Calvin University
A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and students who prefer a mid-size campus. no major red flags in the data. financial aid brings net price below sticker.
About This School
Calvin University is a private nonprofit institution located in Grand Rapids, Michigan with approximately 3,193 undergraduate students enrolled. Calvin University has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 71%. The average net price after financial aid is $22,992 per year. The graduation rate is 74%, and the typical graduate earns $48,700 within 10 years of enrollment.
Calvin University is a private Christian university in Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1876, Calvin University is an educational institution of the Christian Reformed Church and stands in the Reformed (Calvinist) tradition. Known as Calvin College for most of its history, the school is named after John Calvin, the 16th-century Protestant Reformer.
Rooted in the Reformed Christian tradition, this Grand Rapids school is worth considering if faith-integrated academics and a tight-knit community (under 3,000 undergrads) appeal to you — an 88% freshman retention rate signals students generally feel at home here. The finances are reasonably manageable, with median debt at graduation of just $19,500, though median earnings of $48,700 a decade out are modest and worth factoring in depending on your field. If you're not looking for a faith-centered environment, the Christian Reformed identity runs deep and shapes campus life in ways that won't suit everyone.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 12% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
Calvin University graduates earn most above the national rate in Psychology, General ($54,412 vs $50,706 nationally), and most below it in Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($74,810 vs $88,910).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering, General | 79 | $82,326 | $89,359 | −$7,033 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 66 | $74,810 | $88,910 | −$14,100 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 49 | $47,157 | $47,382 | −$225 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 46 | $45,579 | $51,389 | −$5,810 |
| Psychology, General | 41 | $54,412 | $50,706 | +$3,706 |
| Computer Science | 31 | $95,410 | $107,009 | −$11,599 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 31 | $75,085 | $76,194 | −$1,109 |
| Biology, General | 28 | $44,763 | $57,214 | −$12,451 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 25 | $53,949 | $54,562 | −$613 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | 24 | $60,986 | $58,928 | +$2,058 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 20 | $50,218 | $55,000 | −$4,782 |
| Social Work | 17 | $49,811 | $51,790 | −$1,979 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (3,193 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
Schools Like This in Michigan
Hope College
Holland, MI · Private nonprofit
Davenport University
Grand Rapids, MI · Private nonprofit
Baker College
Owosso, MI · Private nonprofit
University of Detroit Mercy
Detroit, MI · Private nonprofit
Northwood University
Midland, MI · Private nonprofit
Hillsdale College
Hillsdale, MI · Private nonprofit
See How Colleges Compare
Calvin University is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Calvin University?
Calvin University has an acceptance rate of 71%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is Calvin University hard to get into?
Not especially. Calvin University has an acceptance rate of 71%, so admissions are relatively accessible for applicants who meet the requirements.
How much does Calvin University cost?
The average net price at Calvin University is about $22,992 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at Calvin University?
Calvin University has a graduation rate of 74%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
All school names, logos, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Their use on this page is for identification purposes only and does not imply endorsement or affiliation with CollegeHelpGuide.