Mission
Grand View engages, equips, and empowers students to fulfill their individual potential and serve society. Committed to the development of the whole person – mind, body and spirit – and to preparing students for successful careers and responsible citizenship both in their communities and in a diverse and changing world, Grand View offers a liberal arts education that:

• Challenges students to inquire with a disciplined and critical mind, communicate effectively, and display an awareness of the global issues that affect us all.
• Creates a community of learners where differing perspectives are welcome, where friendly interaction is the norm, and where intellectual and personal integrity is expected and modeled.
• Offers a supportive environment where students can engage in community with others, discern life purpose, and grow in leadership.
• Affirms Christian faith and ethics as a vision for life, a vision that enhances our respect for the diversity and dignity of all people, for relating to others, and for the pursuit of lifelong learning.
• Informed by its Danish Lutheran heritage, Grand View is a School for Life.

Overview

Grand View is a not-for-profit liberal arts university offering bachelor's and master's degrees. It is a private institution affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Founded more than 100 years ago, Grand View offers a high-quality education to a diverse student body in a career-oriented, liberal arts–grounded curriculum at two campus locations in greater Des Moines. Grand View welcomes traditional students and adult learners representing a wide range of religious and cultural backgrounds.

At Grand View, students find a winning combination of high-quality programs, experienced professors, and caring individuals. With 2,200 students (more than 1,700 full time), an average class size of 16, and a student-to-faculty ratio of 14 to 1, students get to know their professors and other students well. They learn independence and seek responsibility in Grand View's educational environment. Learning is an interactive process at Grand View—students engage in lively discussions, work on real-world projects, and participate in career-related work experiences. Grand View welcomes and supports students from all walks of life, geographies, religions and ethnicities. The university's non-Caucasian enrollment is around 16%, and there are approximately 30 states and 11 countries represented on campus. About 80% of students are from Iowa. In the fall of 2011, approximately 800 students live on campus.

Location

Two locations offer Grand View students convenient scheduling options for their program of study. Weekend and evening classes are offered at the main campus in Des Moines and at Grand View's Camp Dodge Campus in Johnston, Iowa.

Grand View is located in Des Moines, with a metropolitan area exceeding half a million people in central Iowa. Des Moines is the state capital and serves as the communications hub for Iowa. Nationally recognized organizations that have their corporate offices in Des Moines include Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.; the Principal Financial Group; Meredith Corporation; and The Des Moines Register.

Grand View's campus is in the heart of Des Moines—and as part of the Grand View community - students are not limited by the confines of a small school or small town. On a given day, students can catch an Iowa Cubs professional baseball doubleheader, head down to the Court Avenue district for great food and nightlife, or take in a concert at the Civic Center. A thriving arts program in Des Moines features the Des Moines Metro Opera, Ballet Iowa, the Des Moines Symphony, the Des Moines Art Center, annual Des Moines Art Festival and the Des Moines Playhouse.

Des Moines features four distinct and beautiful seasons. Except for a few months of bundle-up, see-your-breath weather, the climate is ideal for outdoor activities. Grand View students can take advantage of terrific recreational opportunities, including several golf courses, Saylorville Lake, and many city parks and state forests. Easily accessible from Interstates 35 and 80, Grand View is 4 hours from Minneapolis, 6 hours from Chicago, and 3 hours from Kansas City.