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2024-2025 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog

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Admissions

Undergraduate Admissions

Freshman Applicants

Grand Valley State University welcomes qualified students to submit their applications. Admission decisions are selective based on the secondary school record, grades earned and courses selected, as well as personal data submitted on the application. Grand Valley University offers a test-optional admission policy, allowing applicants to decide whether to submit SAT and/or ACT scores. Submission of these scores is not mandatory. However, applicants aiming for our top scholarships must provide their test scores for consideration. Additionally, students seeking to showcase strong math proficiency are encouraged to include their test scores in their application.

Freshmen are typically expected to be graduates of accredited high schools or preparatory schools. A strong high school background in basic academic subjects is important in a student's preparation for college study. Admission requirements are designed to ensure that students who are admitted to Grand Valley can successfully complete academic work and fully use the educational opportunities available.

Grand Valley grants admission to students who are prepared to meet the challenges of a rigorous university curriculum. Admission at Grand Valley is selective. Each application for admission is carefully reviewed and academic performance, as well as other criteria presented by prospective students, is considered in the evaluation. Applicants will be reviewed using a combination of high school courses completed, cumulative grade point average, grade point trend, rank in class, and other factors.

A total of 20 units is required (a unit is the satisfactory completion of one year's work). Exceptions to these requirements will be considered in relation to other credentials presented.

Admissions

A single deficiency in an academic area will not necessarily mean a student is refused admission. However, students who are missing a number of courses will be at a disadvantage. We recommend that high school students who plan to attend Grand Valley prepare by completing the following high school program. High school coursework is the single most important factor in consideration for freshman admission. High school preparation should include the following:

  • Four years of English, including composition
  • Three years of science, including two years of laboratory science
  • Three years of college preparatory mathematics, including two years of algebra
  • Three years of social sciences
  • Two years of a single foreign language

Further, we recommend elective courses in computer science and the fine arts. We also strongly recommend a fourth year of mathematics and additional science courses. Grand Valley State University offers a test-optional admission policy, allowing applicants to decide whether to submit SAT and/or ACT scores. Submission of these scores is not mandatory. However, applicants aiming for our top scholarships must provide their test scores for consideration. Additionally, students seeking to showcase strong math proficiency are encouraged to include their test scores in their application.

The requirement of high school graduation may be waived for adults, (25 and over), provided there is evidence that they are likely to be successful in college. This evidence will in most cases take the form of the General Educational Development (GED) test.

Students are encouraged to apply early in the fall of their senior year of high school. Admissions and Recruitment Office staff welcome the opportunity to meet with prospective students. Appointments should be arranged in advance at gvsu.edu/visit. Please contact the Admissions and Recruitment Office at (616) 331-2025 or toll-free (800) 748-0246 with questions.

Admissions and Recruitment Office
Grand Valley State University
1 Campus Drive
300 Lubbers Student Services Center
Allendale, MI 49401-9403
gvsu.edu/admissions
[email protected]

To be considered for freshman admission, you must submit the following:

  • Completed undergraduate application
  • Official high school transcript

Applications will be reviewed as soon as all information has arrived, and the applicant can expect a decision shortly thereafter. The Admissions and Recruitment Office may withhold a decision for additional information or for further testing. Applicants will be notified to provide any additional information. Applications for admission must be completed at least 30 days before the final day of registration. However, admission to any semester is subject to earlier closing without notice.

All documents and supporting data required for admission become the property of Grand Valley State University and will not be returned to the applicant.

Concurrent Enrollment with Community Colleges

Concurrent enrollment allows students at both Grand Valley State University and community colleges to make full use of the variety of courses offered by both institutions. Through concurrent enrollment, students have more scheduling options, more choice of course locations, and many more courses available. Students may take courses at both institutions simultaneously or alternate enrollment between them. Financial aid may also be available to students who qualify. Students looking to concurrently enroll and use financial aid should contact the financial aid office at each institution to discuss their options.

Students must be admitted to both institutions. Please refer to the Transfer Applicant or Nondegree-seeking Applicants section of the Grand Valley State University Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog for specific admissions requirements to Grand Valley State University.

Frederik Meijer Honors College

The Grand Valley State University Frederik Meijer Honors College is intended for students who, in their previous academic pursuits, have demonstrated a distinctly high level of motivation, creativity, and academic achievement. The college provides its students with special academic opportunities and challenges.

