Calvin College vs. Union College

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

Calvin College Union College
Location Grand Rapids, MI Schenectady, NY
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 3,231 2,107
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #284 #76
Religious Affiliation Christian Reformed Church - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website calvin.edu union.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Calvin College Union College
Tuition (In State) $38,370 $63,603
Tuition (Out of State) $38,370 $63,603
Room & Board $11,150 $15,768
Avg Net Price $25,775 $41,136
Avg Grant Aid $26,448 $37,530
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 93%

Admission

Calvin College Union College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,079 8,458
Admitted 3,027 3,934
Acceptance Rate 74.2% 46.5%
Enrolled % 20.4% 14.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.84 3.5
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 25/30 29/33
SAT Range 1120/1370 1310/1490
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

Calvin College Union College
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (13%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Social Sciences (25%)
  • Biology (14%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Physical Sciences (8%)

Outcomes

Calvin College Union College
Graduation Rate 77% 86%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,000 $74,200
Making Student Loan Payments 81% 86%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,449 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $273 $279

Diversity

Calvin College Union College
% Men 46% 55%
% Women 54% 45%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 74% 73%
% Black 3% 4%
% Hispanic 4% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 2%
% International 10% 7%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

Calvin College Union College
% In-State 51% 28%
% Out-of-State 33% 63%

Campus

Calvin College Union College
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

  • Calvin College is larger than than Union College based on total student enrollment (3,231 students vs. 2,107 students)

Calvin College vs. Union College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Calvin College or Union College?

  • Union College is 65.8% more expensive to attend than Calvin College for in-state tuition ($63,603.00 vs. $38,370.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 65.8% higher at Union College than Calvin College ($63,603.00 vs. $38,370.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Calvin College than Union College ($25,775 vs. $41,136)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Calvin College are 41.4% lower than costs at Union College ($11,150 vs. $15,768)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Calvin College than Union College (100% vs. 93%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Union College students is 41.9% larger than aid received Calvin College ($37,530 vs. $26,448)

Calvin College vs. Union College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Calvin College students have a 0.34 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at Union College (3.5)
  • Calvin College has a higher acceptance rate (74.2%) than Union College (46.5%)

Calvin College vs. Union College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Calvin College or Union 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 Union College and Calvin College.

  • The graduation rate at Union College is higher than Calvin College (86% vs. 77%)
  • Graduates from Union College earn on average $27,200 more per year than Calvin College graduates after ten years. ($74,200 vs. $47,000)
  • Calvin College students graduate with a $551 lower median federal student loan debt than Union College graduates. ($26,449 vs. $27,000)
  • Calvin College graduates are paying $6 less per month on federal student loans than Union College graduates. ($273 vs. $279)
  • More Union College 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/