Calvin College

Calvin College: A place of "Yes, and..."

Calvin College is a place of "Yes, and ..."

Yes, at Calvin students can have academic excellence and strong Christian faith

Yes, students will have outstanding and accessible professors.

Yes, students will make local connections and have global reach.

Think courageously, believe passionately

At Calvin, no one will ask students to leave their faith at the door when they enter philosophy classrooms or biology labs. In fact, students' professors will challenge them to deepen their faith by tackling big ideas and current issues. It might get messy at times, but students will never be alone as they explore things like:

- Cell research and eco-terrorism

- The effect of social networking on interpersonal relationships

- The role of hip hop music in popular culture

Calvin is a place where students can learn and create knowledge. Together, Calvin students and professors learn to ask thoughtful questions, engage creative solutions and understand deep truths.

Learn from the best

Calvin professors are highly respected in academic circles; dozens of patents carry their names, and they've written textbooks that are widely used. When they're not helping students to brainstorm paper topics or troubleshooting a quiz, they're probably writing books or Emmy-winning screenplays or fussing with molecular tinker toys for $1 million National Science Foundation grants. Last year, Calvin faculty members received $8.7 million in research funding, 2 Fulbright Fellowships, and a top poetry prize.

But to Calvin professors, teaching is job #1. Students will spend time with them in class, but professors also set aside 10-15 office hours each week so students can stop by for questions, conversations, or advising.

Don't be surprised if students get invited to participate in the professors' research. Students can imagine working alongside their professors on an archaeological dig in Jordan; on a documentary film about local food production; on research relevant to dry eye disease; or on a study of Christian business ethics. Calvin professors use their expertise and Christian faith to guide classroom discussions, but they won't tell students what to think. Their approach to learning welcomes students while their curiosity inspires students to greater heights.

Become world ready

Calvin's ultimate goal is to launch students into something bigger. Every course, project, or study abroad program is designed to help students think critically and live faithfully -- whether their next steps involve internships, graduate schools, or first jobs.

Students looking for internships can talk about the results of class projects or the initiatives they learned during their studies in Spain. Students applying to medical school can have personal recommendations written by professors who know them well. Students interviewing for their first jobs can point to the journal articles they have co-authored, or the experience they have gained at one of Calvin's partnership organizations, like Van Andel Research Institute or Hospice of Michigan.

Calvin can offer students the kind of Christian education that fills them with a deep sense of purpose -- and makes them exactly the kind of people that publishing companies, churches, schools, and law offices want to hire.

- 99% of the Class of 2010 survey responders reported that they were employed or in graduate school one year after graduation.

- 80% of Calvin students have at least one internship.

Live fully -- and faithfully

Will Calvin be fun for students? Yes, absolutely! And at Calvin, education will also be packed full of meaning. New friends in every class, over 70 student organizations, 21 sports teams, dozens of concerts, films, theatre productions, service learning projects -- even part-time jobs -- help studnets think more deeply about what God is calling them to do in this world.

A Christian college that brings in bands like The Decemberists, Lupe Fiasco, and Ratatat? Yes, Calvin is the kind of place where students can both discern and enjoy popular culture. Calvin's Student Activities Concert Series is so good that it draws standing-room-only crowds, including students from other colleges.

- 70+ student clubs and organizations

- 100+ concerts, films and productions on campus each year

- 21 varsity sports teams

- #7 in the NCAA for Academic All-Americans (since 2000)

Around the corner and across the globe

Calvin will encourage students to stretch themselves, to connect with people who think in different ways and live both nearby and far away. Anyone who comes to Calvin can join the 800+ students who study abroad each year in Calvin's 14 semester programs or 30+ January interim courses. Calvin has earned a place among the top 10 baccalaureate colleges in the US to send students abroad each year. Whether students are paddling through the mangroves off the coast of Thailand or delving into the politics of Ghana, they will learn to step outside their comfort zones and consider how they can build bridges to other people and cultures.

Studying on campus in Grand Rapids, Michigan, will expand students' mental windows, too. With a new medical school, the world's first LEED-certified art museum and the popular ArtPrize competition, Grand Rapids is a city that is comfortably urban and creatively growing. Calvin students frequent trendy restaurants and coffee shops in Eastown and Cherry Hill. Pre-med and nursing students work on the "Medical Mile," an area filled with new medical and scientific research facilities. Internships of all kinds help build a network of contacts to launch students into promising careers.

