AU vs. Calvin College

Should I go to American University or Calvin College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if AU or Calvin College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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American University vs. Calvin College comparison
American University Calvin College College 3 College 4
American University Calvin College
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Overview

AU Calvin College
Location Washington, DC Grand Rapids, MI
Setting Large City Midsize City
Enrollment 13,885 3,231
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #93 #284
Religious Affiliation United Methodist Christian Reformed Church - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website american.edu calvin.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

AU Calvin College
Tuition (In State) $53,070 $38,370
Tuition (Out of State) $53,070 $38,370
Room & Board $15,706 $11,150
Avg Net Price $41,369 $25,775
Avg Grant Aid $27,138 $26,448
% Receiving Grant Aid 66% 100%

Admission

AU Calvin College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 19,510 4,079
Admitted 7,926 3,027
Acceptance Rate 40.6% 74.2%
Enrolled % 22.2% 20.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.84
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 29/32 25/30
SAT Range 1290/1430 1120/1370
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2024

Academics

AU Calvin College
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (43%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Psychology (3%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

AU Calvin College
Graduation Rate 77% 77%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $64,800 $47,000
Making Student Loan Payments 80% 81%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,250 $26,449
Median Loan Payment $250 $273

Diversity

AU Calvin College
% Men 37% 46%
% Women 63% 54%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 58% 74%
% Black 7% 3%
% Hispanic 12% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 7% 10%
% Unknown Race 4% 2%

Students

AU Calvin College
% In-State 2% 51%
% Out-of-State 94% 33%

Campus

AU Calvin College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • American University is larger than than Calvin College based on total student enrollment (13,885 students vs. 3,231 students)

AU vs. Calvin College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or Calvin College?

  • American University is 38.3% more expensive to attend than Calvin College for in-state tuition ($53,070.00 vs. $38,370.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 38.3% higher at AU than Calvin College ($53,070.00 vs. $38,370.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Calvin College than AU ($25,775 vs. $41,369)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Calvin College are 40.9% lower than costs at American University ($11,150 vs. $15,706)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Calvin College than American University (100% vs. 66%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 2.6% larger than aid received Calvin College ($27,138 vs. $26,448)

AU vs. Calvin College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or Calvin College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Calvin College or AU .

  • The average SAT score at American University (1252) is 50 points higher than at Calvin College (1202)
  • Incoming AU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at Calvin College (27)
  • Accepted freshman Calvin College students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at AU (3.7)
  • Calvin College has a higher acceptance rate (74.2%) than AU (40.6%)

AU vs. Calvin College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, AU or Calvin College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Calvin College and AU.

  • The graduation rate at AU is the same as at Calvin College (77% vs. 77%)
  • Graduates from American University earn on average $17,800 more per year than Calvin College graduates after ten years. ($64,800 vs. $47,000)
  • American University students graduate with a $2,199 lower median federal student loan debt than Calvin College graduates. ($24,250 vs. $26,449)
  • AU graduates are paying $23 less per month on federal student loans than Calvin College graduates. ($250 vs. $273)
  • More Calvin College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AU students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 80%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/