Calvin University

What Calvin University does

Calvin University is a private, non-profit Christian liberal arts university headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, founded in 1876 as De Theologische School for Dutch immigrants and rebranded from Calvin College to Calvin University on July 10, 2019. The institution delivers more than 100 academic programs across six schools — Business, Education, Graduate & Continuing Studies, Health, Humanities/Arts & Social Sciences, and STEM — serving approximately 3,700 students from nearly every U.S. state, five Canadian provinces, and 66 countries. Its core product portfolio spans undergraduate and graduate degrees, online programs, dual-enrollment, military/veteran education, and specialized initiatives such as prison education through a partnership with the Michigan Department of Corrections. The university also operates a 400-acre campus including the Bunker Interpretive Center, the 100+ acre Ecosystem Preserve & Native Gardens, and the 68-acre Flat Iron Lake Preserve research facility, and supports 25 NCAA Division III varsity teams.

Revenue is generated primarily through tuition and fees (subscription-style annual billing), auxiliary services such as conferences and retreats at Prince Conference Center and the Bunker Interpretive Center, and private donations and fundraising via alumni programs including the Spark magazine reaching the 65,000-member Calvin Alumni Association. Go-to-market is a traditional sales-led admissions motion targeting prospective undergraduate, graduate, international, transfer, and adult learners through campus visits, high-school counselor engagement, athletic recruiting, and direct outreach. The institution maintains institutional accreditation, FERPA-compliant data handling, WCAG 2.1 AA web conformance, and has earned recognition including #4 Regional Universities Midwest (U.S. News & World Report 2025) and #1 Best College for Veterans (2017). Marketing and distribution span a university website, organic social across Instagram/Facebook/Twitter/LinkedIn/YouTube/Snapchat, the Spark alumni magazine, news/blog content, campus events, and the CalvinKnights athletics platform.

Name

Calvin University

Legal name

Calvin University

Website

https://calvin.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1876

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Calvin University is a private, non-profit Christian liberal arts university in Grand Rapids, Michigan, founded in 1876, serving roughly 3,700 undergraduate and graduate students through 100+ programs across six academic schools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Religiously Affiliated Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Residential Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAH)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Liberal arts university
• Christian college
• Undergraduate programs
• Graduate studies

Headquarters

HQ city

Grand Rapids

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from undergraduate and graduate tuition, including full-time, part-time, and online programs. Financial aid and scholarships are offered to offset costs.
2. Alumni Donations and Fundraising: Calvin University receives private donations and conducts fundraising campaigns. The Spark alumni magazine and various donor programs support this revenue stream.
3. Conference and Event Services: Revenue from hosting conferences, events, and retreats at facilities including Prince Conference Center and the Bunker Interpretive Center.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Calvin University is a Christian liberal arts university that delivers undergraduate, graduate, and online degree programs across six academic schools (Business, Education, Graduate & Continuing Studies, Health, Humanities Arts & Social Sciences, and STEM). It serves approximately 3,700 students through more than 100 academic programs and supplements instruction with NCAA Division III athletics, nature preserves, and event venues.

Product overview

Calvin University is a Christian liberal arts university offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational programs across multiple academic divisions. The institution provides undergraduate, graduate, and online degree programs through its six academic schools: Business, Education, Graduate & Continuing Studies, Health, Humanities Arts & Social Sciences, and STEM. Additionally, the university operates distinctive facilities including the Ecosystem Preserve & Native Gardens (100+ acres), Bunker Interpretive Center (LEED-certified educational building), and Flat Iron Lake Preserve (68-acre research facility with retreat accommodations). The university also offers specialized programs such as the Global Campus, prison education initiatives, and over 25 NCAA Division III athletic teams. With 100+ academic programs and approximately 3,600-3,700 students from diverse backgrounds, the institution positions itself as a comprehensive liberal arts university with expanded global influence as outlined in its Vision 2030 strategic plan.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% graduate placement within one year
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Michigan Department of CorrectionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 April 2026Partnership providing educational programs for incarcerated individuals. Michigan prisons have seen a 66% increase in educational program completions, rising from about 2,400 inmates in 2020 to approximately 4,000 last fiscal year, with enrollment reaching about 11,000 of the state's 33,000 prisoners. Calvin hosts statewide prison education conferences.
• ABETcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 December 2025ABET is the internationally recognized accreditor for college and university programs in applied and natural sciences, computing, engineering, and engineering technology. ABET and The Lemelson Foundation jointly awarded the Engineering for One Planet Innovation in Sustainability Award to Calvin professor Matthew K. Heun.
• Multiple Colleges and UniversitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMichigan Department of Corrections has expanded access to academic and vocational training across its 26 facilities, supported by restored federal Pell Grants and partnerships with multiple colleges and universities.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Hope College: Hope College is a private Christian liberal arts college in Holland, Michigan, with deep ties to the Reformed Church in America. It is the most direct peer to Calvin—similar denomination, geography (West Michigan), enrollment scale, NCAA DIII athletics, and residential liberal arts model.
• Wheaton College: Wheaton College is a leading evangelical Christian liberal arts college in Illinois with strong national rankings, an extensive academic program portfolio, and similar faith-integrated curriculum and graduate outcomes focus as Calvin.
• Trinity Christian College: Trinity Christian College is a small Reformed/Christian liberal arts college in Palos Heights, Illinois, with similar denominational ties, comparable program mix, and comparable enrollment scale to Calvin.
• Biola University: Biola University is a private Christian university in La Mirada, California, with a comparable mix of undergraduate, graduate, and online programs, faith-integrated curriculum, and a multi-school academic structure paralleling Calvin's six-school model.
• Gordon College: Gordon College is a private Christian liberal arts college in Wenham, Massachusetts, with similar size, faith-based mission, NCAA DIII athletics, and a focus on integrating Christian worldview with liberal arts education.
• Taylor University: Taylor University is a private interdenominational Christian liberal arts university in Upland, Indiana, with comparable enrollment scale, faith-integrated curriculum, NCAA DIII athletics, and a strong outcomes/reputation profile among Midwest Christian institutions.
• Messiah University: Messiah University is a private Christian liberal arts university in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, with comparable undergraduate/graduate program mix, faith-based mission, NCAA DIII athletics, and similar enrollment scale to Calvin.
• Houghton University: Houghton University is a private Christian liberal arts college in western New York with a comparable enrollment scale, faith-integrated curriculum, and NCAA DIII athletics model overlapping directly with Calvin's positioning.
• Azusa Pacific University: Azusa Pacific University is a private Christian university in California offering undergraduate, graduate, and online programs through multiple schools—closely paralleling Calvin's multi-school structure and faith-based academic model, though at a larger scale.

Broad incumbents

• Liberty University: Liberty University is a much larger private Christian university with extensive online program offerings, an enormous enrollment base, and NCAA Division I athletics. It competes with Calvin for Christian and online learners but at a vastly different scale and breadth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/calvincollege
• YouTubeyoutube.com/calvinuniversity
• Facebookfacebook.com/calvincollege
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/calvin-college
• Instagraminstagram.com/calvinuniversity

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Calvin University