Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods at Grand Valley State University

Grand Valley State University's Management Sciences program lags significantly behind both state and national benchmarks, with graduates earning $63,723 at the Michigan median but just $46,886 here—roughly $17,000 less. Among Michigan's 18 programs, this ranks only at the 25th percentile, meaning three-quarters of comparable in-state options produce better outcomes. The gap is even starker nationally, where the typical graduate from this program earns $62,000 versus GVSU's $46,886. When you're comparing against schools like Michigan State and Oakland (both around $69,000) or even Central Michigan ($66,149), the differential becomes hard to ignore.

The debt load of $26,000 is slightly higher than peer programs, and with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.55, your child would owe more than half their first year's salary. The 21% earnings growth to $56,527 by year four helps somewhat, but that's still below what graduates from top Michigan programs earn in their first year. The school's 95% admission rate and modest SAT scores suggest less selective academic standards, which may partly explain the earnings gap.

If your child is set on this field and committed to Grand Valley for other reasons, the debt isn't crushing. But financially, nearly every other Michigan option—and most national programs—would provide stronger return on investment. The numbers suggest shopping around before committing.