Dr. Philomena (Philly) V. Mantella President | Grand Valley State University
Dr. Philomena (Philly) V. Mantella President | Grand Valley State University
Of the five institutions in the county, two provided detailed enrollment data at the time, including Grand Valley State University and Hope College.
At least 22,275 people applied to Ottawa County colleges in the 2022-23 school year.
NCES data shows that among them, around 25,022 students enrolled in the universities, including 22,039 in undergraduate and 2,983 in graduate programs. In total 5.4% of undergraduates transferred from another college or university.
The reported undergraduate student body is comprised mostly of white (78.8%) and Hispanic (7.2%) students.
Among the institutions that provided disclosed enrollment data, Grand Valley State University stood out with the largest enrollment at the time, welcoming 21,648 students.
U.S. college enrollment has been in a downward trend since peaking at around 18.1 million students in 2010. Recent increases offered some relief, but experts project a steeper decline in 2025.
This decline is likely due to two main factors. First, the pool of young adults is shrinking as birth rates have fallen nearly 23% between 2007 and 2022. Second, the rising cost of higher education, including skyrocketing student loan debt. A 2023 Wall Street Journal report shows that more than half of Americans think a four-year degree is not worth the cost.
NCES shows that enrollment data was not available for Western Theological Seminary in Ottawa County.
Some educational data is based on estimates. Shifting demographics among student populations can sometimes result in gender totals which do not equal 100%.
| Institution | # of Applicants | # of Admitted Students | Total Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hope College | 5,152 | 4,122 | 3,251 |
| French Academy of Cosmetology | -- | -- | 55 |
| Grand Valley State University | 17,123 | 15,411 | 21,648 |
| Western Theological Seminary | -- | -- | -- |
| The Salon Professional Academy of Holland | -- | -- | 68 |
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