Head to head · Michigan
Wayne State University costs less than Grand Valley State University at every income band federal data covers — between $793 and $2,672 less per year, depending on what you earn.
| Household income | Grand Valley State University | Wayne State University | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $30k | $12,272 | $11,090 | $1,182 |
| $30–48k | $11,902 | $10,721 | $1,181 |
| $48–75k | $12,861 | $12,068 | $793 |
| $75–110k | $16,609 | $14,828 | $1,781 |
| Over $110k | $22,534 | $19,862 | $2,672 |
Green marks the cheaper of the two at that income. "Net price" is what families actually paid after grants and scholarships, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education — not a calculator's estimate. Public-school figures reflect in-state families; out-of-state families typically pay more.
Think you make too much for aid? The real income cutoffs, measured →
Why the sticker price is a fiction — and what families actually pay →
Each year's reported net price grown 3.5% — the same method College Compass uses inside a family's plan.
Listed Grand Valley State University first, then Wayne State University. Acceptance rate is the school's overall published figure — your student's own odds depend on their transcript, scores, and high school.
Again Grand Valley State University first. The four-year graduation rate matters more than it looks: a fifth year is a fifth year of paying.
These are averages. Your family isn't average.
Run both against your student's real GPA, your income band, and your actual high school — odds with the math shown, and what four years would really cost you, side by side. First three schools free.
Grand Valley State University — every income band · Wayne State University — every income band · All Michigan public colleges