Grand View University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Des Moines, Iowa. It enrolls 1,486 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
56/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes37
Value39
Affordability60
Selectivity7
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 99.1%, Grand View University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
99.1%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Grand View University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
2.5 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Grand View University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $21,774 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$21,774
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
45%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
72%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$34,762
Room & Board (on-campus)
$13,912
Room & Board (off-campus)
$13,822
Books & Supplies
$1,296
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,470
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,620
Total Cost of Attendance
$48,522
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$18,512
$30,001 – $48,000
$18,773
$48,001 – $75,000
$20,254
$75,001 – $110,000
$23,414
Over $110,000
$24,601
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,50010%percentile
$8,50025%percentile
$22,500Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$34,50090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $16,279
↓ $6,221
No Pell $15,000
↓ $7,500
Dependent students $15,000
↓ $7,500
Independent students $16,000
↓ $6,500
Female students $16,006
↓ $6,494
Male students $14,750
↓ $7,750
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,500, less than completers ($22,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
60% of full-time students who enrolled at Grand View University graduate within six years, and 72% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
60%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
72%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Grand View University earn a median of $52,824 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$52,824
Earning > $25K
82%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$42,900
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$50,500
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$40,700
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$44,000
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$49,500
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $7,600, about 15% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
18.4 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 86% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Grand View University is home to 1,486 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 36% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
1,486
Part-Time
7%
First-Generation
36%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 53.8%800
Hispanic 12.7%189
Black 9.6%143
Other 5.3%79
Asian 4.2%62
International 3.3%49
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Grand View University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CityDes Moines, Iowa
Housing
Mostly residential894 beds on campus
Adult Learners
13%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Grand View University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
47 distinct programs across
20 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Grand View University is 12:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$72M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$77,565
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
93 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
29
31%
$82,296
Associate Professors
20
22%
$83,611
Assistant Professors
35
38%
$73,092
Instructors
6
6%
$69,711
No Rank
3
3%
$59,413
Pros & Cons of Grand View University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Grand View University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Solid post-graduation earnings
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Modest first-year retention
Most students take on federal loans
Best for:
Based on the data, Grand View University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Grand View University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Grand View University.
Is Grand View University hard to get into?
Grand View University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 99.1%.
What is the acceptance rate at Grand View University?
Grand View University has an acceptance rate of 99.1%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Grand View University cost?
The average net price after aid at Grand View University is $21,774 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Grand View University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $52,824 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $21,774 per year. That's roughly 2.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Grand View University known for?
Grand View University is best known for its programs in Kinesiology, Nursing, Mental Health Services. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Grand View University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Grand View University are $52,824, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Grand View University accredited?
Yes. Grand View University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Grand View University?
Grand View University enrolls 1,486 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Grand View University?
Grand View University graduates 60% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Grand View University a public or private college?
Grand View University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Grand View University located?
Grand View University is located in Des Moines, Iowa.
What programs does Grand View University offer?
Grand View University offers 47 distinct programs. The most popular include Kinesiology, Nursing, Mental Health Services.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Grand View University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Grand View University is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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