Paying for Calvin

First year U.S. citizens living internationally should apply for financial aid as a first-year student.

First year Canadian citizens should apply for financial aid here.

Applying for financial aid for international citizens

Each family's situation will be individually assessed through a careful and confidential review of the International Student Application for Financial Aid or the International Student Full Pay Agreement.

Financial aid deadline: April 1

All forms are due to Calvin including:

all information and forms required for international admission to Calvin
International Student Application for Financial Aid (if requesting financial aid) or the International Student Full Pay Agreement (if not requesting financial aid) and any supporting documents such as bank and income statements.

and will be reviewed as follows:

Academic admission:

One your file is complete, it is assessed to determine whether you are academically admissible to Calvin.
If you are admissible, you will be notified within four weeks from the date that your file is complete.
If you are eligible for an academic scholarship, you will be informed of the scholarship amount within the your admission notification.

Formal admission:

Your admission to Calvin is not formalized until your financial ability to cover Calvin's costs has been determined.
Financial aid forms and supporting documents will be reviewed to determine your total financial aid award. If you are eligible, you may receive need-based grant funds to partially cover your educational costs.
Your financial aid award will be sent to you by e-mail.
Your family must accept your financial aid award before your admissions will be formalized.
An official letter of admission and financial aid award will be sent to you upon formal admission.

Grants & scholarships

Calvin provides generous grants and scholarships to qualified international students, but college assistance will cover only a portion of the educational and personal costs.

Transcripts, SAT or ACT scores, and admissions essays are used for scholarship consideration.
Academic scholarships ($1,000-15,000) are awarded as part of the admission process; no additional application is required.

Other available scholarships

Family resources

Each student is also required to contribute a significant portion of their college costs through their own resources, sponsors or outside scholarships.

Calvin has limited grants and scholarships to assist international students.
Your family should use the International Student Application for Financial Aid (if requesting financial assistance) or the International Student Full Pay Agreement (if not requesting financial assistance) to document their ability to support your educational costs.

Finding an on-campus job

International students may work on campus while at Calvin. These wages can potentially go towards your educational costs. They might also cover the cost of textbooks and personal expenses.

You can earn approximately $2,500 working on campus for 10-15 hours per week during the school year. You may also work up to 40 hours per week on campus during the summer for additional earnings.
Students granted an F-1 Visa may work up to 20 hours per week on campus during the school year and 40 hours per week during vacation periods.

The financial aid package is subject to change if subsequent information is received that changes your need eligibility, your housing or enrollment status changes, or you receive additional aid resources that were not known at the time of initial awarding.

Setting up a bank account

Students will set up a bank account with our local credit union (bank) within the first week after they arrive on campus. Parents will be able to wire funds directly into that account once it is established.

Bringing money to the U.S.

If you are bringing large sums of "cash" money with you, remember to declare it at Customs or it will be confiscated. Once on campus, contact our Campus Safety Department and have them place your money into their safe. Have your money labeled and ask them for a receipt with your name, the amount of money you gave them, the date received and their name.

During orientation week students will be taken to local stores to buy bedding, toiletries and snacks so some cash for these items is needed. Books will be purchased after credit union accounts are established so money may be wired for that purpose.

The billing process

Calvin uses two different billing processes. One is for tuition, room & board and the other is for "miscellaneous" expenses like bookstore purchases and parking tickets and class fees.

The tuition bill comes 3 times per semester while the miscellaneous bill comes monthly and is to be paid monthly. Be certain you discuss how you and your parents will manage these payments.