Grand View University
#5 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Iowa- Graduation Rate
- 55% C
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $52,824 B
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $21,774 D+
- 27% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 99% F
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 13.7× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $13.7 over 20 years. Ranked #5 in Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Iowa.
Every $1 spent returns $13.7 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,103,022.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Earnings 30% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $13.7 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Grand View University Matters
Grand View University is a private university in Des Moines, IA 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
- 1,486
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- 39
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Education, Psychology
Why students choose Grand View University
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
Accessible — admits about 99% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $21,774 a year after grants and scholarships — 27% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $52,824 ten years after enrolling — 30% above the typical college, against $22,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.5% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 48% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.74 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Grand View University has a remarkably high acceptance rate of 99%. This means almost every applicant can find a place at this private nonprofit institution in Des Moines, Iowa. For many students, this accessibility can be a crucial factor in their college choice.
The earnings potential for graduates stands at an average of $52,824 a decade after finishing their degree. This figure can reflect the university's ability to equip students with skills that lead to stable careers. While the graduation rate is 55%, many students still find pathways to success, especially those who engage with the popular programs in Business, Health Professions, and Psychology.
Financially, the net price of attending Grand View University is $21,774, with a median student debt of $22,500. Nearly half of the students receive Pell Grants, which can help ease the financial burden. Students who thrive here typically value a supportive environment and are seeking a diverse range of programs to launch their careers.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Grand View University 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 View University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Des Moines, Iowa, Grand View University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 99%. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 20. The graduation rate is roughly 55%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 99%
- Retention Rate
- 70%
- ACT Midpoint
- 20
- Full-Time Faculty
- 41%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,384
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 12:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.68
- First-Gen Students
- 36%
- Applicants
- 1,886
- Admitted
- 1,856
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 View University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Grand View University is $34,762, 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 $21,774. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $18,512 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $22,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $34,762
- Out-of-State
- $34,762
- Avg Net Price
- $21,774
- Median Debt
- $22,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 45%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 72%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $18,512
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $18,773
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $20,254
- Family Income $110K+
- $24,601
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 View University — 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 View University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Grand View University earn a median of $52,824, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $47,582
- 8 Years
- $51,170
- 10 Years
- $52,824
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.43x
- Earning > $25K
- 74%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (124)
- 44%
- 100% (124)
- 44%
- 100% (124)
- 44%
- 100% (124)
- 44%
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 View University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Grand View University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $21,774/year ($87,096 total). Graduates earn $52,824 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,190,118 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,103,022 (13.7× your investment). The median debt is $22,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 55% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $87,096
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,190,118
- Net Return
- $1,103,022
- ROI Multiple
- 13.7×
- Cost Per Year
- $21,774
- Median Debt
- $22,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 55%
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 View University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Grand View 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 1.50%, well above the typical college. About 7.8% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 19.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $71,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.50%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 19.2%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 7.8%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $97,551
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $6,254,315
- Investment Income
- $-2,160,579
Top Programs
The fields Grand View University 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.
- Business & Marketing 25% $56,711 early-career
- Health Professions 13% $64,900 early-career
- Education 9% $48,724 early-career
- Psychology 8% $37,337 early-career
- Criminal Justice 5% $49,577 early-career
- Humanities 4%
- Biology & Biomedical 3% $35,917 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 3% $44,638 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 View University'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
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- B+Physician Assistant$130,020 · 28% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Grand View University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Des Moines, Iowa, Grand View University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 99%. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 20. The graduation rate is roughly 55%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Grand View University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Grand View University is $34,762, 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 $21,774. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $18,512 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $22,500 in federal student loans.
Is Grand View University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Grand View University earn a median of $52,824, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Grand View University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Grand View 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 1.50%, well above the typical college. About 7.8% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 19.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $71,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Grand View 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 Grand View University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.74, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Grand View University.
- University of Saint Francis-Fort WayneFort Wayne, IN · Close peer58% grad $55,362 earn 96% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of DubuqueDubuque, IA · Close peer41% grad $51,190 earn 89% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Upper Iowa UniversityFayette, IA · Close peer38% grad $52,766 earn 96% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Montana Technological UniversityButte, MT · Close peer58% grad $54,329 earn 91% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Doane UniversityCrete, NE · Close peer56% grad $53,316 earn 98% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Oklahoma Christian UniversityEdmond, OK · Close peer55% grad $49,203 earn 97% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Grand View 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 Grand View University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.74, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note