Calvin University vs Virginia Military Institute
Calvin University and Virginia Military Institute, 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 90% acceptance rate and a student body that is predominantly White (78%) and female (58%). On the other hand, Virginia Military Institute, a public military college in Lexington, Virginia, has a more selective admissions process with a 38% acceptance rate and a student body that is predominantly male (86%) and White (70%). While both institutions offer a range of undergraduate programs, Calvin is known for its strengths in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, while VMI is renowned for its engineering, mathematics, and computer science programs. With varying graduation rates of 82% for Calvin and 73% for VMI, prospective students are encouraged to explore the detailed comparison table to discover which institution better aligns with their academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Calvin University |
![]() Virginia Military Institute |
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Overview |
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Location | Grand Rapids, Michigan | Lexington, Virginia |
Campus setting | City: Midsize | Town: Distant |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Public |
Calendar system | 4-1-4 | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 86.0% | 87.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Protestant | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 75.1% | 63.9% |
Application fees | $35 | $40 |
SAT range | 1120 - 1340 | 1080 - 1300 |
ACT range | 24 - 30 | 22 - 27 |
Students submitting SAT score | 61.0% | 29.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 24.0% | 12.0% |
Total number of applicants | 3,986 | 1,549 |
Total number of admissions given out | 2,992 | 990 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 736 | 461 |
Yield rate | 24.6% | 46.6% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $52,840 |
In state:
$33,182
Out of state:
$61,836
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Average net price | $27,120 | $18,100 |
Tuition | $37,990 |
In state:
$9,782
Out of state:
$38,436
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Room & board | $10,800 |
Room/dormitory:
$3,102
Meal plan:
$7,260
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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 |
91.0%
Average amount $10,832 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
43.0%
Average amount $4,987 |
59.0%
Average amount $3,385 |
Students taking out private loans |
7.0%
Average amount $16,620 |
11.0%
Average amount $22,604 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
3,068
Men 47.1% Women 52.9% |
1,652
Men 86.2% Women 13.8% |
Graduate students |
189
Men 38.1% Women 61.9% |
N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Low
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Out-of-state students | N/A | 38.2% |
International students | 11.7% | 1.7% |
Campus local/setting | City: Midsize | Town: Distant |
Dormitory capacity | 2,453 | 1,751 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | Yes |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | Virginia Pennsylvania Maryland North Carolina New Jersey |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 12:1 | 10:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 77.3% | 73.7% |
Dropout rate | 7.6% | 4.4% |
Transferred out | 14.7% | 21.7% |
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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Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
International Relations and National Security Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
History (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
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