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Calvin College

6.8(1)
VerifiedPrivate (Not for Profit)Estd. 1876
Founded
1876
Type
Private (Not for Profit)
University Guide

About Calvin College

Explore overview, courses, fees, admissions, campus life, scholarships and student accommodation guidance in one premium Admistay guide.

As a christian academic community, Calvin University is dedicated to rigorous intellectual inquiry. To this end, the school offers an extensive range of undergraduate, graduate and pre-professional degrees based in liberal arts. Calvin University also extends online programs in Masters of Education as well as study abroad opportunities. The University also extends academic scholarships of up to 20,000 USD to foster knowledge and creativity.

It currently enrolls around 3,307 students of which international candidates make up around 12% of the total population. It has a quite lenient admission policy with an acceptance rate of 75%. Candidates seeking admission to Calvin University must meet a few basic admission requirements such as ACT composite score of 23-29, and TOEFL iBT in the range 80-90.

With a graduate placement rate of 98%, it is no wonder that Calvin University is ranked number 3 in Regional Universities, Midwest by US News and also has a place amongst America's Top Colleges list by Forbes. The University is also accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and some of its programs are also recognised individually.

Calvin University Rankings 2023

The rankings received by Calvin University in 2023 are:

  • #3 in Regional Universities Midwest by U.S News
  • #5 in Best Undergraduate Training By U.S. News
  • #13 in Best Value Schools by U.S. News
  • #291 amongst U.S College Rankings by Times Higher Education
  • #266 amongst Top Colleges in 2023 by Forbes

Highlights

Type of Institute Private University
Total Enrollment 3,307 Students
Student-Faculty Ratio 13:1
Application fees 35 USD
Location Grand Rapids, Michigan
Majors, Minors, and Programs 100 +
Acceptance rate 73 %
Official website https://calvin.edu/

Calvin University Campus & Accommodation

Calvin University Campus is host to 80 different student organizations and students also get the opportunity to create one of their own interests if they wish to.

  • There are over 100 concerts, film galleries, and events held with Calvin Theatre Company providing opportunities to students to perform.
  • Calvin University provides several facilities for sports enthusiasts. It has a fitness centre, athletic fields, a cross country course, tennis courts, and several walking paths.
  • There is also a climbing center and Venema Aquatic Centre. Calvin University also has an Intercultural Student Development for international students.

Calvin University also has other facilities like a fitness center, athletic fields, a cross country course, tennis courts, and several walking paths., 7 venues for Film Performance and art exhibitions There is also a climbing center and Venema Aquatic Centre. Calvin University also has an Intercultural Student Development for international students, Calvins Ecosystem Preserve and Native Gardens

Calvin University Accommodation

The Calvin University offers several housing options to students starting from residential halls, apartments, and learning and living communities.

  • There are seven residence halls and 11 apartment buildings on campus. All the housing accommodations are within walking distance of the academic buildings. 97% of first-year students live on the campus.
  • All residential halls have wifi, cable connection, Kitchens with refrigerators, microwaves, Laundry services,computer labs, study, music, and games rooms.
  • The residential halls have secure key card access. The rooms are double occupancy and have a shared bathroom. They are also equipped with beds, dressers, desk and desk lamps, Chairs, built-in bookshelves, and closets.
  • No additional application is required for first-year student accommodation in residential halls. The cost for a residential hall is 10,800 USD per year with an unlimited meal plan per person.
  • Calvin University has several places to dine on campus: knollcrest dining hall, Commons Dining Hall, Uppercrust, Johnny's Café, Peet's Café, and the Knight Fuel Market.
  • All first-year students are required to buy the Calvin Core Meal plan. The Calvin Core Meal Plan gives students access to 19 meals per week with no daily limits. The students can also upgrade to the Calvin Unlimited plan at 600 USD. 150 USD knight Bucks are also issues with the Calvin Core meal which give students access to all Calvin Food operations.

Students who are just out of high school and have applied to Calvin University are required to live on campus residence or at home for the first two years. However, pupils who have been out of high school for two years or more can opt for alternative student housing in the US.

Calvin University Programs

At Undergraduate level, Calvin University offers majors, minors, concentrations and pre-professional programs. The University also offers graduate programs in study areas such as business, communications and media studies, education, fine arts, health sciences, science, technology and engineering, social sciences, and the like.

Calvin University also offers an online program in Master’s of Education. The program encompasses two concentration programs in inclusion specialist and literacy research and curriculum development. The University also offers study abroad programs such as semester and interim programs.

