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Is Calvin University worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for Calvin, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Workable
Calvin lands in the workable band for a typical family. Median debt of $23,250 can be carried by median long-run earnings of $58,375, but the margin is not huge. For context, Calvin's net price runs about 15% above the typical 4-year, private nonprofit school. This is the kind of school where your actual aid offer can move the answer meaningfully.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 1237 similar 4-year, private nonprofit schools
This school
$26,374
/yrAverage school like this
$22,837
/yrThis weighs on your Worth-It Score
You'd pay about $3,537 more per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $14,000 in extra cost.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price sits in a range that leaves more room for family cash flow and lower borrowing.
Outcome
40% weight
The outcome data does not create enough margin to fully offset the cost.
Repayment
20% weight
Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$22,992
Median earnings 10 years out
$58,375
Median debt at graduation
$23,250
Graduation rate
76%
At Calvin, a typical graduate carries about $23,250 in student debt and earns roughly $58,375 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $264 per month, or 5% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
What this means for your family
Calvin is a private nonprofit four year school in Grand Rapids, MI. Private pricing can swing more dramatically based on aid, so your personalized score matters more here than the national average view alone.
Similar schools worth comparing
These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.
Private nonprofit 4-year
Cleary
Howell, MI
Worth-It Score: 48/100
Median net price: $22,143
Private nonprofit 4-year
Rochester Christian
Rochester Hills, MI
Worth-It Score: 46/100
Median net price: $21,456
Private nonprofit 4-year
The University of Olivet
Olivet, MI
Worth-It Score: 43/100
Median net price: $21,393
Private nonprofit 4-year
Adrian
Adrian, MI
Worth-It Score: 50/100
Median net price: $25,368
Private nonprofit 4-year
Alma
Alma, MI
Worth-It Score: 61/100
Median net price: $20,694
Common questions about Calvin
The median net price at Calvin is $22,992 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.
Get your personalized Worth-It score
National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.
Looking at private colleges options in Michigan? See the most affordable private colleges in Michigan →
The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →