miles from the city of Grand Rapids. Grand Valley provides a learning atmosphere where students and faculty learn and do research side by side. All classes are taught by professors, not graduate teaching assistants. With an average class size of 26, the university offers you the academic experiences most students only get in graduate school.

With an enrollment approaching 23,500 students, Grand Valley offers classes in Allendale and in the city of Grand Rapids. GVSU features more than 200 academic programs - providing new facilities and unique opportunities for research and involvement.

Click here to learn more about our academic programs, and to request more information from us.

Academic Programs at Grand Valley State University
GVSU now offers one of the fastest-growing
ELS Language Centers in the U.S.A.!
Students completing ELS Level 112 meet GVSU's language proficiency requirement.

Grand Valley offers many programs that attract students from across the United States and from around the world. Internships, co-op work experiences or research are an important part of most of the academic programs. You can request information on any of the programs, or you can also find the answers to many of your questions on our website at admissions.gvsu.edu.

Parents have many concerns and questions. Click here for information for parents.

Featured Program: Engineering is one of the most sought-after programs at Grand Valley State University. Designed to prepare students for a career in engineering or to continue on to graduate school, majors are offered in the following areas:

• Computer Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Manufacturing Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering

Students may also create a self-designed program with an interdisciplinary emphasis.

The Grand Valley Bachelor of Science in Engineering program is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). The four-year program starts with two years of fundamental engineering courses, in preparation for admission to the department and the first of three semester-long cooperative work experiences. During the last two years, students alternate periods of paid cooperative placements with academic study. The end of the program involves a two-semester project requiring initiative, planning and design. Computers are used throughout the program to develop and support the analytical and design skills required of engineers.

Students with a strong math and science background (including 3 to 4 years of math), coursework in physics and chemistry, and who have developed good study habits as well as time management skills will have the most success in the College of Engineering.

Featured Program: Hospitality and Tourism Management prepares students for positions in management and leadership in the fields of hospitality management and meeting and convention management.

Hospitality and tourism courses are combined to provide a curriculum that integrates classroom experiences with practical work experiences. Located in a high-tourism area of Michigan, Grand Valley offers you opportunities to gain experiences in hotels, convention planning, local and statewide festivals and tourism development.

Offering career emphasis areas in food management, lodging, tourism / travel or a self-designed program, Grand Valley exposes students to all aspects of the industry, but also allows them to specialize to create an area of expertise. The job placement rate for HTM graduates has been consistently among the highest at Grand Valley.

At Grand Valley State University, students may earn either a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management.

Want to learn more?
Select your academic preferences,
then complete the form.
We will respond promptly.

Estimated Tuition, Fees and Expenses

GVSU is one of the most affordable public universities in Michigan. Tuition is based on the classification of the student and the course. These are figures for the 2007-2008 academic year.

Approximate Costs to Attend Grand Valley State University
for non-Michigan Residents
All fees are subject to change by the Board of Control.

* Room and Food estimate is based on anticipated apartment and food costs for the academic year.

Showing Financial Support: In order to receive the necessary documentation to prepare for your student visa interview, you must first be admitted into a university or ESL intensive language program. As part of the application process, you will need to provide verification of financial support. Your parents or sponsor must provide an official bank statement verifying that they have the equivalent to at least one year's worth of support on account in the bank. Summer expenses are not included in the total above. If you plan to stay for the summer, the estimated cost will be US$4,000.

Scholarships: Partial scholarships are available to qualified international applicants. Eligible candidates shall present educational documentation that verifies that they have the equivalent to a 3.5 A / B grade average. The student must be offered admission, and consideration for the scholarship will happen automatically. The award is valued at approximately US$6,000. Students who present a grade average equivalent to an A minus will be considered for an additional US$3,000 award. These awards are for new international students only.

Applicants using institutional or governmental support: If your program of study will be financially supported by an institution, foundation or government agency, your financial sponsor must submit a letter of support on official letterhead. The letter must:

• specify the expenses to be paid on your behalf;
• name Grand Valley State University; and
• indicate that the institution has adequate resources to guarantee at least your first year of study.

Applicants using personal or private support: If you plan to pay for your education with private funds, you or your financial sponsor must complete the Statement of Financial Support enclosed with the GVSU application. In addition, you must also attach an original statement from the bank that verifies sufficient financial resources as indicated above.

Interested? Click here to proceed with the admissions process.

Climate / Location / Housing: Our climate is variable, with four seasons: Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer. At the beginning of the Fall semester in late August or early September, the temperature is likely to be between 70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit (22 and 30 degrees Centigrade). Michigan receives a large amount of snowfall during the Winter, with the temperature averaging about 25 degrees Farenheit (-10 Centigrade) during November, December, January and February. March, April and May (the Spring months) are cool and sometimes rainy. The summer months of June, July and August are hot and humid.

The campus is large enough to always be meeting new people, but small enough to be able to walk from one location to the next. Campus life is very active with sporting events, movies, fine arts productions, and many other activities.

Grand Rapids is the second largest city in Michigan. Our graduate programs are located on the GVSU Pew Campus in Grand Rapids. In addition, you will find the Seidman School of Business, the DeVos Center for Health Sciences, the Padnos School of Engineering and our television broadcasting facilities located here, giving our students access to major corporations, internships, and co-ops.

We recommend that all new international students live on campus for at least the first year so that you can become acclimated to the Grand Valley campus and community. As a new international student, you will be placed in either an apartment-style living center, which consists of two-person rooms that have a kitchenette and bathroom, or you might be placed in a 2-bedroom / 4-person apartment. Your placement will depend on your age, as well as the date that we receive your confirmation form.

Especially for Parents: Grand Valley State University is an excellent choice in high-quality U.S. education, as evidenced by its recent national recognition:

U.S. News and World Report awarded Grand Valley a 52nd ranking in the midwest region for its master's programs. The 572 universities in the category were ranked within four geographic regions. The Princeton Review named Grand Valley to its Best in the Midwest designation, based on student opinion data from more than 700 schools. Institutional Research and Evaluation, Inc. identified Grand Valley as one of America's 100 Best College Buys. Each year, the Georgia-based research organization locates the U.S. colleges and universities providing students the very highest quality education at the lowest cost.

We look forward to welcoming you to Grand Valley State University in Michigan! To learn more, review all of our programs and select the ones that interest you. Then complete the inquiry form, and we'll respond to you directly.