Calvin University Application Process

At Calvin University, application deadlines for admission to fall semester is June 1 and December 15 for spring semester. Application fee will be waived for candidates who apply by November 1. Overseas candidates also need to maintain a GPA between 3.62 - 4.10 (97% - 100%).

Where to Apply: Calvin University Application or The Common Application

Overseas candidates must submit the following documents along with their application:

  • High School Official Transcripts (to be submitted by guidance counselor through the application portal)
  • Scores of Standardised tests to study in USA
  • Official University Transcripts (in case candidates have completed any college coursework)
  • Scanned copy of the ID page of passport
  • Income and savings statement of parents
  • Letter of intent from sponsor
  • Sponsor’s saving statement(if applicable)
  • Official undergraduate university transcripts (for graduate admission)

The Minimum required marks for standardised tests are as follows :

Test Test Scores
IELTS 6.5
TOEFL-PBT 550
TOEFL-iBT 80
SAT 510( Reading and Math Section)
ACT 19 ( English) 20( Maths) 16( Reading)
Duolingo English Test 105

Note:

  • Applicants who are not required to submit SAT/ ACT scores must ensure that they submit the TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, or ELS Level 112 Certificate.
  • The international students who have been accepted into Calvin University must ensure that they submit an enrollment deposit of 2500 USD.

Calvin University Cost of Attendance

The cost of attendance at Calvin University for a year is tabulated below.

Expense Estimated Cost( USD)
Tuition 37, 990
Wellness Fees 250
Room and Board (19 Meal Plan included) 10, 800
Books and Supplies 1,300
Personal Expenses 1,500
Transportation 500- 2000
Total Estimated Cost 81,945

Candidates should note that this is a general estimation and tuition costs can vary based on the program one has opted for. Living and personal expenses will also vary depending on one’s lifestyle.

Calvin University Scholarships 

99% of students receive aid from Calvin University. Around 78 USD million is awarded to students yearly in the form of scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study opportunities. Some of the academic scholarships offered by Calvin University and eligibility criteria for international students is given below:

Scholarship Name Eligibility Amount Covered
Trustees GPA- 4.2 SAT-1410 ACT- 30 18,000 USD
Presidents GPA-3.9 SAT-1260 ACT- 26 16,000 USD
Deans GPA- 3.5 SAT- 1120 ACT- 22 12,000 USD
Faculty GPA- 3.1 SAT- 1050 ACT- 20 10,000U SD

Note: Students who apply by January 1 will be automatically considered for the above-mentioned academic scholarships. They will also get their application fees waived.

Calvin University Work-Study Program

Calvin University provides students with a plethora of opportunities to work while they are studying. These include around 1200 on-campus as well as off-campus jobs. International students can earn approximately 3000 USD while studying for their program.

The maximum number of hours that students can work for is 10- 12 hours a week. However, they can earn more by working on a campus job during the summer. International students can look for these opportunities at job orientation sessions or Calvin Handshake where on-campus jobs are posted.

Calvin University Placements

Some of the notable organizations where the Calvin graduates are employed include Apple, Goldman Sachs, Google, CNN, Siemens, Spectrum Health, IKEA, and many more. According to Payscale, the average salary of Calvin University Graduates is 62, 456 USD. The average salary of Calvin University graduates according to job type is given below -

Job Type Salary
General Manager 72,000
Electric Engineer 68,000
Mechanical Engineer 58,000
Marketing Manager 62,000
Financial Analyst 67,000
Software Engineer 79,000

FAQs 

Ques. Is Calvin University a good school?

Ans. Calvin University is ranked number 3 in Regional Universities, Midwest by US News and also has a place amongst America's Top Colleges list in Forbes. It has also been ranked number 13 in the best value schools by US News. The placement rate of Calvin University is 98%. Some of the top recruiters are Apple, Goldman Sachs, Google, CNN, Siemens, Spectrum Health, IKEA, and many more.

Ques. Does Calvin University offer on-campus accommodation?

Ans. There are seven residence halls and 11 apartment buildings on campus. All the housing accommodations are within walking distance of the academic buildings. 97% of first-year students live on the campus. The first-year students are required to live in the residential halls on campus.

Ques. Does Calvin University offer Financial aid?

Ans. All International students who wish to apply for financial aid should ensure that they submit the form by April 1. The students can also submit their applications by June 1 to receive an application fees waiver. There are also several academic and need-based named scholarships. The students must ensure that they fulfill the eligibility criteria for the academic scholarships.

