Calvin’s reputation for excellence
Calvin is widely recognized as an excellent institution of higher education.
U.S. News & World Report
Calvin University is ranked #4 in Regional Universities Midwest.
- #5 in Regional Universities Midwest
- #5 in Best Undergraduate Teaching
- #20 in Best Value Schools
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.”
Washington Monthly
Calvin is ranked #8 in Washington Monthly’s 2021 Master’s University Rankings. The guide ranks liberal arts colleges based on their contribution to the public good in three broad categories: social mobility, research, and promoting public service. Calvin is ranked #6 overall for research.
Money magazine
Calvin is included in “The Best Colleges For Your Money,” a list compiled based on educational quality, affordability, and career outcomes.
Forbes
Calvin is included on Forbes’ “America’s Top Colleges” list, which looks at the cost of a degree vs. long tail worth in measuring return-on-investment.
Carnegie Foundation Elective Community Engagement Classification
Calvin was one of 123 colleges and universities selected by the Carnegie Foundation to receive its 2020 Community Engagement Classification, earned by demonstrating significant collaboration with its broader community (local, regional/state, national, and global).
Our Stories
U.S. News & World Report ranks Calvin near the top of multiple lists
Calvin University ranks fourth overall among all Midwest regional universities featured in U.S. News & World Report's 2024 Best Colleges Guidebook. The university also received high marks for undergraduate teaching, merit-based aid awarding, international student enrollment, and first-year retention.
Calvin grad named National History Teacher of the Year
Matt Vriesman became hooked on history at Calvin. For the past 15 years, he's helping high school students get hooked too. In 2023, The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History is honoring him as its National History Teacher of the Year.
Calvin Knights rising in the national rankings
As of early October, the Calvin University men’s and women’s cross-country teams, men’s and women’s soccer teams, and women’s volleyball team all find themselves ranked inside the Top 25 in Division III athletics.
Student-Faculty Research Informs Prison Education Nationwide
In January 2023, then senior Emily Steen ’23 and her faculty adviser Mark Mulder, received The Hatfield Prize to conduct research on challenges faced by formerly incarcerated individuals upon reentry into society. This past week their research was published by the Center for Public Justice.