Calvin University
Grand Rapids, Michigan · Private · 3,193 undergraduates · calvin.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
71%
of applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
1083 to 1330
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$61,150Est.Estimate
before aid
Your chances and merit aid at Calvin University
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
71% of applicants admitted
Target
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$61,150
a year in 2027-28, from a $61,150 sticker price
What to do with your 1210
Send your score
About 54% of freshmen here didn't send a score. We estimate their typical SAT at about 1090, and yours is above it.
Source: College Navigator (federal data on fall 2024 freshmen)
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
- Reviews applications as they arrive, so applying early helps.
- CLT accepted alongside SAT/ACT
Source: Test Optional - Admissions | Calvin University · Checked October 17, 2026
Application deadlines
- Aug18Rolling admission · August 18, 2027Applications are reviewed as they arrive.
Source: Calvin Applications
Who gets in
71%
of applicants are admitted.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above.
SAT total 1083 to 1330
Reading and Writing 550 to 660
Math 533 to 670
ACT composite 24 to 30
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$61,150
a year
- Tuition$43,800
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24, by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$15,829
- $30,001 to $48,000$15,960
- $48,001 to $75,000$14,984
- $75,001 to $110,000$18,564
- Over $110,000$25,383
Financial aidEstimate
85%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
100%
of freshmen receive grants
$29,123
average grant to freshmen
Merit scholarships
Awards for grades and scores, on top of need-based aid. You don't repay them.
Calvin National Merit Supplement
$2,000 a year
National Merit
DetailsCalvin-sponsored National Merit Scholarship
$2,000 a year
National Merit
Deadline: Finalists can change first choice before May 1; undecided Finalists have until May 31. To keep it: stay on track toward your degree under the college's academic progress rules.
Details
Compare awards across colleges with the merit aid calculator.
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
38 of 38
Earn credit with a score of 3
13 exams
A 3-credit course is worth
about $4,380Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 4 | 4 | Studio Art core credit |
| 2-D Art and Design | 5 | 4 | Studio Art core credit |
| 3-D Art and Design | 4 | 4 | Studio Art core credit |
| 3-D Art and Design | 5 | 4 | Studio Art core credit |
| African American Studies | 4 | 3 | History core credit |
| Art History | 4 | 3 | Visual Arts core |
| Biology | 4 | 4 | Biol 123 |
| Calculus AB | 3 | 4 | Mathematics core credit |
| Calculus AB | 4 | 4 | Math 171 |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 4 | Math 171 |
| Calculus BC | 4 | 8 | Math 171 & 172 |
| Calculus BC: AB Subscore | 3 | 4 | Mathematics core credit |
| Calculus BC: AB Subscore | 4 | 4 | Math 171 |
| Chemistry | 3 | 3 | Elective credit |
| Chemistry | 4 | 4 | Chemistry 101 & 101L |
| Chemistry | 5 | 8 | Chemistry 101, 101L, 102, 102L |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 3 | 4 | Chinese 102 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 4 | 4 | Chinese 201 |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 4 | 4 | Political Science 214 |
| Computer Science A | 3 | 4 | Computer Science 108 & 108L |
| Drawing | 4 | 4 | Studio Art core credit |
| Drawing | 5 | 4 | Studio Art core credit |
| English Language and Composition | 4 | 4 | English 101 |
| English Literature and Composition | 4 | 4 | English Elective |
| Environmental Science | 4 | 4 | Environmental Studies 210 |
| European History | 4 | 3 | History 152 |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | 4 | French 202 |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | 4 | French 301 |
| German Language and Culture | 3 | 4 | German 202 |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | 4 | German 301 |
| Human Geography | 4 | 4 | Geography 101 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 3 | 4 | Japanese 102 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 4 | 4 | Japanese 201 |
| Latin | 3 | 4 | Latin 201 |
| Latin | 4 | 8 | Latin 201 & 202 |
| Macroeconomics | 3 | 2 | Economics 191 |
| Macroeconomics | 5 | 4 | Economics 191 & 222 |
| Microeconomics | 3 | 2 | Economics 191 |
| Microeconomics | 5 | 4 | Economics 191 & 221 |
| Music Theory | 4 | 6 | Music 100 & 108 |
| Physics 1 | 4 | 4 | Physics 221 |
| Physics 2 | 4 | 4 | Physics 222 |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 4 | 4 | Physics 235 |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 4 | 4 | Physics 133 |
| Psychology | 4 | 4 | Psychology 151 |
| Research | 4 | 3 | Elective credit |
| Seminar | 4 | 3 | Elective credit |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | 4 | Spanish 202 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | 4 | Spanish 301 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 4 | 4 | Elective: 300 level Spanish |
| Statistics | 4 | 4 | Statistics 143 |
| United States Government and Politics | 4 | 3 | Political Science core credit |
| United States History | 4 | 3 | History core credit |
| World History: Modern | 4 | 3 | History core credit |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
77%
Come back for a second year
87%
Typical earnings
$60,411
a year, 10 years after starting here
- Calvin University$89,171
- All colleges$94,282
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 17 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with Calvin University. The Calvin University logo is a trademark of the college.