Head-to-head comparison
Grand Valley State University vs Madonna University: which has better ROI?
Option A Allendale, MI
Grand Valley State University
- Net price / year
- $16,317
- Earnings, 10 years
- $56,118
- Payback
- 8.4 yrs
Option B Livonia, MI
Madonna University
- Net price / year
- $17,755
- Earnings, 10 years
- $59,058
- Payback
- 6.6 yrs
Madonna University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $71,020 in 6.6 years versus 8.4 years at Grand Valley State University, on median earnings of $59,058 vs $56,118 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Grand Valley State University | Madonna University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,317 | $17,755 |
| Total net cost | $65,268 | $71,020 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $56,118 | $59,058 |
| Median debt | $24,500 | $23,000 |
| Payback | 8.4 yrs | 6.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $89,892 | $142,940 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Grand Valley State University or Madonna University?
Grand Valley State University, at $16,317 a year after aid versus $17,755 — a gap of $1,438 a year, or $5,752 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Grand Valley State University or Madonna University graduates earn more?
Madonna University graduates report a median $59,058 ten years after entry, $2,940 more than the $56,118 at Grand Valley State University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Grand Valley State University or Madonna University?
Madonna University: its completers carry a median $23,000 in federal loans versus $24,500 at Grand Valley State University, a difference of $1,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
67% of students finish at Grand Valley State University, against 60% at Madonna University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.