Finance and Financial Management Services at Grand Valley State University

Grand Valley State University's finance program starts graduates at lower salaries than most Michigan competitors—$52,872 is about $4,000 below the state median and roughly $15,000 behind Michigan State. Among the 30 Michigan schools offering this degree, GVSU ranks in just the 40th percentile. For a field where early networking and institutional prestige often matter for landing coveted analyst and corporate finance roles, this initial positioning matters.

The good news is the trajectory: earnings jump 25% to $66,308 by year four, which is solid momentum that brings graduates closer to peer programs. The debt picture is reasonable at $24,199—right at the Michigan median and just slightly above the national average, translating to a manageable 0.46 debt-to-earnings ratio. With a 95% admission rate, GVSU offers accessible entry into finance for students who might not gain admission to more selective competitors.

For families prioritizing strong starting salaries in finance, programs like Michigan State or Oakland deliver meaningfully better early returns. But if your child needs a less competitive admission path and can be patient about career progression, GVSU provides a legitimate finance credential at a fair price. Just understand they may need to work harder initially to compete with graduates from the state's top-tier programs for the best entry-level positions.