Private Nonprofit · Grand Rapids, Michigan

Calvin University

Calvin University is a private nonprofit institution in Grand Rapids, Michigan. as a private nonprofit, published Scorecard outcomes cover federal-aid recipients at this campus — endowment and sticker price sit outside those cohort fields.

$58,375
10-yr median earnings
70.9%
Acceptance rate
$22,992
Avg net price / yr
75.8%
150%-time completion

The verdict

Calvin University pairs top-quartile former-student earnings with a moderately open admit.

According to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.

Top 17%
former-student earnings, US
70.9%
acceptance rate
75.8%
150%-time completion
+22%
earnings, 6→10 yrs
City: Midsize Carnegie: Master's (S)
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Institution data retrieved July 2026; field-of-study data retrieved March 2026.

How to read this Calvin University profile

Figures above come from IPEDS institution records published through the College Scorecard (retrieved July 2026 for institution fields; March 2026 for field-of-study). Peer groups and cost cohorts follow IPEDS ownership sector, Carnegie class ("Master's Colleges & Universities: Small Programs"), and locale, not an editorial shortlist.

Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients. It is a defined cohort average, not a personalized price; income-band fields add context but do not replace the school's current net-price calculator.

Earnings use Treasury-linked records for federally aided former students who were working and not enrolled in the measurement year (completers and noncompleters). IPEDS completion and retention use separate first-time, full-time cohorts, so those denominators are not the earnings cohort. Read cost, completion, and earnings as distinct historical measures, not a causal verdict or individual forecast.

College Value Score

C+
College Value Score
62/100
Calvin University

A 6-metric composite of earnings, cost, and completion outcomes benchmarked against every reporting US college, not a ranking of teaching quality, campus life, or fit for any individual student. See the full methodology.

Earnings A-
$58,375
10-year median former-student earnings
Net Price F
$22,992
Average annual cost after grants and aid
Completion Rate B+
75.8%
Completion within 150% of normal time
Debt F
$23,250
Median federal debt at graduation
Loan Repayment A+
89.4%
Borrowers repaying loans within 3 years
Retention B+
86.8%
First-year students returning for year two
Calvin University vs. the national benchmark
EarningsNet PriceCompletionDebtRepaymentRetention

Each axis is the percentile score shown in the breakdown at left; the shape shows this school's overall profile at a glance.

10-yr median earnings

$58,375

Federal aid recipients only

Avg net price

$22,992

After grants and scholarships

150%-time completion

75.8%

Full-time, first-time cohort

150%-time completion vs portal median (57.1%) 75.8%

Four-year-institution cohort

College ROI Quadrant - Calvin University vs peers

Calvin University positioned by earnings vs cost Two-by-two quadrant chart: x-axis median earnings 10 years after enrollment, y-axis average net price after financial aid. Each dot is a college, colored by completion within 150% of normal time (garnet ≥65%, amber 45-64%, red <45%). Net price increases upward, earnings increase rightward, so: bottom-right = best value (low cost, high earnings); top-right = premium (high cost, high earnings); bottom-left = community college tier (low cost, modest earnings); top-left = cost challenge (high cost, low earnings). Currently plotting 8 colleges. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard joined to Carnegie Classification. Calvin University positioned by earnings vs … Carnegie Classification: Master's (S) Master's (… COST CHALLENGE PREMIUM COMMUNITY BEST VALUE $30K $75K Median Earnings 10 Years After Enrollment ($) $11K $35K Avg Net Price ($) Calvin University (you are here): $58K earn · $23K net · 76% grad You are here - Calvin University Davenport University: $45K earn · $18K net · 53% grad Davenport University Hope College: $58K earn · $27K net · 81% grad Hope College Baker College: $36K earn · $13K net · 33% grad Baker College University of Detroit Mercy: $71K earn · $15K net · 68% grad University of Detr… Northwood University: $63K earn · $27K net · 62% grad Northwood University Lawrence Technological University: $69K earn · $33K net · 62% grad Cornerstone University: $47K earn · $20K net · 62% grad Grad rate (4yr) ≥65% 45-64% <45%
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education

Each dot is a college plotted by 10-year median earnings (x-axis) vs average net price (y-axis), colored by completion within 150% of normal time. Bottom-right = high earnings/lower price; top-left = lower earnings/higher price.

