Skip to content
CollegeRanker
Colleges / MI / Grand Rapids
Davenport University logo

Davenport University

Private nonprofit Grand Rapids, MI · Suburban · Great Lakes · 93% data
C+ Earnings C Diversity C Value
53%
C-
Graduation Rate
About half of students who start complete their degree
$45,099
C+
Earnings (10yr)
Roughly in line with national averages
$17,707
C
Net Price
Close to the national average
98%
F
Acceptance Rate
Accessible to most qualified applicants
Earnings +11% vs avg
Graduation -7% vs avg
Net Price 3% vs avg
Mobility Top 62%

Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 12.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $12.2 over 20 years.

12.2× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $12.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $795,342.

AD Powered by BestColleges

Quick Degree Finder

Find an Accredited Program

Accepting applicants in this field now.

Results are sponsored program matches from BestColleges, our advertising partner. Privacy Terms

What The Data Says

1

A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

2

Every $1 invested returns $12.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why Davenport University Matters

Davenport University is a private university in Grand Rapids, MI and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Private University
Carnegie Class
Master's University
Enrollment
3,134
Setting
Suburban
Primary Strengths
Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Computer Science & IT, Legal Studies

Why students choose Davenport University

Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Strength in Business & Marketing
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C
Top 55% overall
C+
Earnings
$45,099 median
C
Value
2.5× net price
C
Affordability
$17,707/yr net
C-
Graduation
53% graduate
C-
Social Mobility
1.2% climb Q1→Q5
F
Selectivity
98% admit rate
C
Diversity
0.59 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

Davenport University is a solid choice for students who are looking for practical, career-focused education in fields like Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Computer Science & IT, Legal Studies, and Criminal Justice. With an acceptance rate of 98%, it’s clear that the school aims to be inclusive, welcoming a diverse group of students. This makes it an excellent fit for those who may not have the highest grades but are eager to learn and succeed in their chosen careers.

After graduation, students can expect to earn around $45,099 on average within ten years, which is a decent starting point for many in today’s economy. While the graduation rate sits at 53%, it’s important to note that this reflects the challenges some students face in completing their degrees. The affordability of Davenport is also a key consideration, with a net price of $17,707 after aid. This means that many students can manage their education without overwhelming debt.

Speaking of debt, the median student loan debt stands at $26,000, which is manageable for many graduates entering the workforce. Students who thrive here often have a strong sense of purpose and are motivated to pursue specific career paths. The 34% of students receiving Pell Grants indicates that many are coming from lower-income backgrounds, suggesting a supportive environment that understands the financial hurdles students may face. Overall, Davenport University can be a stepping stone for those committed to building a better future through education.

Rankings

1

Can I Get In?

How selective Davenport University is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Davenport University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a private institution in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Davenport University keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 98% of those who apply. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 53%.

Acceptance Rate 98%
Retention Rate 82%
Full-Time Faculty 29%
Faculty Salary (mo) $7,047
Student–Faculty Ratio 16:1
Diversity Index 0.59
First-Gen Students 40%
Applicants 3,379
Admitted 3,342
2

Can I Afford It?

What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.

Cost & Financial Aid

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Davenport University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

When weighing the true cost of attending Davenport University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $24,466 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $17,707 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $16,700 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $26,000.

$24,466
In-State Tuition
$24,466
Out-of-State
$17,707
Avg Net Price
$26,000
Median Debt
34%
Pell Grant Rate
46%
Federal Loan Rate

What Families Actually Pay

$16,700
Family Income $0–$30K
$22,376
Family Income $30K–$48K
$22,856
Family Income $48K–$75K
$28,703
Family Income $110K+
3

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Graduate Outcomes

Is Davenport University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Davenport University earn a median of $45,099, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.

$47,041
6 Years After Entry
$44,540
8 Years
$45,099
10 Years
0.58x
Debt-to-Earnings
56%
Earning > $25K

Earnings Trajectory

$47,041 6yr $44,540 8yr $45,099 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

34%
100% (109)
34%
100% (109)
34%
100% (109)
34%
100% (109)

How Davenport Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation53%Earnings 10yr$45KNet Price$18KRetention82%Median Debt$26KPell Grant Rate34%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$17K$0-30K$22K$30-48K$23K$48-75K$29K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%20.4%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%6.1%MOBILITY1.25%

College ROI Calculator

Is Davenport University Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Davenport University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $17,707/year ($70,828 total). Graduates earn $45,099 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $866,170 in total earnings — a net gain of $795,342 (12.2× your investment). The median debt is $26,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 53% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

$70,828
Total Cost (4yr)
$866,170
Projected 20yr Earnings
$795,342
Net Return
12.2×
ROI Multiple
$17,707
Cost Per Year
$26,000
Median Debt
Less than 1 yr
Debt Payback
53%
Graduation Rate
4

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Social Mobility

Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records

Does Davenport University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Davenport University is a genuine engine of upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 1.25%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here: roughly 20.4% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a genuine foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 6.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $55,800, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.

1.25%
Mobility Rate
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
6.1%
Success Rate
If bottom 20% get in
20.4%
From Bottom 20%
Share of students
$55,800
Parent Median Income

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Davenport University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Davenport University, with an economic connectedness score of 1.58 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

1.58
Economic Connectedness
Cross-class friendships
-0.02
Friending Bias
Lower = more inclusive
6.2%
Volunteering Rate
0.97
Support Ratio
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Endowment
Total Expenses
Federal Grants
$-5,194,981
Investment Income

Top Programs

The fields Davenport University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Davenport University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +

As a private institution in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Davenport University keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 98% of those who apply. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 53%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Davenport University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +

When weighing the true cost of attending Davenport University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $24,466 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $17,707 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $16,700 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $26,000.

Is Davenport University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +

Ten years out, alumni of Davenport University earn a median of $45,099, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.

Does Davenport University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes +

Davenport University is a genuine engine of upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 1.25%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here: roughly 20.4% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a genuine foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 6.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $55,800, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is Davenport University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks +

Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Davenport University, with an economic connectedness score of 1.58 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Similar Schools

Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Davenport University.

Featured Founding members · limited to 12
The American Dream College Index →

Ten colleges. Unlimited leads through your profile. A custom review families read at the decision point — for $2,500/year.

12 of 12 founding spots open · held for 12 months · See how it works