Begin main content
Female student wading in Plaster Creek, examining a sample of water, holding it up to the sky.

ACADEMIC OPTIONS

With over 100 majors and programs, you’re bound to find something you love.

Browse by category

× CLOSE DRAWER
A dramatic view looking up at the Calvin's Crossing bridge, with a perfect blue sky overhead.

Apply to Calvin

It all starts here! We accept applications on a rolling basis throughout the year. All completed applications receive equal consideration.

Start your journey × CLOSE DRAWER
A female and male student walking side by side down the Calvin's Crossing bridge, conversing with each other.

Visit Calvin

Find the visit option that works best for you and get a taste for life at Calvin!

Browse Visit Options Launch the virtual tour × CLOSE DRAWER
Students huddled around, lighting sparklers with a beautiful evening sky behind them.

Request Info

Learn why Calvin’s dedication to faith and discovery have earned it the rank of #3 among regional Midwest universities.

Loading...
× CLOSE DRAWER
Graduates in their robes, tossing their caps high into the air, laughing.

Costs & Financial Aid

Families from all economic backgrounds—many just like yours—are making Calvin work. Scholarships, grants and loans are the tools that make Calvin possible.

Explore financial aid & Scholarships How much does Calvin cost? × CLOSE DRAWER

Basic Information

Key Facts

100+
majors & programs
3,364
total enrollment
46:54
male to female ratio
12:1
student to faculty ratio
22
average class size
18%
U.S. ethnic minorities
13%
international students
74%
first-year (freshmen) acceptance rate
86.7%
first-to-second-year retention rate
25-30
ACT composite (middle 50%)
44
National Merit Scholars
400
acre campus

Brief History

A firm foundation

It started simply, as great things often do. But what began in 1876 as a school of ministry training for just seven students has emerged as a world-class, comprehensive Christian university.

Old photo of first Christian Reformed Church building in West Michigan.
Old photo of first Calvin College and seminary building, with unnamed individuals posing in front.
Old photo of early Calvin College building.
Old photo of early Calvin College building.
Photo of Calvin president and architects looking over plans for Knollcrest campus.
Modern day photo of students streaming out of Calvin's distinctive chapel building.
Spoelhof Fieldhouse entrance.
Wide view of the Covenant Fine Arts Center building.
A Calvin Prison Initiative student in class, raising his hand from his desk.
Calvin University lockup.

Strategic Plan

A bright future

Calvin is a school with a big mission: equipping students to be agents of renewal, ready to step into the public square and renew all things for the glory of Christ. We believe that every student has something to offer the world; every student has something that God is calling him or her to do. Calvin’s job is to partner with each student to discover what that is and then help them develop the skills they’ll need to gain that success. In order to achieve this, we’ve charted out a strategic plan with four goals: embody, grow, collaborate, and build.

Key Commitments

Educating for shalom

The great writing prophets of the Bible knew how many ways human life had gone wrong because they knew how many ways human life can go right. And they dreamed of a time when God would put things right again—creating shalom—universal flourishing, wholeness, and delight. This is why we’re here and it’s what we’re all about: educating for shalom.

We celebrate diversity

When you come to Calvin, we know you have a background, an identity that shapes the stories of your life. And we believe a student population rich in diversity in all its forms is a real benefit to our community and makes for a vibrant learning environment. We’re committed to the flourishing of all students from every race, ethnicity, culture, gender, and ability.

We honor the Creator by caring for creation

Education at Calvin is infused with thoughtful, biblically based principles that help form a foundation for living that honors the Creator and his creation. Our community gardens, campus recycling program, residence hall sustainability challenges, and academic endeavors are all pursued with both a mind and heart toward God’s plan for the renewal of all creation.

We see vocation as more than a career

Yes, your Calvin education will prepare you for excellence in your career field—but our focus extends far beyond that. We don’t just equip you to find a job; we empower you to discover your calling. We don’t just hand you a textbook; we teach valuable life skills too, from paying rent to maintaining healthy relationships. We don’t just add you to a tally list of graduates; we train you to be a leader in your work, your church, and your community.

Awards & Acclaim

Don’t just take our word for it

Best Colleges Regional Universities Midwest by U.S. News and World Report.
U.S. News & World Report

Calvin is ranked #4 overall among Midwest Regional Universities in U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Colleges Guidebook.”


The Princeton Review

Professors are “extremely talented, interesting, and connected in their specific fields.” Instructors are also “masters at integration of education and Christianity,” making the classes at Calvin less about teaching the requisites for getting a job and “more about how to continue to learn about the field and how Christianity should figure into it.”

Fiske Guide to Colleges

“Calvin students describe the overall academic environment as challenging but supportive [...] Calvin graduates have few problems getting accepted to graduate schools of law, medicine, or business.”


Money Magazine

Calvin is included in “The Best Colleges For Your Money,” a list compiled based on educational quality, affordability, and career outcomes.

SOCIAL MEDIA

The latest sights & sounds | #calvinuniversity

Top