Investing in You

Investing in students is Calvin's top priority. Calvin provides more than $65 million in financial aid and scholarships to assist families with college costs. Working together, Calvin can help students of all circumstances and income levels make Calvin educations work for them.

- 92% of Calvin students receive financial aid

- 75% of first-year students receive scholarships

- Renewable academic scholarships range from $1,000-15,000

Majors, Minors, Programs

Calvin's most popular programs include engineering, education, business, communication arts and sciences, pre-med, nursing, and English. Calvin offers over 100 academic options to explore. Students will also find incredible resources to help them explore their gifts and select their courses until they're sure of their next steps.

Calvin is the only Christian college in North America to offer a comprehensive Asian Studies program.

• Area and ethnic studies
• Asian Studies
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Biological/life sciences
• Biology/Biological Sciences
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Biochemistry
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Biotechnology
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Business/marketing
• Business Administration and Management
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Accounting
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Business/Corporate Communications
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Management Information Systems
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Communication/Journalism
• Speech Communication and Rhetoric
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Mass Communication/Media
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Organizational Communication
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Computer and information sciences
• Computer Science
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Education
• Bilingual and Multilingual Education
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Special Education
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Special Education&-Individuals with Specific Learning Disabilities
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Elementary Education
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Secondary Education
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Early Childhood Education
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Art Teacher Education
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Mathematics Teacher Education
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Music Teacher Education
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Physical Education Teaching and Coaching
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Science Teacher Education
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Social Studies Teacher Education
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Biology Teacher Education
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Chemistry Teacher Education
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• French Language Teacher Education
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• German Language Teacher Education
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• History Teacher Education
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Spanish Language Teacher Education
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Earth Science Education
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• English as a Second/Foreign Language (Teaching)
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Engineering
• Engineering
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Chemical Engineering
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Civil Engineering
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Electrical and Electronics Engineering
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Mechanical Engineering
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• English
• English
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Writing
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Rhetoric and Composition
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Literature
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Foreign languages and literature
• Linguistics
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Chinese
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Japanese
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• German
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Germanic Languages Related
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Modern Greek
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• French
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Spanish
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Classics and Classical Languages
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Latin
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Health professions and related sciences
• Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Pre-Dentistry Studies
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Pre-Medical Studies
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Pre-Pharmacy Studies
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Pre-Veterinary Studies
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Pre-Optometry
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Pre-Physical Therapy
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Public Health
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Occupational Therapy
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Therapeutic Recreation
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• History
• History
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Interdisciplinary studies
• Interdisciplinary Studies
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Biological and Physical Sciences
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Natural Sciences
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Law/legal studies
• Pre-Law Studies
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Mathematics and statistics
• Mathematics
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Natural resources/environmental science
• Environmental Studies
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Environmental Science
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Parks and recreation
• Parks, Recreation and Leisure
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Sport And Fitness Administration/Management
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Kinesiology and Exercise Science
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Philosophy and religious studies
• Philosophy
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Religious Studies
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Physical sciences
• Physical Sciences
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Chemistry
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Geology/Earth Science
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Physics
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Psychology
• Psychology
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Public administration and social services
• Public Administration
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Social Work
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Social sciences
• Social Sciences
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Economics
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Development Economics and International Development
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Geography
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• International Relations and Affairs
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Political Science and Government
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Sociology
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Theology and religious vocations
• Biblical Studies
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Religious/Sacred Music
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Theology
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Pre-Theology/Pre-Ministerial Studies
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Visual and performing arts
• Dramatic/Theater Arts
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Film/Cinema/Video Studies
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Cinematography and Film/Video Production
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Art
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Fine/Studio Arts
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Art History, Criticism and Conservation
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Music
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Music History, Literature, and Theory
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Music Performance
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Music Theory and Composition
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Voice and Opera
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.

• Acceptance Rate
• Applied3,182
• Accepted2,395
• Acceptance Rate75%
• Enrolled3,873
• Female Applicants1,796
• Females Accepted1,373
• Female Acceptance Rate76%
• Male Applicants1,386
• Males Accepted1,022
• Male Acceptance Rate73%
• Applying
• Application Fee$35
• Required for All Essay or personal statement
  Transcript of high school record
  Letter(s) of recommendation
  Minimum high school GPA of 2.5
  
• Required for Some
• Average high school GPA for first-year freshman3.60
• Application Deadlines
• Type Application Closing Notification Date Rolling Admissions
• Fall freshmen August 15th --
• Out-of-state Fall freshmen Not Reported
• Early decision plan Not Reported
• Other early decision plan Not Reported
• Transfer Yes
• Test Scores Accepted
• Test Average School Accepted 25th Percentile* 75th Percentile*
• SAT Critical Reading 575 500 650
• SAT Math 598 530 660
• SAT Writing
• ACT Composite 26 23 29
• * 25th and 75th percentile is the score that 25/75 percent of students score at or below.

