Calvin College vs. OWU

Should I go to Calvin College or Ohio Wesleyan University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Calvin College or OWU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Calvin College vs. Ohio Wesleyan University comparison
Calvin College Ohio Wesleyan University College 3 College 4
Calvin College Ohio Wesleyan University
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Overview

Calvin College OWU
Location Grand Rapids, MI Delaware, OH
Setting Midsize City Distant Town
Enrollment 3,231 1,410
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #284 #356
Religious Affiliation Christian Reformed Church United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website calvin.edu owu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Calvin College OWU
Tuition (In State) $38,370 $49,262
Tuition (Out of State) $38,370 $49,262
Room & Board $11,150 $13,745
Avg Net Price $25,775 $27,311
Avg Grant Aid $26,448 $36,757
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Calvin College OWU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,079 5,324
Admitted 3,027 2,778
Acceptance Rate 74.2% 52.2%
Enrolled % 20.4% 16.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.84 3.54
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Difficult
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 25/30 23/30
SAT Range 1120/1370 1123/1358
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 Mar 1, 2025

Academics

Calvin College OWU
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (13%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Social Sciences (17%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Foreign Languages (8%)

Outcomes

Calvin College OWU
Graduation Rate 77% 61%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,000 $49,600
Making Student Loan Payments 81% 80%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,449 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $273 $279

Diversity

Calvin College OWU
% Men 46% 44%
% Women 54% 56%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 74% 70%
% Black 3% 8%
% Hispanic 4% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 5%
% International 10% 6%
% Unknown Race 2% 3%

Students

Calvin College OWU
% In-State 51% 66%
% Out-of-State 33% 27%

Campus

Calvin College OWU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Calvin College is larger than than OWU based on total student enrollment (3,231 students vs. 1,410 students)

Calvin College vs. OWU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Calvin College or OWU?

  • Ohio Wesleyan University is 28.4% more expensive to attend than Calvin College for in-state tuition ($49,262.00 vs. $38,370.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 28.4% higher at OWU than Calvin College ($49,262.00 vs. $38,370.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Calvin College than OWU ($25,775 vs. $27,311)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Calvin College are 23.3% lower than costs at Ohio Wesleyan University ($11,150 vs. $13,745)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Calvin College as Ohio Wesleyan University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ohio Wesleyan University students is 39% larger than aid received Calvin College ($36,757 vs. $26,448)

Calvin College vs. OWU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Calvin College or OWU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between OWU or Calvin College .

  • Accepted freshman Calvin College students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at OWU (3.54)
  • Calvin College has a higher acceptance rate (74.2%) than OWU (52.2%)

Calvin College vs. OWU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Calvin College or OWU? 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 OWU and Calvin College.

  • The graduation rate at Calvin College is higher than Ohio Wesleyan University (77% vs. 61%)
  • Graduates from Ohio Wesleyan University earn on average $2,600 more per year than Calvin College graduates after ten years. ($49,600 vs. $47,000)
  • Calvin College students graduate with a $551 lower median federal student loan debt than OWU graduates. ($26,449 vs. $27,000)
  • Calvin College graduates are paying $6 less per month on federal student loans than OWU graduates. ($273 vs. $279)
  • More Calvin College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former OWU students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 80%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/