Calvin College vs. Elon

Should I go to Calvin College or Elon University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Calvin College or Elon 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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Calvin College vs. Elon University comparison
Calvin College Elon University College 3 College 4
Calvin College Elon University
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Overview

Calvin College Elon
Location Grand Rapids, MI Elon, NC
Setting Midsize City Small Suburban
Enrollment 3,231 7,123
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #284 #116
Religious Affiliation Christian Reformed Church - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website calvin.edu elon.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Calvin College Elon
Tuition (In State) $38,370 $41,734
Tuition (Out of State) $38,370 $41,734
Room & Board $11,150 $13,886
Avg Net Price $25,775 $41,527
Avg Grant Aid $26,448 $13,880
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 68%

Admission

Calvin College Elon
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,079 17,551
Admitted 3,027 13,069
Acceptance Rate 74.2% 74.5%
Enrolled % 20.4% 12.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.84 3.65
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Difficult
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 25/30 25/30
SAT Range 1120/1370 1170/1360
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 10, 2024

Academics

Calvin College Elon
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (13%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Communication (19%)
  • Social Sciences (15%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)

Outcomes

Calvin College Elon
Graduation Rate 77% 82%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,000 $56,200
Making Student Loan Payments 81% 86%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,449 $23,250
Median Loan Payment $273 $240

Diversity

Calvin College Elon
% Men 46% 40%
% Women 54% 60%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 74% 82%
% Black 3% 6%
% Hispanic 4% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 2%
% International 10% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

Calvin College Elon
% In-State 51% 18%
% Out-of-State 33% 80%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Elon University is larger than than Calvin College based on total student enrollment (7,123 students vs. 3,231 students)

Calvin College vs. Elon Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Calvin College or Elon?

  • Elon University is 8.8% more expensive to attend than Calvin College for in-state tuition ($41,734.00 vs. $38,370.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 8.8% higher at Elon than Calvin College ($41,734.00 vs. $38,370.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Calvin College than Elon ($25,775 vs. $41,527)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Calvin College are 24.5% lower than costs at Elon University ($11,150 vs. $13,886)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Calvin College than Elon University (100% vs. 68%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Calvin College students is 90.5% larger than aid received Elon University ($26,448 vs. $13,880)

Calvin College vs. Elon Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Elon University (1211) is 9 points higher than at Calvin College (1202)
  • Incoming Calvin College students have at the same average ACT score (27) as students at Elon (27)
  • Accepted freshman Calvin College students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at Elon (3.65)
  • Elon has a higher acceptance rate (74.5%) than Calvin College (74.2%)

Calvin College vs. Elon Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Calvin College or Elon? 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 Elon and Calvin College.

  • The graduation rate at Elon is higher than Calvin College (82% vs. 77%)
  • Graduates from Elon University earn on average $9,200 more per year than Calvin College graduates after ten years. ($56,200 vs. $47,000)
  • Elon University students graduate with a $3,199 lower median federal student loan debt than Calvin College graduates. ($23,250 vs. $26,449)
  • Elon graduates are paying $33 less per month on federal student loans than Calvin College graduates. ($240 vs. $273)
  • More Elon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Calvin College students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 81%)

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