How Calvin University ranks nationally

Where this school's former-student earnings fall within the full national distribution of every US college that reports to the College Scorecard, not just its peer set.

Calvin University: former-student earnings vs. every US college

10-year median earnings, College Scorecard

$58,375 Top 17% higher than 83% of 5,103 US colleges

$0–$20,000: 169 US colleges (3%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 2,245 US colleges (44%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 1,897 US colleges (37%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 606 US colleges (12%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 134 US colleges (3%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 39 US colleges (1%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 11 US colleges (0%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 2 US colleges (0%). Above this entry. This college $0 $160,000 every US college, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US colleges. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard · Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals

Metric Calvin University National rank Percentile
10-yr median earnings $58,375 #885 of 5103 83rd
Average net price $22,992 #3645 of 5020 27th (lower is better)
150%-time completion 75.8% #967 of 4858 80th
Undergraduate enrollment 3,193 #1039 of 5462 81st

National ranks count every operating US college reporting each metric to the College Scorecard, separate from the earnings histogram above.

Quick Facts

3,193
Undergraduate enrollment
70.9%
Acceptance rate
1,233
SAT average
75.8%
150%-time completion
$58,375
10-yr median earnings
86.8%
First-year retention

How Calvin University ranks in Michigan

State rank among 145 reporting Michigan colleges with College Scorecard data, a separate lens from the national distribution above.

Metric Calvin University State rank Percentile
10-yr median earnings $58,375 #19 of 145 87th
Average net price $22,992 #116 of 138 16th (lower is better)
150%-time completion 75.8% #23 of 132 83rd
Undergraduate enrollment 3,193 #28 of 149 81st

Highest former-student earnings in Michigan

#School10-yr earningsNet price
1Kettering University$94,823$34,660
2Chamberlain University-Michigan$92,405$28,045
3University of Michigan-Ann Arbor$83,648$13,138
4Michigan Technological University$78,198$14,182
5Walsh College$72,081-
6University of Detroit Mercy$71,030$15,232
7Lawrence Technological University$69,151$32,918
8Michigan State University$67,253$19,680
9Kalamazoo College$65,590$19,072
10Thomas M Cooley Law School$63,450-
11Northwood University$63,075$27,232
12Universal Technical Institute-Canton$62,575$22,985
18Calvin UniversityThis school$58,375$22,992

Admissions

Admission Rate 70.9%
SAT Average 1,233
SAT Math (25th-75th) 533 – 670
SAT Reading (25th-75th) 550 – 660
ACT Average 27
ACT (25th-75th) 24 – 30
0%100%70.9%
Share of applicants admitted

Costs & Financial Aid

Net price by family income at Calvin University

Average annual net price after grants; Title IV recipient cohort by income bracket

net price / yr

What this shows Need-based aid pulls net price down at lower brackets at Calvin University - compare the bar for your income band, not the overall average alone.

Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard As of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals

Tuition & Net Price

In-State Tuition $39,350
Out-of-State Tuition $39,350
Average Net Price $22,992
17.4%
Pell Grant Rate
33.4%
Federal Loan Rate
$23,250
Median Debt
$246/mo
Monthly Payment

Net price at Calvin University swings rather than trends

Across 11 reported years between 2013 and 2023, the average net price here has ranged from $23,621 to $26,647 without settling into a rise or a fall. Comparing only the first and last years would read as +3.8%, but the years in between do not follow that line, so the honest summary is the range rather than a trend. Budget against the upper end, not the average.

Lowest year
$23,621
Highest year
$26,647
Most recent (2023)
$24,783
Average net price, 2013–2023

11 reported years. Nominal dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

2013: $23,8762014: $24,3522015: $24,1772016: $24,1152017: $25,5962018: $25,0172019: $26,6472020: $26,0822021: $26,2812022: $23,6212023: $24,783
2013 · $23,8762023 · $24,783

Over the same years, enrollment went -25.0% (3,895 → 2,921 students).

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, per-year fields (2013–2023). Net price is the average cost after grant and scholarship aid for federally-aided undergraduates.