High school students admitted to Grand Valley are typically invited to join the Meijer Honors College if they have a 3.5 or greater high school GPA and an ACT score of at least 28 or an SAT score of 1300 (test scores are optional for the class applying for Fall 2023 admission).

Transfer students who wish to enter the Meijer Honors College may apply for admission if they have a 3.5 or greater college GPA.

For more information about the Meijer Honors College, consult the Frederik Meijer Honors College section in the catalog.

High School Dual-enrollment Program

Concurrent enrollment in Grand Valley courses may be available to select high school students who meet certain eligibility requirements. Qualification and admission will be based on the following factors:

  • An appointment with an admissions recruiter is required each semester prior to enrollment
  • Completed nondegree-seeking application
  • Official high school transcript
  • An overall GPA of 3.0 or greater in high school coursework
  • Official results of ACT or SAT if available
  • Completed Grand Valley Dual Enrollment Form including all appropriate signatures
  • Limitation of two classes per semester
  • Permission from the Admissions and Recruitment Office must be obtained for future semesters at Grand Valley while still in high school
  • Students qualifying for dual-enrollment assistance from their high school must present a dual-enrollment authorization form prior to enrollment
  • Students must earn at least a 2.0 in each dual-enrollment class if they wish to continue taking dual-enrollment courses at Grand Valley State University

A decision on admission will be made when the information has arrived. The Admissions and Recruitment Office may withhold a decision for further information or until an interview has been held. Applicants will be notified to submit any additional information.

International Students

Grand Valley hosts nearly 700 international students from more than 70 countries. Students will find a safe and welcoming environment with many on-campus activities. To be considered for admission, international applicants must submit all the following documents to the Admissions and Recruitment Office by October 15 for the winter semester (January) or by May 1 for the fall semester (August):

  • Completed international admission application
  • Record of English proficiency. Students may satisfy the English proficiency requirements with these tests:
    • Duolingo: 105
    • IELTS: 6.5
    • PTE: 53
    • TOEFL: 80
    • ELS Level 112: (undergraduate and the following graduate programs: computer and information systems, cell and molecular biology, health informatics and bioinformatics, biostatistics)
  • Undergraduate students from the following countries do not need to take the TOEFL or IELTS but will need to take the SAT or ACT exams:
    • Antigua and Barbuda
    • Australia
    • Bahamas
    • Barbados
    • Belize
    • Bermuda
    • Botswana
    • Canada
    • Cameroon
    • Dominica
    • Ethiopia
    • Fiji
    • Gambia
    • Ghana
    • Grand Cayman Islands
    • Grenada
    • Guyana
    • Ireland
    • Jamaica
    • Kenya
    • Lesotho
    • Liberia
    • Malawi
    • New Zealand
    • Nigeria
    • Sierra Leone
    • South Africa
    • Saint Kitts and Nevis
    • Saint Lucia
    • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
    • Swaziland
    • Tanzania
    • Trinidad and Tobago
    • Uganda
    • United Kingdom
    • British Virgin Islands
    • Zambia
    • Zimbabwe
  • Verification of financial support: Applicants and their sponsor must complete and sign the Financial Support Form and submit original bank statements verifying that the necessary amount of support is available. Applicants must demonstrate that they have full financial support as part of the application process.
  • Original or certified true copies of all certificates and grade reports of secondary and postsecondary work. If the credentials are not in English, they must be accompanied by an English translation. Typically, transcript evaluations are not considered an official transcript. However, some graduate departments will require a transcript evaluation along with an official transcript for admission.
  • Personal statement: Please write a one- to two-page personal statement about your goals and reasons for wanting to enter Grand Valley State University.

Please note some graduate programs may require additional tests or documents for admission. Additional graduate requirements can be found on The Graduate School website at gvsu.edu/gs.

Partial tuition scholarships are available to qualified undergraduate international students. Students who apply for fall admission and submit all required admission documents as per the scholarship schedule found on the Admissions and Recruitment Office website at gvsu.edu/admissions will be considered for scholarships. Graduate students can be considered for graduate assistantships after admission.

All documents and supporting data required for admission become the property of Grand Valley State University and will not be returned to the applicant.

Transfer Applicants

A transfer applicant is someone who has attended another college or university after graduation from high school. The applicant will be evaluated on previous coursework at the college level. High school performance will also be reviewed for those who have earned fewer than 30 semester hours (45 quarter hours) of college-level coursework.

