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Summary
Calvin College is a private institution that was founded in 1876. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 3,873, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 400 acres. It utilizes a 4-1-4-based academic calendar. Calvin College's ranking in the 2013 edition of Best Colleges is National Liberal Arts Colleges, 110. Its tuition and fees are $26,705 (2012-13).
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One of the largest Christian colleges in North America, Calvin College is internationally recognized as a center of faith-anchored liberal arts teaching and scholarship. Founded by the Christian Reformed Church and named for the sixteenth-century reformer John Calvin, the college strives to prepare students not only for their first job, but also for a lifetime of academic and spiritual excellence. Calvin's multifaceted core curriculum built on knowledge, skills and character development provides a solid foundation for students studying a range of majors, minors and academic programs, including Asian Studies, biochemistry, engineering, elementary education, business and speech pathology. During 2011-2012, Calvin students from a wide range of disciplines received national awards. Two students were awarded prestigious Goldwater scholarships for science research, and another two received NSF Graduate Research fellowships. One of these students also received a Fullbright Scholarship. Faculty, 82-percent of whom hold the highest degree in their fields, likewise continue to receive national and international recognition for their teaching and scholarship. In 2011-2012 four professors were named to Princeton Review's publication The Best 300 Professors. At Calvin, faith shapes all aspects of life. In a typical year, students are offered more than 700 opportunities for spiritual formation, including daily chapel services, dorm worship opportunities and campus-wide Bible studies, to name a few. And in the last decade, Calvin has expanded its global perspective. The Institute of International Education ranks Calvin second among baccalaureate institutions nationwide for the number of students who participate in a short-term study abroad and sixth for the number of international students studying on campus. In any given year, students study on six continents in more than 40 locations. Calvin emphasizes experiential learning for students in all majors. More than 80-percent of graduates reported serving in at least one internship during their time at Calvin. Calvin is also nationally recognized as a leader in service-learning. Both the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll honored Calvin for its commitment to volunteering, service-learning and civic engagement. Outcomes for Calvin graduates are good. Among baccalaureate institutions, the college is one of the top producers in the country of graduates who go on to earn a doctoral degree. And in a recent survey of 2010 graduates, nearly 100 percent indicated that they had either secured a job or begun graduate school within six months of graduation. |
General Information
| School type | private, coed college |
| Year founded | 1876 |
| Religious affiliation | Christian Reformed |
| Academic calendar | 4-1-4 |
| Setting | suburban |
| 2011 Endowment | $112,060,479 |
Applying
When applying to Calvin College, it's important to note the application deadline is August 15. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due August 15. The application fee at Calvin College is $35. It is more selective, with an acceptance rate of 75.3 percent.
For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.
| Selectivity | more selective |
| Fall 2011 acceptance rate | 75.3% |
| Application deadline | August 15 |
| SAT/ACT scores must be received by | August 15 |
Academic Life
The student-faculty ratio at Calvin College is 11:1, and the school has 44.5 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Calvin College include: Business Administration and Management, General; Engineering, General; Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse; Psychology, General; and Biology/Biological Sciences, General. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 86.5 percent.
Student Life
Calvin College has a total undergraduate enrollment of 3,873, with a gender distribution of 47.2 percent male students and 52.8 percent female students. At this school, 60.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 40.0 percent of students live off campus. Calvin College is part of the NCAA III athletic conference.
| Total enrollment | 3,967 |
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| Undergraduate men who are members of a fraternity | N/A |
| Undergraduate women who are members of a sorority | N/A |
| Collegiate athletic association | NCAA III |
Campus Info & Services
Calvin College offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, placement service, health service, and health insurance. Calvin College also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, student patrols, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Of the students at Calvin College, 58 percent have cars on campus. Alcohol is not permitted for students of legal age at Calvin College.
| Students who have cars on campus | 58% |
| Health insurance offered | Yes |
| Students required to own/lease a computer | No |
More About Campus Info & Services
Paying for School
At Calvin College, 67.1 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $11,587.
Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.
| Tuition and fees | $26,705 (2012-13) |
| Room and board | $9,110 (2012-13) |
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* Overview details based on 2011 data
