Calvin University

Calvin College Overview

Calvin College is a private, religious school in a suburban setting in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Calvin College was founded in 1876 and now enrolls around 3,570 students a year, including 3,467 undergrads. Calvin College offers housing for up to 2,530 students. The majority of students live on campus. On the weekends, about 90% of students stay on-campus and participate in campus events and social life.

There are many ways for students to get involved at Calvin College! Love music or performing? Sing in a chorus or perform with one of Calvin College's theater groups.

Interested in journalism or communications? Calvin College students can write for the campus newspaper, host a radio show or be a producer for the student-run television channel.

There are no fraternities or sororities at Calvin College, so it might be a good choice if you're not interested in Greek life.

Planning to play sports? Calvin College has many options for athletes. See them all and learn more about life at Calvin College on the Student Life page.

Learn more about life at Calvin College on the Student Life page.

Mark your calendar! The final application deadline for Fall 2022 is August 15.

Is Calvin College a Good School?

There is no one way to define a "good" college or university. Admissions criteria, acceptance rate and average GPA are good indicators of how selective an institution is, but they don't tell you how happy or successful students are. However, there are a few good ways to get a better sense how satisfied students are and how well a school supports its student body.

Let's take a look at each of these factors to get a better sense of what Calvin College offers and if it sounds like the right college for you.

Calvin College Acceptance Rate 2020

It is moderately difficult to get into Calvin College. Around 77% of applicants get into Calvin College each year. Last year, 3,401 students applied to Calvin College and 2,616 were admitted.

Retention and Graduation Rates at Calvin College

Retention is the number of students that stay enrolled at a school over time. This is a way to get a sense of how satisfied students are with their school experience, and if they have the support necessary to succeed in college.

Out of all the first-year, full-time undergrads who start at Calvin College, around 85% come back their sophomore year. Around 76% of students who started at Calvin College earn their Bachelor's degrees within six years. The average six-year graduation rate for U.S. colleges and universities is 61% for public schools, and 67% for private, non-profit schools.

Job Outlook Calvin College Graduates

Job placement rates after graduation and average starting salaries can all give important clues about the value of a degree from a specific school. Within six months of graduating, 72% of graduates receive at least one full-time job offer.

Recent Calvin College grads have an average starting salary of $39,000 a year. The average starting salary for all 2021 graduates was around $60,000 a year, though these numbers vary widely by major.

Calvin College's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and support students. As of 2020, the total market value of the school endowment was $176.5 million. The average college endowment was $905 million in 2021. The school spends $11,820 for each full-time student enrolled.

Tuition and Financial Aid at Calvin College

Cost is another important factor when choose a college. Some colleges may have high tuition, but do a better job at meeting students' financial need. Calvin College meets 75% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $27,581 a year.

Students in the class of 2021 who had taken out student loans graduated with an average of $25,888 of debt. For context, compare this number with the average national debt, which is around $36,000 per borrower.

The 2022-2023 FAFSA Opened on October 1st, 2021

Some aid is available on a first-come, first-served basis, so fill out the FAFSA early. Visit the FAFSA website to apply for student aid. Remember, the first F in FAFSA stands for FREE! You should never have to pay to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), so don't give your money (or info!) to any website that claim you do.

Learn more about Tuition and Financial Aid at Calvin College. Based on this information, how does Calvin College sound? Remember, a school that is perfect for one person may not be the right school for someone else! So ask yourself: Is Calvin College a good school for you?

If Calvin College seems like a school you want to apply to, click the heart button to save it to your college list.

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Where is Calvin College?

Calvin College is located in the suburban setting of Grand Rapids, Michigan, less than an hour from Grand Rapids.

If you want to see Calvin College for yourself, plan a visit. The best way to reach campus is to take Interstate 96 to Grand Rapids, or book a flight to the nearest airport, Gerald R. Ford International.

You can also take a virtual campus tour to get a sense of what Calvin College and Grand Rapids are like without leaving home.

Considering Going to School in Michigan?

See a full list of colleges in Michigan and save your favorites to your college list.