To be considered for transfer admission, you must submit the following:

  • Completed undergraduate application
  • Official transcripts from all previous colleges (transcripts must be sent directly from the colleges to the Grand Valley State University Admissions and Recruitment Office)

Applicants who have earned fewer than 30 semester hours (45 quarter hours) at the time of application must also submit the following:

  • Official high school transcript or GED

Applications will be reviewed as soon as all information has arrived, and the applicant can expect a decision shortly thereafter. Not disclosing a previous college or university that you have attended may result in the Admissions and Recruitment Office rescinding your admissions decision. The Admissions and Recruitment Office may withhold a decision for additional information. Applicants will be notified to provide any additional information. Applications for admission must be completed at least 30 days before the final day of registration. However, admission to any semester is subject to earlier closing without notice.

All documents and supporting data required for admission become the property of Grand Valley State University and will not be returned to the applicant.

Transfer students must complete a minimum of 12 hours in the unit conferring the major (six for the minor). Some programs have higher requirements; transfer students should consult descriptions of specific major requirements.

Reverse Transfer Agreement

Grand Valley State University has signed agreements with all Michigan community colleges whereby students who transferred to Grand Valley from a participating community college without receiving their associate degree may qualify to complete this degree while attending Grand Valley. An email will be sent from the registrar at the end of each semester to students who meet the following criteria:

  • Transferred a minimum of 45 credit hours from the community college to Grand Valley
  • Have a combined total of at least 55 credits completed, including both those from the community college and Grand Valley
  • Are in good academic standing

Students who want to request their record be reviewed by a community college official should complete the Reverse Transfer Agreement Transcript Release form available on the registrar's website. Degree program advisors at the community college will

  • audit the record to see if the student qualifies for the award of the associate degree and
  • notify the student of the results of the review.

Additional information or questions should be directed to the Student Assistance Center at (616) 331-3327 or sent by email to [email protected].

Transfer of Credit

Grand Valley makes every effort to transfer credit for academic work completed at other institutions. In general, courses completed with a D grade at a regionally or nationally accredited institution will transfer when the overall GPA of all previous work, as calculated by Grand Valley, is C or better. Transfer credit is typically determined by the offering of an equivalent course at Grand Valley. Limited transfer credit may be awarded from technical or terminal associate degree programs. Credit from nonaccredited colleges may, under special circumstances, be granted if it is germane to a student's program. Approval for such credit must be given by the director of the Student Academic Success Center. Such credit will be validated after 15 semester hours of satisfactory work have been completed at Grand Valley (2.0 GPA or higher). Transfer credit will be granted only to those students admitted as degree-seeking.

Transfer students admitted as degree-seeking will receive a Transfer Credit Statement/Degree Audit, which indicates how coursework completed at other colleges and universities will transfer to Grand Valley on a course-by-course basis. Total credits transferred are recorded on the student's academic record and will apply toward Grand Valley degree requirements; grades are not transferred.

For information governing the use of transfer credit to fulfill degree requirements, see the Academic Policies and Regulations section of the Grand Valley State University Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog.

Transfers from Michigan Community Colleges

Grand Valley State University is a member of the Michigan Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (MACRAO), which has formulated an agreement between two- and four-year institutions. Students who transfer to Grand Valley and have fulfilled the Michigan Transfer Agreement (MTA) or the MACRAO transfer agreement through a Michigan public community college have satisfied the Foundations categories of the General Education Program and one Supplemental Writing Skills (SWS) course. However, transfer students with an MTA or MACRAO will still need to complete the following requirements: one SWS course in their major or division, the General Education Program's two-course Cultures requirement, and the two-course Issues requirement. For specific course information, please refer to gvsu.edu/gened.

Undergraduate Guest Student Applicants

Nondegree-seeking admissions status is for degree-seeking students from another college or university who want to transfer the credits earned at Grand Valley to their home institution.

Application requirements and limitations:

  • Eligible to reenroll at their home institution
  • Completed official Guest Application

Undergraduate Nondegree-seeking Applicants

The nondegree-seeking admission status is designed for persons who, at the time of admission, are not interested in obtaining a degree from Grand Valley.

Application requirements and limitations:

  • Graduation from high school three or more years previous to their first enrollment
  • A maximum of 30 semester hours earned as a nondegree-seeking undergraduate student may apply toward a Grand Valley degree program
  • Applications must be complete at least 30 days before the final day of registration

Credit by Examination

In some cases, students may be granted advanced placement or receive college credit by examination. Tests are available to determine levels of competence in certain subject areas. Grand Valley encourages prospective students to investigate their use.

