Calvin University vs Olivet Nazarene University
Calvin University and Olivet Nazarene University, two distinct institutions of higher learning, offer unique educational experiences to their students. Calvin, a private Christian liberal arts college in Grand Rapids, Michigan, boasts a 79% acceptance rate and a student body that is predominantly White (78%) and female (58%). Olivet, a private Christian university in Bourbonnais, Illinois, has a higher acceptance rate of 90% and a more diverse student body, with a significant international student population (10%) and a more even gender distribution (49% male, 51% female). While both universities offer a range of undergraduate programs, Calvin is known for its strengths in the liberal arts and sciences, while Olivet excels in nursing, business, and education. With different graduation rates (88% for Calvin and 65% for Olivet), these institutions cater to students with varying academic goals and preferences. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more about these universities
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![]() Calvin University |
![]() Olivet Nazarene University |
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Overview |
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Location | Grand Rapids, Michigan | Bourbonnais, Illinois |
Campus setting | City: Midsize | Suburb: Small |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | 4-1-4 | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 86.0% | 78.0% |
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Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | Protestant | Evangelical |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 75.1% | 60.6% |
Application fees | $35 | $25 |
SAT range | 1120 - 1340 | 970 - 1200 |
ACT range | 24 - 30 | 19 - 26 |
Students submitting SAT score | 61.0% | 39.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 24.0% | 26.0% |
Total number of applicants | 3,986 | 5,881 |
Total number of admissions given out | 2,992 | 3,561 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 736 | 661 |
Yield rate | 24.6% | 18.6% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $52,840 | $51,840 |
Average net price | $27,120 | $20,431 |
Tuition | $37,990 | $36,450 |
Room & board | $10,800 | $9,490 |
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
95.0%
Average amount $24,410 |
100.0%
Average amount $28,396 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
43.0%
Average amount $4,987 |
78.0%
Average amount $5,436 |
Students taking out private loans |
7.0%
Average amount $16,620 |
11.0%
Average amount $12,187 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
3,068
Men 47.1% Women 52.9% |
2,643
Men 42.6% Women 57.4% |
Graduate students |
189
Men 38.1% Women 61.9% |
819
Men 23.0% Women 77.0% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Low
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Out-of-state students | N/A | N/A |
International students | 11.7% | 1.3% |
Campus local/setting | City: Midsize | Suburb: Small |
Dormitory capacity | 2,453 | 2,479 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 12:1 | 15:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 77.3% | 63.8% |
Dropout rate | 7.6% | 35.9% |
Transferred out | 14.7% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Engineering, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Education, Other (Doctoral Degrees)
Engineering, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Curriculum and Instruction (Master's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
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