Head-to-head comparison
Grand Valley State University vs Siena Heights 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 Adrian, MI
Siena Heights University
- Net price / year
- $17,124
- Earnings, 10 years
- $57,529
- Payback
- 7.5 yrs
Siena Heights University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $68,496 in 7.5 years versus 8.4 years at Grand Valley State University, on median earnings of $57,529 vs $56,118 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Grand Valley State University | Siena Heights University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,317 | $17,124 |
| Total net cost | $65,268 | $68,496 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $56,118 | $57,529 |
| Median debt | $24,500 | $18,750 |
| Payback | 8.4 yrs | 7.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $89,892 | $114,884 |
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 Siena Heights University?
Grand Valley State University, at $16,317 a year after aid versus $17,124 — a gap of $807 a year, or $3,228 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 Siena Heights University graduates earn more?
Siena Heights University graduates report a median $57,529 ten years after entry, $1,411 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 Siena Heights University?
Siena Heights University: its completers carry a median $18,750 in federal loans versus $24,500 at Grand Valley State University, a difference of $5,750. 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 39% at Siena Heights 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.