• Tuition
• In-state tuition *$25,340
• Out-of-state tuition *$25,340
• In-district tuitionN/A
• * Tuition costs are based on a full academic year typically extending from September to June.
• Fees
• Full-time student fees$225.00
• Room and board *$8,760.00
• Room only *Not Reported
• * Room and board charges vary according to board plan selected (i.e., 12-meal plan, 19-meal plan, etc.) and student level (freshman, sophomore, etc.)
• Other Payment Considerations
• Guaranteed tuition plan offeredNo
• Tuition pre-payment planYes
• Tuition payment plans offeredInstallments
• Student groups that qualify for full or partial waiver of tuitionEmployees or children of employees

• Gender
• Total Undergraduate Students3,873
• Male Student Percentage47%
• Female Student Percentage53%
• Ethnicity
• Hispanic/Latino2.71%
• Black or African American2.69%
• White or Caucasian75.47%
• American Indian or Alaska Native.46%
• Asian4.21%
• Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander.03%
• Two or more races1.42%
• Unknown2.25%
• Other Student Statistics
• International Breakout8.98% representing 54 other countries
• Out-of-state Students43% out-of-state student

• Housing
• College-owned housing available Yes
• Housing Requirements None
• Housing options Female-only housing, Male-only housing
• Percentage of undergraduate students who live in college-owned housing 60%
• Student Activities
• Student-run campus newspaper Yes
• Drama / theater group Yes
• Student-run radio station No
• Student-run television station No
• Marching band No
• Choral groups Yes
• Student Services
• Legal services No
• Health clinic Yes
• Personal / psychological counseling Yes
• Women's center No
• Student Organizations
• Greek fraternities No
• Greek sororities No
• Local fraternities No
• Local sororities No
• Other organizations Not Reported
• Most popular organizations Social Justice Committee, Environmental Stewardship Coalition, Dance Guild, Chimes, Calvin Video Network
• Campus Security and Safety
• 24-hour emergency telephone / alarm services Yes
• 24-hour patrols by trained officers Yes
• Students patrols Yes
• Late-night transport / escort services Yes
• Electronically-operated dormitory entrances Yes
• Other crime prevention programs, crime alert bulletins

• Men's Sports
• Sport Intramural Intercollegiate Scholarship
• Badmington Yes No No
• Baseball No Division 3 No
• Basketball Yes Division 3 No
• Cross-country running Yes Division 3 No
• Equestrian sports No Division C No
• Football Yes No No
• Golf Yes Division 3 No
• Ice hockey No Division C No
• Lacrosse No Division 3 No
• Racquetball Yes No No
• Rock climbing Yes No No
• Rugy No Division C No
• Soccer Yes Division 3 No
• Softball Yes No No
• Swimming Yes Division 3 No
• Tennis Yes Division 3 No
• Track Yes Division 3 No
• Ultimate Frisbee No Division C No
• Volleyball Yes Division C No
• Water polo Yes No No
• Women's Sports
• Sport Intramural Intercollegiate Scholarship
• Badmington Yes No No
• Baseball No No No
• Basketball Yes Division 3 No
• Cross-country running Yes Division 3 No
• Equestrian sports No Division C No
• Football Yes No No
• Golf Yes Division 3 No
• Ice hockey No No No
• Lacrosse No Division 3 No
• Racquetball Yes No No
• Rock climbing Yes No No
• Rugy No Division C No
• Soccer Yes Division 3 No
• Softball Yes Division 3 No
• Swimming Yes Division 3 No
• Tennis Yes Division 3 No
• Track Yes Division 3 No
• Ultimate Frisbee No Division C No
• Volleyball Yes Division 3 No
• Water polo Yes No No

• Faculty Breakout
• Total Faculty384
• Full-time Percentage81%
• Part-time Percentage19%
• Female Percentage39%
• Male Percentage61%
• Student:Faculty Ratio11:1 or 3,835 students to 336 faculty