Wheaton College vs. Calvin College

Should I go to Wheaton College or Calvin College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Wheaton College or Calvin College 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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Wheaton College vs. Calvin College comparison
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Wheaton College Calvin College
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Overview

Wheaton College Calvin College
Location Wheaton, IL Grand Rapids, MI
Setting Large Suburban Midsize City
Enrollment 2,885 3,231
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #166 #284
Religious Affiliation Undenominational Christian Reformed Church - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wheaton.edu calvin.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Wheaton College Calvin College
Tuition (In State) $41,990 $38,370
Tuition (Out of State) $41,990 $38,370
Room & Board $11,690 $11,150
Avg Net Price $29,961 $25,775
Avg Grant Aid $24,272 $26,448
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Wheaton College Calvin College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,893 4,079
Admitted 1,674 3,027
Acceptance Rate 88.4% 74.2%
Enrolled % 30.1% 20.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.75 3.84
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 28/33 25/30
SAT Range 1250/1430 1120/1370
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 Aug 1, 2025

Academics

Wheaton College Calvin College
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (15%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (9%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

Wheaton College Calvin College
Graduation Rate 87% 77%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $54,300 $47,000
Making Student Loan Payments 90% 81%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,500 $26,449
Median Loan Payment $232 $273

Diversity

Wheaton College Calvin College
% Men 43% 46%
% Women 57% 54%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 76% 74%
% Black 3% 3%
% Hispanic 6% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 3% 10%
% Unknown Race 0% 2%

Students

Wheaton College Calvin College
% In-State 23% 51%
% Out-of-State 70% 33%

Campus

Wheaton College Calvin College
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 Wheaton College based on total student enrollment (3,231 students vs. 2,885 students)

Wheaton College vs. Calvin College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wheaton College or Calvin College?

  • Wheaton College is 9.4% more expensive to attend than Calvin College for in-state tuition ($41,990.00 vs. $38,370.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 9.4% higher at Wheaton College than Calvin College ($41,990.00 vs. $38,370.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Calvin College than Wheaton College ($25,775 vs. $29,961)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Calvin College are 4.8% lower than costs at Wheaton College ($11,150 vs. $11,690)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Wheaton College as Calvin College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Calvin College students is 9% larger than aid received Wheaton College ($26,448 vs. $24,272)

Wheaton College vs. Calvin College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Wheaton College (1314) is 112 points higher than at Calvin College (1202)
  • Incoming Wheaton College students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at Calvin College (27)
  • Accepted freshman Calvin College students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at Wheaton College (3.75)
  • Wheaton College has a higher acceptance rate (88.4%) than Calvin College (74.2%)

Wheaton College vs. Calvin College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Wheaton College is higher than Calvin College (87% vs. 77%)
  • Graduates from Wheaton College earn on average $7,300 more per year than Calvin College graduates after ten years. ($54,300 vs. $47,000)
  • Wheaton College students graduate with a $3,949 lower median federal student loan debt than Calvin College graduates. ($22,500 vs. $26,449)
  • Wheaton College graduates are paying $41 less per month on federal student loans than Calvin College graduates. ($232 vs. $273)
  • More Wheaton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Calvin College students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 81%)

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