Grand Valley State University

Grand Valley State University is celebrating 50 years of educating students to shape their lives, their professions, and their societies. As a result, Grand Valley State University graduates impact their communities where they work and live in West Michigan and around the world.

Grand Valley State University is helping move the region and the state in a positive direction by impacting its economy , environment , and social climate . Grand Valley plays a significant and continuing role in the area’s well being, making a total estimated impact of more than $643.9 million in the three-county region surrounding the Allendale Campus. More than 10,100 permanent off-campus jobs in the region exist due to the presence of the university’s campuses in those communities. In 2009, some 5,916 students participated in internships, practica, and student teaching, saving employers more than $25 million. Grand Valley is at the heart of job creation and innovation in alternative and renewable energy and life sciences.

Grand Valley has been recognized as one of “America’s 100 Best College Buys” for 14 years in a row and was ranked the top “up and coming” institution in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report.

Grand Valley State's graduates’ degrees are highly valued by employers and graduate schools. Some 91.5 percent of Grand Valley graduates are successfully employed or pursuing advanced degrees. Of the 2009 graduates who are employed, 88 percent are working in Michigan. Grand Valley alumni now number over 75,000, with the majority living in Michigan and nearly half living or working in West Michigan’s tri-county area. Their fields of expertise dovetail with the area’s business needs.