Additional information on credit by examination can be found in the General Academic Regulations section of the Grand Valley State University Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog.

Special Entrance Requirements for Certain Undergraduate and Graduate Programs

The standards for entry into the following majors and programs exceed the minimum requirements for admission to Grand Valley. Students must fulfill the additional requirements before they may declare a major in any of these noted areas. Please refer to the department entries for admission requirements and application deadline.

Allied health sciences (certain emphases only)
Applied food and nutrition
Art education
Athletic training, M.A.T.
Audiology, Au.D.
Cardiovascular sonography
Communication sciences and disorders
Computer science
Cybersecurity
Dance
Diagnostic medical sonography
Education
Engineering
Film and video production
Health information management
Information systems
Information technology
Leadership and business fundamentals
Medical laboratory science

Music
Nursing
Occupational safety and health
management
Occupational therapy (M.S.)
Physical therapy (D.P.T.)
Physician assistant studies (M.P.A.S.)
Police academy (MCOLES)
Professional innovation
Professional science masters (M.S.)
Radiation therapy
Recreational therapy
Respiratory care
Seidman College of Business programs
Social work
Studio art (all emphases)
Technology project management
Web design and development

Undergraduate Appeal of Admissions Decisions

Applicants denied admission may appeal that decision by sending an email to [email protected] within 30 days of notification. Please address your email to "Dear Admissions and Recruitment." It is important to note that appeals are granted under rare circumstances and will be heard only when new or additional information is present. Appeals may take up to 10 days to process.

Graduate Admissions

The graduate degree programs at Grand Valley are designed for students who are interested in expanding their professional preparation and development or continuing their education. Applicants for graduate admission must meet the following university minimum requirements to be considered:

  • Earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university in the United States, or the equivalent of this degree from another country.
  • Demonstrated ability to pursue graduate work successfully. Graduate programs generally require an undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Degree-seeking Domestic Students

Applicants who meet the following university requirements and the additional requirements of their chosen program will be considered for degree-seeking status:

1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher education.
2. Submission of all required admission materials, including:

a. Completed graduate application for admission.
b. $30 nonrefundable application fee (the fee is waived if the applicant has previously applied to Grand Valley State University and paid the application fee).
c. Official copies of transcripts from all institutions of higher education previously attended, which have granted a baccalaureate degree to the applicant. Transcripts must be sent from those institutions directly to the Grand Valley Admissions and Recruitment Office. GVSU does not require official transcripts from GVSU.
d. Test scores from one of the following English language proficiency tests: the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), IELTS (International English Language Testing System), MET (Michigan English Test), PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English Academic), or Duolingo for applicants whose native language is not English. The following minimum scores are required: TOEFL is 80, IELTS is 6.5, MET is 52, PTE Academic is 53, and Duolingo is 105.

3. Additional requirements and application materials specific to the graduate program.

Applicants with a baccalaureate degree who are not seeking a graduate degree may be granted nondegree-seeking status. Typically, a maximum of 12 semester credits may be earned at Grand Valley State University as a nondegree-seeking student and then transferred to a degree program. The actual number of credits allowed for transfer depends on the program of interest. Applicants should check specific program descriptions for details.

Degree-seeking International Students

Applicants who meet the following university requirements and the additional requirements of their chosen program will be considered for degree-seeking status:

1. Completed international admission application.

2. Submission of all required admission materials, including:

a. $30 nonrefundable application fee (the fee is waived if the applicant has previously applied to Grand Valley State University and paid the application fee).
b. Original or certified true copies of all transcripts, certificates, and/or grade reports of secondary and postsecondary work from degree-granting institutions that have granted a degree to the applicant. If the credentials are not in English, they must be accompanied by an English translation. Materials must be sent from those institutions directly to the GVSU Admissions and Recruitment Office. NOTE: GVSU does not require official transcripts from Grand Valley State University.
c. Test scores from one of the following English language proficiency tests: TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), IELTS (International English Language Testing System), MET (Michigan English Test), PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English Academic), or Duolingo for applicants whose native language is not English. The following minimum scores are required: TOEFL is 80, IELTS is 6.5, MET 52, PTE Academic is 53, and Duolingo is 105.

3. Verification of financial support.

4. Additional requirements and application materials specific to the graduate program.

You must submit a completed application form and all required documentation to the Admissions and Recruitment Office before your application file receives admissions consideration. Applicants whose files are incomplete will not be considered for full admission. The webpage for graduate admission information is gvsu.edu/admissions/graduate.

