Grand Rapids Community College
- Graduation Rate
- 20% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $38,377 C-
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $8,621 B+
- 50% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 10,698
Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 24.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $24.2 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $24.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $798,780.
What The Data Says
-
A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
-
Graduation of 20% — 65% below the national average.
-
Every $1 invested returns $24.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 0.2%
- Top 85%
- Patents
- 45
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 64
- Downstream influence
Why Grand Rapids Community College Matters
Grand Rapids Community College is a public community college in Grand Rapids, MI and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 10,698
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Computer Science & IT
Why students choose Grand Rapids Community College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $8,621 a year after grants and scholarships — 50% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $38,377 ten years after enrolling — 6% below the typical college, against $9,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.6% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 94% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.22 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With nearly 10,700 students enrolled, Grand Rapids Community College is a great fit for individuals looking to kickstart their education or change career paths. This school stands out for its diverse program offerings, including Humanities, Business and Marketing, Health Professions, Computer Science and IT, and Mechanic and Repair Tech. It’s a place where students can explore different fields before making a commitment, allowing them to find their niche or pivot into a new area.
Looking at life after graduation, students at Grand Rapids Community College can expect to earn about $38,377 within ten years of completing their studies. While the graduation rate is relatively low at 20%, many students are able to leverage their education into meaningful careers, especially in growing sectors like healthcare and technology. The affordability of attending this community college makes it an attractive option for many, as the net price after aid is about $8,621, which is manageable for most budgets.
When it comes to finances, the median debt for graduates is around $9,000, making it a more accessible option for students concerned about student loans. Those who thrive here tend to be motivated, self-driven individuals who appreciate the flexibility and support a community college environment can offer. If you’re looking for a solid foundation without breaking the bank, this could be a smart choice.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Grand Rapids Community College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Grand Rapids Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Grand Rapids Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 20%.
- Retention Rate
- 59%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 43%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,586
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 18:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.62
- First-Gen Students
- 41%
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 Grand Rapids Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Grand Rapids Community College is $12,219, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $8,621. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,373 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $9,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $4,179
- Out-of-State
- $12,219
- Avg Net Price
- $8,621
- Median Debt
- $9,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 29%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 14%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $7,373
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $7,292
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $8,362
- Family Income $110K+
- $14,013
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Grand Rapids Community College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Grand Rapids Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Grand Rapids Community College report median earnings of $38,377, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $35,623
- 8 Years
- $36,728
- 10 Years
- $38,377
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.23x
- Earning > $25K
- 49%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (192)
- 12%
- 100% (192)
- 12%
- 100% (192)
- 12%
- 100% (192)
- 12%
How Grand Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Grand Rapids Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Grand Rapids Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $8,621/year ($34,484 total). Graduates earn $38,377 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $833,264 in total earnings — a net gain of $798,780 (24.2× your investment). The median debt is $9,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 20% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $34,484
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $833,264
- Net Return
- $798,780
- ROI Multiple
- 24.2×
- Cost Per Year
- $8,621
- Median Debt
- $9,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 20%
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 Grand Rapids Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Grand Rapids Community College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.61%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 7.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 8.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $83,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.61%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 8.5%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 7.1%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $113,311
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Grand Rapids Community College produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 45 patents tied to its graduates.
- Inventor Rate
- 0.15%
- Top 85% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 45
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 64
- Downstream influence
- Inventors From Low-Income
- 0.18%
- Bottom-20% families
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $5,283,627
- Investment Income
- $449,271
Top Programs
The fields Grand Rapids Community College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Humanities 38%
- Health Professions 14% $65,032 early-career
- Business & Marketing 14% $43,576 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 6% $63,400 early-career
- Precision Production 5% $53,162 early-career
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 4% $45,495 early-career
- Culinary & Personal Services 4% $32,078 early-career
- Construction Trades 3% $37,247 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Grand Rapids Community College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Grand Rapids Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Grand Rapids Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 20%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Grand Rapids Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Grand Rapids Community College is $12,219, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $8,621. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,373 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $9,000 in federal student loans.
Is Grand Rapids Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Grand Rapids Community College report median earnings of $38,377, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Grand Rapids Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Grand Rapids Community College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.61%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 7.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 8.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $83,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Grand Rapids Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Grand Rapids Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.22, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.09). Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Grand Rapids Community College.
- San Diego City CollegeSan Diego, CA · Close peer28% grad $38,503 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Metropolitan Community College-Kansas CityKansas City, MO · Close peer31% grad $40,796 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Los Angeles City CollegeLos Angeles, CA · Close peer27% grad $36,190 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Oakland Community CollegeAuburn Hills, MI · Close peer19% grad $37,395 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Lansing Community CollegeLansing, MI · Close peer24% grad $39,206 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · same state
- Cape Fear Community CollegeWilmington, NC · Close peer34% grad $38,654 earnWhy: similar earnings
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Grand Rapids Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Grand Rapids Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.22, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.09). Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note