Ques. Can I work while studying at Calvin University?

Ans. Yes, Calvin University provides students the opportunity to work on-campus jobs. There are around 1200 on-campus jobs. The students can view the jobs on Calvin Handshake. The students can earn approximately up to 3000 USD by working up to 10- 12 hours per week. There are also several off-campus job opportunities.

Ques. Is it hard to get into Calvin University?

Ans. Calvin University approximately has an acceptance score of 75%. The SAT score of admitted students for the year 2023- 2024 was an average of 1112- 1307. However, the University has waived the SAT/ACT requirements for the Fall 2023 and Fall 2024 applicants. International applicants who are proficient in English can opt for the test Optional policy as Calvin University takes into consideration other aspects like course load, extra-curricular activity, writing ability, Volunteer service, and more.

Courses & Fees

Compare courses in a cleaner, easier way

Explore tuition, duration, language, eligibility, and exam requirements without the clutter.

Courses

29

Fee from

₹38,06,059.5

Exams

IELTS · TOEFL

Showing 5 of 27 bachelors

Overview
Degree TypeBachelor
Duration4 years
Study ModeFull Time
LanguageEnglish
Fees
Tuition FeeINR 36.8 L/Yr
Native FeeUSD 39,350 /Yr
Fee trendTuition progression
Official Program Page
Admission Guide

Admission Process

In 2022, Calvin College accepted 76.9% of the total admission applications that it received. The total enrollment for the recent academic year was 3,307, among the accepted students around 12% were international students who came to study in the USA from over 75 countries. Calvin College accepts applications for the fall, summer and spring semesters.

The Calvin College​ offers more than 100 majors and programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Most enrolled majors and programs in 2022 were business, nursing, engineering, education, psychology, computer science, biology, speech pathology, biochemistry, kinesiology. For admission in the university, international applicants are required to have a minimum GPA of 3.7 on scale of 4.0 and TOEFL iBT score of 80.

COVID-19 Admision Updates

  • Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the College will accept unofficial transcripts for application review till such time that the applicant can obtain and submit their official transcripts.
  • ​Accepted applicants are given consideration regarding their student visa application since the US consulates are closed.

Highlights

Application Portal Online
Application fee 35 USD
Acceptance rate 76.9%
Graduation rate 76.6%
Mode of payment Credit Card
Average SAT score 1212
Average ACT score 26
Academic Calendar Semester based
Intake periods Fall, Spring, Summer
Work experience Required for the Master of Education program
Financial aid Available for all international students.
Admission Helpdesk (800) 688-0122 
Admission Counselors

Application deadlines

Calvin College is a renowned name in the US Education System that accepts applications for the fall, summer and spring semesters. Applications are considered on a rolling basis till the deadline. International applicants are advised to apply as early as possible. Mid-year applications are not accepted from international students. Important deadlines based on the type of applicant are given in the table below:

Applicant type Fall January Interim Spring
First year August 15 December 10 January 10
Transfer August 15 December 10 January 10
Canadian August 1 Not applicable January 10
International June 1 Not applicable December 15

Graduate applicants need to check the application deadlines on their chosen courses since they vary depending on the program selected.

International Student Admissions

Calvin College accepts international students and promotes diversity in their student population. International students can seek admission to undergraduate or graduate programs at the college and fulfill immigration requirements before their arrival in the U.S.

Application Portal: Calvin University Application or Common Application
Application Fees: 35 USD
Basic Admission Requirements: 

  • Completed Application Form
  • High School or University transcripts
  • English proficiency scores
  • Standardized test scores of SAT/ ACT
  • Recommendations
  • Valid Passport
  • Financial documents like income statement, saving account statement, letter of intent etc.
  • Complete Financial Aid Application, if required.

English Proficiency Test Scores

Name of exam Minimum Required Score
TOEFL-Internet based 80
TOEFL-Paper based 550
TOEFL-Computer based 213
IELTS 6.5
Duo lingo 105

Students who have taken high level courses in school like Cambridge A-levels, International Baccalaureate, and Advanced Placement are exempted from proving their English proficiency

Visa Process for International Students

Applicants who seek an international degree in the U.S. will have to apply for an F-1 student visa to study in the USA. Applicants for a US visa are required to apply at the US embassy at their place of permanent residence. International Applicants will be issued Form I-20 from the university once they have demonstrated proof of finance to cover their costs of study. The students will then have to present the below mentioned documents as well as the letter of acceptance from the university at the U.S. Embassy of the their native country. Further, an interview will be scheduled at the U.S. Embassy.