You can monitor your application status by logging into your Application Status Portal or calling the Admissions and Recruitment Office at (800) 748-0246 or (616) 331-2025. All documents and supporting data required for admittance become the property of Grand Valley State University and will not be returned to the applicant.

Graduate Admissions Status

Full Admission: Indicates that applicants fully meet all the entrance criteria, including degree(s) required, GPA requirement(s), test score requirement(s), letters of recommendation, and official transcript(s). Only graduate degree, certificate, or badge candidates who have achieved full admission status will be granted their degree, certificate, or badge. This status signifies that all required documents (including final transcripts) are on file with the university.

Provisional Admission: Applicants who must submit additional application document(s) before achieving full admission status. The deadline for submitting missing documents is the last day of classes of their first semester of enrollment. Examples of missing documents may include:

a. Official transcript(s) or admission test scores.
b. Certified copies or official verification of professional licenses or certifications.
c. Letters of recommendation.
d. Other documents required by their department.

Conditional Admission: Applicants who must meet specific conditions set by the degree, certificate, or badge program before attaining full admission status. Individual graduate programs determine the parameters of conditional admission and set the deadline(s) by which the conditions need to be met. Examples of specific conditions include:

a. Curriculum deficiencies: Applicants who are not admissible or are marginally admissible because they have not completed prerequisites or background courses required for success.
b. Academic deficiencies: Applicants whose credentials may be marginally acceptable. Although the graduate degree, certificate, or badge program may agree to admit such a candidate with reservation, the program may identify grade conditions that need to be met.
c. Nonstandard evidence of the potential for success in graduate work: Applicants do not meet the standard admission criteria, but other significant evidence exists of candidates' potential for success in a graduate program. Examples of such evidence include:

  • Candidates' maturation subsequent to their previous academic record.
  • Candidates' significant professional and other accomplishments related to the program's discipline(s) and subsequent to a marginal academic record.
  • Standardized admission test scores that are not representative of a candidates' aptitude for graduate work.
  • Candidates' prior academic performance was negatively affected by significant nonacademic factors or influences that are no longer present.

Denied Admission: Indicates that applicants are not granted admission to a degree, certificate, or badge program under any status.

Degree-seeking Student: Applicants who have been granted admission to a degree, certificate, or badge program under full, provisional, or conditional status.

Nondegree-seeking Student: Applicants who have earned a bachelor's degree and are not enrolled in a graduate degree, certificate, or badge program can take classes at Grand Valley as a nondegree-seeking student. Information about course offerings can be found in the GVSU Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog.

  • Students should complete the nondegree-seeking graduate application
    • for personal development without completing a graduate degree nor receiving a graduate certificate or
    • for completion of prerequisites required for admission to their chosen graduate program.
  • Nondegree-seeking students are not eligible for federal or state financial assistance.
  • A maximum of six to 12 credit hours taken as nondegree may be applied to a graduate degree, depending on the program of interest. Refer to the GVSU Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog for specific requirements.
  • All College of Education and Community Innovation students seeking a degree, endorsement, approval, licensure, or certificate must be formally admitted to their program of study by applying for degree-seeking graduate admission.

Changing Status from Nondegree-seeking to Degree-seeking

You may seek a change in status by

  1. submitting all required admission materials and
  2. submitting a degree-seeking application to the Admissions and Recruitment Office.

Appeal of Admissions Decisions - Graduate

Admissions decisions may be appealed to the director of the graduate program and then to the dean of the academic college in which the program resides. Students who are nondegree-seeking may appeal an admissions decision to the associate vice provost for The Graduate School.

Petition to Return

Following a voluntary absence of two or more consecutive semesters or sessions, a graduate student must complete a Petition to Return form. Graduate students are reminded that following a voluntary absence of 24 consecutive months they must follow the Grand Valley State University Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog requirements in effect at the time of their return to Grand Valley. Such students should meet with their graduate program advisor to revise their plan of study.

Graduate students who wish to return to the same graduate program at Grand Valley following an academic dismissal must submit a written appeal to the dean of the academic college in which the graduate program resides. Graduate students who wish to return to a different graduate program at Grand Valley following an academic dismissal must submit a written appeal to the associate vice provost for The Graduate School.

Graduate students who wish to change to a different graduate degree program within Grand Valley must complete the application process for that program and be formally accepted into the program. No additional application fee is required, and the applicant need not supply duplicate copies of official transcripts already on file.


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