Student Demographics

Race & ethnicity

Student body at a glance

56.3%
Female
13.2%
First Generation

Outcomes

86.8%
Retention Rate
$48,039
Median Earnings (6yr)
67.0%
Earning Over $25K
89.4%
Loan Repayment, Completers (3yr)

Outcomes & debt snapshot

Measure Cohort / horizon Value
Completion within 150% of normal time First-time, full-time 75.8%
First-year retention First-time, full-time freshmen 86.8%
Median earnings 6 years after entry $48,039
Median earnings 10 years after entry $58,375
Share earning over $25,000 Working, not enrolled 67.0%
Loan repayment rate Completers, 3 years after leaving 89.4%
Median federal student debt At completion $23,250
Estimated monthly payment Standard 10-year plan $246/mo

Programs & Earnings

Field-of-study summary by credential

Credential Programs Award count Avg earnings Top earnings Avg debt
Bachelor's 28 639 $57,888 $95,410 $22,331
Master's 2 58 $63,146 $63,146 $36,079

Top programs at Calvin University by completer earnings

Median earnings of program completers, College Scorecard field-of-study file

median earnings

What this shows The highest-earning programs at a school are not necessarily its most popular ones - a small specialized program can post strong median earnings without reflecting the outcome most students here actually see.

Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard As of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals

Program Credential Completers Median Earnings Median Debt
Computer Science Bachelor's 35 $95,410 $18,250
Engineering, General Bachelor's 75 $82,326 $22,409
Accounting and Related Services Bachelor's 23 $75,085 $23,250
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing Bachelor's 69 $74,810 $25,250
Business Administration, Management and Operations Bachelor's 8 $73,155 $20,000
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services Master's 29 $63,146 $36,079
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services Bachelor's 20 $60,986 $19,500
Psychology, General Bachelor's 50 $54,412 $23,767
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness Bachelor's 33 $53,949 $24,833
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Bachelor's 2 $52,281 -
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics Bachelor's 12 $50,218 $19,500
Social Work Bachelor's 16 $49,811 $27,000
Economics Bachelor's 14 $48,169 $20,000
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods Bachelor's 49 $47,157 $19,500
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas Bachelor's 32 $45,579 $26,022

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Calvin University?
Calvin University is a private nonprofit institution in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The acceptance rate is 70.9%. The average SAT score is 1,233. Undergraduate enrollment is 3,193 students.
How much do Calvin University former students earn?
Federally aided former students at Calvin University who were working and not enrolled had median earnings of $58,375 ten years after entry; the cohort is not limited to graduates. Six years after entry, the corresponding median is $48,039.
How much does Calvin University cost?
The average net price at Calvin University is $22,992. In-state tuition is $39,350 and out-of-state tuition is $39,350. Median student debt at graduation is $23,250.
What is the graduation rate at Calvin University?
Calvin University has a 75.8% completion rate within 150% of normal time at a four-year institution (typically six years for a bachelor’s program). The first-year retention rate is 86.8%.
Is Calvin University worth the student debt?
The median student debt at Calvin University is $23,250, while former students earn a median of $58,375 ten years after enrollment. That debt represents about 40% of those annual earnings. Among borrowers who completed their program, 89.4% are repaying their loans within 3 years. Estimated monthly loan payment is $246.

Sources & methodology

Private-nonprofit profiles emphasize Scorecard cost-after-aid and completion alongside IPEDS Carnegie class. Endowment, gifts, and sticker price are not Scorecard fields on this page.

Figures are the Mar–Jul 2026 federal retrievals. Nonprofit campuses vary widely in aid practice — net price here is the Title-IV-recipient cohort average, not an individual award letter. Read the full methodology for how the data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Where to go next from Calvin University

Nonprofit Scorecard medians describe federal-aid recipients who were working and not enrolled — they are not sticker-price ROI and not advice.

Every figure on PlainCollege is rendered directly from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard data, no number is typed in by an editor. Private-nonprofit profiles compile Scorecard net-price and earnings cohorts with IPEDS structure fields — no editor-typed figures. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error on this page. Review the public data changelog. Data current as of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals.