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Michigan State Hope College WMU CMU Oakland Ferris State University Saginaw Valley State University WSU Michigan Wheaton College Eastern Michigan University UM-Dearborn| Calvin College | Grand Valley State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Calvin College | GVSU | ||
| Location | Grand Rapids, MI | Allendale, MI | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 3,231 | 21,648 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #284 | #583 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Christian Reformed Church | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | calvin.edu | gvsu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Calvin College | GVSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $38,370 | $13,952 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $38,370 | $19,856 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,150 | $10,140 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $25,775 | $17,105 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $26,448 | $8,811 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 93% |
Admission |
Calvin College | GVSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 4,079 | 17,123 | ||
| Admitted | 3,027 | 15,474 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 74.2% | 90.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 20.4% | 25% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.84 | 3.65 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 25/30 | 21/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1120/1370 | 960/1210 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | May 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Calvin College | GVSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Calvin College | GVSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 77% | 63% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $47,000 | $44,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 81% | 62% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,449 | $25,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $273 | $258 |
Diversity |
Calvin College | GVSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 46% | 38% | ||
| % Women | 54% | 62% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 74% | 83% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 3% | ||
| % International | 10% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 0% |
Students |
Calvin College | GVSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 51% | 91% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 33% | 8% | ||
Campus |
Calvin College | GVSU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Grand Valley State University is larger than than Calvin College based on total student enrollment (21,648 students vs. 3,231 students)
Calvin College vs. GVSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Calvin College or GVSU?
- Calvin College is 175% more expensive to attend than GVSU for in-state tuition ($38,370.00 vs. $13,952.00)
- Out of state tuition is 93.2% higher at Calvin College than Grand Valley State University ($38,370.00 vs. $19,856.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Grand Valley State University than Calvin College ($17,105 vs. $25,775)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grand Valley State University are 10% lower than costs at Calvin College ($10,140 vs. $11,150)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Calvin College than Grand Valley State University (100% vs. 93%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Calvin College students is 200.2% larger than aid received Grand Valley State University ($26,448 vs. $8,811)
Calvin College vs. GVSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Calvin College or GVSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between GVSU or Calvin College .
- The average SAT score at Calvin College (1202) is 112 points higher than at GVSU (1090)
- Incoming Calvin College students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at GVSU (24)
- Accepted freshman Calvin College students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at GVSU (3.65)
- GVSU has a higher acceptance rate (90.4%) than Calvin College (74.2%)
Calvin College vs. GVSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Calvin College or GVSU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between GVSU and Calvin College.
- The graduation rate at Calvin College is higher than Grand Valley State University (77% vs. 63%)
- Graduates from Calvin College earn on average $2,400 more per year than GVSU graduates after ten years. ($47,000 vs. $44,600)
- Grand Valley State University students graduate with a $1,449 lower median federal student loan debt than Calvin College graduates. ($25,000 vs. $26,449)
- GVSU graduates are paying $15 less per month on federal student loans than Calvin College graduates. ($258 vs. $273)
- More Calvin College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GVSU students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 62%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/