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Calvin University
Most applicants get into Calvin University — 70.9% were admitted — so the real questions are cost, fit and outcomes, covered below.
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Calvin University sits in Grand Rapids proper — a private campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it. The school maintains its Christian Reformed Church affiliation, which threads through campus life to a degree that varies by program.
Its highest-earning path is Computer Science, where graduates median $95,410 four years out. Faculty pay averages $114,708 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 3,193 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 86.8% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1070 and 1340 — above the MI middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Calvin University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
Calvin University is test-optional: scores are considered when submitted but not required. The 1070–1340 range below describes admitted students who chose to submit — typically Calvin University's stronger testers — so treat it as the higher end of what gets in.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 530 | 600 | 670 |
| SAT Math | 540 | 600 | 670 |
| ACT Composite | 22 | 25 | 30 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Calvin University received 4,719 applications and admitted 3,365 (71.3%), with 725 enrolling.
How Calvin University compares
| Calvin University | Michigan median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 70.9% | 79.6% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $39,350 | $24,944 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $58,375 | $54,739 | $53,781 |
Ten years after enrolling, the median Calvin University student earns $58,375 — 7% above the Michigan median of $54,739 for college-goers.
Cost, size & completion
Calvin University lists tuition at $39,350 for everyone — private schools don't do residency pricing. Calvin University's sticker and net price can differ sharply after aid; treat $39,350 as the ceiling, not the bill.
Calvin University enrolls 3,193 undergraduates — mid-sized, with the trade-offs Calvin University's scale implies: more programs than a small college, more anonymity too.
74.1% of Calvin University students finish a bachelor's within six years — 19.2 points above the national 54.9% — and the single best predictor that the $39,350 price above buys a degree, not just enrollment.
Top majors by earnings at Calvin University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer Science | $95,410 |
| Engineering, General | $82,326 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $75,085 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $74,810 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $73,155 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $60,986 |
| Psychology, General | $54,412 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $53,949 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $52,281 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $50,218 |
| Social Work | $49,811 |
| Economics | $48,169 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $47,157 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $45,579 |
| Biology, General | $44,763 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $43,138 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $32,843 |
Median earnings for these 17 Calvin University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $58,375 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 47 additional Calvin University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Calvin University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1070–1340 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 70.9% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Calvin University's acceptance rate?
71.3% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 3,365 admitted from 4,719 applicants.
How much does Calvin University cost?
At Calvin University, published tuition is $39,350 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is Calvin University's ceiling, not a quote.
What do Calvin University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $58,375 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Michigan
- Baker College — 81.9% admitted
- Cleary University — 67.5% admitted
- Concordia University Ann Arbor — 69.3% admitted
- Andrews University — 81.8% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.