Calvin College

Quick Facts

Chance of Admission:
Location: Midwest
Setting: Mid-size City Setting
Type: Private
Affiliation: Christian Reformed Church
Size: Medium (2,000 to 5,000 Undergrad)
Mascot: Knights
Calvin College
Calvin College
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Calvin College From Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

Calvin College is a comprehensive liberal arts college located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Founded in 1876, Calvin College is an educational institution of the Christian Reformed Church and stands in the Reformed tradition of Protestantism. Calvin College is named after John Calvin, the 16th century Reformer at the center of the Reformation movement.

History

The college and Calvin Theological Seminary were formed by the Christian Reformed Church for the purpose of training church ministers, with seven students enrolled in the first year. The school organized on August 4, 1876 on Spring Street in Grand Rapids, MI (though the school had originally considered locating in Holland, Michigan). The initial six-year curriculum included four years in the Literary department and two years in the Theological department. In 1892 the campus was moved to the intersection of Madison Avenue and Franklin Street (Fifth Avenue) in Grand Rapids. In September 1894 the school expanded the curriculum for those who were not pre-theological students, making the school a preparatory school or academy equivalent. This yielded a program roughly comparable to a high school curriculum. In 1900 the curriculum was further broadened and made more attractive to students interested in teaching or in preparing for preprofessional courses in the universities. A year later, in 1901, Calvin admitted the first women to the school.

By 1906 the Literary Department, which provided the four years of preparatory and two years of college work, became known officially as the John Calvin Junior College. Also that year, the college held its first public commencement at the LaGrave Avenue Christian Reformed Church. The student newspaper "Chimes" was first published in 1907, also the same year the Alumni Association formed. Around 1910, the West Michigan cities of Muskegon and Kalamazoo fought to have Calvin relocate to their respective cities. Muskegon offered $10,000 (approximately $250,000 in 2007 dollars) and a tract of land to attract the college. The city of Grand Rapids countered with its own $10,000 offer and the junior college chose to stay in Grand Rapids. The two-year college in time became a four-year college, and the preparatory department was discontinued. John Calvin Junior College moved in 1917 to the Franklin Street Campus which at the time was the south east edge of Grand Rapids. Two years later the college appointed its first president, the Rev. J.J. Hiemenga. Then a year later, in 1920, the college transitioned into a four year college following the liberal arts philosophy of the Free University in Amsterdam as laid out by Dutch theologian and statesman Abraham Kuyper. The next year the college awarded its first bachelor's degree. In 1924, with the opening of Grand Rapids Christian High School, the college offered its last year of preparatory education, focusing exclusively on higher education and opened its fist dormitory. The next year, the college began offering a teacher training program and in 1926 appointed its first female faculty member, Johanna Timmer, as Dean of Women. The college dedicated its library, the Hekman Library on March 8, 1928. The college later dedicated its seminary building at the Franklin Street Campus on October 29, 1930. Still under the leadership of Rev. Hiemenga the college faced significant trouble during the onset of the Great Depression as financial hardship beset the college.

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Students & Campus Life
Undergraduate Enrollment: 4,289
On Campus Housing: Available
Full Time Students: 100%
Athletic Programs: Available
> More Students & Campus Life
Expenses
Average Tuition: $ 19,150
Students Receiving Aid: 97%
> More Expenses & Financial Aid
Admissions
Application Fee: $ 35
Selectivity: Selective
> More Admissions

Students

General
Full-Time vs. Part-Time
Full-Time 100%
Part-Time 0%
Men vs. Women
Women 57%
Men 43%
Race/Ethnicity
Caucasian 91%
Other 4%
Asian 3%
Hispanic 1%
African-American 1%
Geography
In State vs. Out-of-State
Out-of-State 51%
In-State 49%
Top States for Incoming Freshman
Michigan 49%
Illinois 10%
California 4%
Indiana 2%
Pennsylvania 2%
Percent of Students International: 7%

Housing

On-Campus Housing Available: Yes
Percent of Students Living On-Campus: 59%
Freshman Students Required to Live on Campus: Yes

Athletics

Member of: NAA, NCAA
Sports Include: Basketball (Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Assoc)
Baseball (Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Assoc)
Track (Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Assoc)
Tuition & Fees (undergraduate) Expenses  
Published Tuition and Fees:
$ 19,150    
Average Tuition for Full-Time Undergrads:
$ 18,925    
Required Fees for Full-Time Undergrads:
$ 225    
Financial Aid Avg. Amount Received % of Students Receiving Aid  
Federal Grants:
$ 3,283 19%  
State and Local Grants:
$ 2,401 46%  
Institutional Grants:
$ 5,680 93%  
Student Loans:
$ 4,090 59%  
Any Aid:
  97%  

Selectivity (Undergraduate Only)

Acceptance Rate: 98% (Selective)
Test Scores  
SAT Scores:  
% of Students Submitting SAT Scores: 35%
Bottom 25th Percentile: Verbal: 540, Math: 550
Top 75th Percentile: Verbal: 660, Math: 670
ACT Scores:  
% of Students Submitting ACT Scores: 84%
Bottom 25th Percentile: Composite: 23, Verbal: 22, Math: 23
Top 75th Percentile: Composite: 28, Verbal: 29, Math: 28

Application Requirements (Undergraduate Only)

Application Fee: $ 35.00
Formal Demonstration of Competencies: Not Required
High School Diploma or Equivalent: Required
High School GPA: Required
High School Rank: Recommended
High School Record: Required
Recommendations: Required
TOEFL: Required
Test Scores: Required

Degree Programs at Calvin College

Bachelor's Level Majors

Photos