  • Valid Passport
  • Recent passport size photograph
  • Health Insurance or Verification Form
  • Current bank statement/Sponsor letter
  • Verification of financial support
  • I-20 form
  • SEVIS fee
  • Official Academic records
  • Proof of English Proficiency Test Scores

Calvin College, USA: Undergraduate Admissions

The Calvin College offers UG programs in over 100 majors, minors and programs in arts, business, communication and media studies, education, humanities, health sciences, ministries, science, technology, engineering and mathematics, social sciences, and world languages and cultural studies.

Where to Apply: Calvin University Application Portal or the Common Application Portal.
Application Fee: 35 USD
Admission Requirements:

  • High School transcripts which must be submitted by the applicant’s guidance counselor
  • Minimum GPA of 3.7 required
  • Proof of English proficiency
  • Standardized tests score
  • Recommendation from a teacher (optional)

Calvin College, USA: Graduate Admissions

Calvin College only offers three graduate courses, on campus. Candidates seeking admission for the same can apply for the program through individual course pages with the application fee of USD 35 and GPA of 3.0. Detailed requirements of the graduate programs are given below:

Requirement Masters in Education (M. Ed) Master's in Accounting (M. Acc)

Master of Arts in Speech Pathology

Official transcript Required Required Required
Resume Required Required Not required
Lettter of Recommendation 2 2 3
Work experience or Internship Copy of teaching certificate A minimum of 160 hours Not required
Personal statement application essay two experiences that impacted the student’s career goals Professional goals and strengths
GRE/GMAT Optional Optional Optional

Applicants are required to wait for at least 14 days after the submission of the complete application form. It is recommended that students complete applications and submit all necessary materials well before the deadline. This will allow sufficient time for the visa process, applying for financial aid, submitting housing applications etc.

The college is relatively easy to get admission into but students must prepare their admission essays effectively and work hard to score a good GPA and prepare well for the exams required to study in the USA, as these are the most important deciding factors for admission. After admission, students are required to understand and fulfill all immigration requirements for studying in the U.S. and pay the enrollment deposit to the college to confirm their place.

FAQs

Ques. What GPA is required to get into Calvin College?

Ans. To get admission to Calvin College, you need to have a really good GPA score. The students who were admitted in the fall 2018 had an average high school GPA of 3.7 on 4.0.

Ques. How many students will be granted admission to Calvin College?

Ans. Calvin College has an acceptance rate of 75%. It offered admission to almost 3800 students out of which 12% were international students.

Ques. What SAT/ ACT will be sufficient to get into Calvin College?

Ans. The students who seek admission into the Calvin College are expected to have an average ACT score of 26 and average SAT score of 1212.

Ques. What is the graduation rate at Calvin College?

Ans. The six year graduation rate of Calvin College students is 76.9%. The college is also among the top 6% whose graduates seek a research doctorate.

Ques. Is there an application fee for applying to Calvin College?

Ans. Yes, all students who apply to Calvin College must pay an application fee. The application fee for international undergraduate applicants is 35 USD. However, applicants who submit applications by January 1 will receive a waiver of this fee.

Placements & Recruiters

Calvin College Placement Details

Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States placement details include salary insights, top recruiters, and hiring trends to help students understand career outcomes and campus opportunities.

Students usually compare highest package, average package, and recruiter profile before applying. This section gives a compact overview of career outcomes and placement visibility in Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States.

Recruiters
N/A
Salary Metrics
0/2
Placement Metric

Highest Package

N/A

Represents the top salary package reported in the available placement information.

Placement Metric

Average Package

N/A

Shows the typical package range students may expect based on the available average salary data.

Placement information is currently limited.

More salary or recruiter data may be updated later for this college.

Rankings over the years

Year-wise highlights from global and country rankings available for this university.

2019

Highlights
2019
  • Best overall country rank: #233
  • Overall: #233 in country
  • Top source: FORBES
  • 1 ranked streams
  • Focus areas: Overall
  • 1 ranking record in 2019

Contact Information

3201 Burton SE, 49546

+1-616-526-6000

Student Reviews & Ratings

Overall sentiment and category-wise rating summary

Overall score

6.8/10
Top Rated

Based on 1 rating

Rating Breakdown

Visual summary of rating distribution and categories

Live Summary
Academic
8.0/10
Faculty
9.0/10
Infrastructure
7.0/10
Accommodation
10.0/10
Placement
7.0/10