At its February 2008 meeting, the Calvin Board of Trustees approved the 2008-2009 budget, including new rates for tuition, fees and room & board. The overall Calvin budget for 2008-2009 is $98.7 million, 90 percent of which is received from tuition, fees and room & board.

Tuition and fees for 2008-2009 will be $22,940, while room & board will be $7,970. With additional required fees of $225 the total costs for 2008-2009 will be $31,135. This represents an overall increase of 6.9 percent.

Calvin's tuition and fees remain very competitive when compared to many peer institutions, such as leading members of the CCCU, MIAA, and other noted liberal arts colleges with whom Calvin is compared. The pattern of cost increases at these institutions is also very similar.

Calvin’s tuition, fees and room & board charges continue to be lower than the national average for four-year private colleges. Presently these expenses at Calvin are $2,000 below the national average for four-year, private colleges.

Calvin's commitment to remaining affordable is evidenced by maintaining a strong financial aid program. Over 90 percent of the Calvin student body will receive some form of financial aid in 2008-09, making the actual cost to attend Calvin far less, in most cases, than the $31,135 figure.

Keeping Rising College Costs in Perspective

Calvin is not alone in attempts to contain the rising costs of higher education. Tuition and fees increased at other Christian colleges and universities (CCCU members) during 2007-2008 at an average rate of 6.4%. Calvin's rate of increase was a bit higher than this average increase at 6.9%.

Balancing Quality and Cost

"Focusing on affordable Christian education, Calvin works to maintain tuition below the average for private colleges and universities nationally," comments Dr. Gaylen Byker, Calvin president. "This commitment is aided by the generosity of our alumni and friends whose financial support helps keep tuition affordable."

"As is true each year, the 2008-2009 budget and cost increases it contains were carefully considered and discussed. Our Board respects how these cost increases affect our students and parents, but also affirms the need to maintain Calvin's standard of academic excellence."

“Salaries and benefits constitute about 65% of Calvin’s budget -- this is larger than many industries," observes Henry DeVries, Vice President for Administration and Finance. "Because of this, service-providing organizations such as Calvin must factor a cost-of-living adjustment higher than the generally perceived cost-of-living. Rising health care expenses and a faculty salary schedule which strengthens Calvin's ability to attract and retain outstanding professors are prime contributors to the increase.”

"Calvin is a top-rated school by a number of different measures," adds Vice President Tom McWhertor, "and national college guides consistently praise Calvin for delivering a superior education at a reasonable price. Calvin's tuition and room and board charges continue to be well below the national average for four-year private colleges. Even more so when you look at schools that are more comparable to Calvin academically."

The Princeton Review lists Calvin as one of “America’s Best Value Colleges.” Barron's Best Buys in College Education commends the college's research facilities and study abroad programs at "a price even John Calvin himself would not want to reform."

A Calvin education is a remarkable investment because it is all-embracing. Our students investigate deeply, engage complexities, expand their hearts, sustain the campus community, and extend the college's redemptive reach into the world. Calvin educates the whole person. Calvin students also score impressive pass rates on national qualifying exams. And Calvin ranks 22nd among 1,000 peer private institutions in the number of graduates who have gone on to earn doctoral degrees. This education is available to a wide pool of students—by maintaining affordability without sacrificing quality.

Maintaining Faculty Excellence

An excellent education is supported by an excellent faculty. On February 7, 2008 one of Calvin's master teachers, Dr. Judith Vander Woude was awarded the Presidential Award for Exemplary Teaching. Vander Woude, a professor of speech pathology at Calvin, is the 16th winner of Calvin's top teaching honor.

In supporting Vander Woude's nomination for the teaching award one graduate wrote: "In the area of academics professor Vander Woude set high standards for the students. These standards were crucial for preparing students for graduate school. Through her leadership and organization a clinic was set up in order for students to engage in therapy with students and put book knowledge into action. This experience was unique for undergraduate students and set a firm foundation for clinical experiences in graduate school."

Another graduate in writing to support Vander Woude noted especially her ability to bring her faith to bear in the classroom She said simply: "Dr. Vander Woude encouraged me in my studies and my walk with God, and she also challenged me."

For Vander Woude it's all a little much. She says she just loves to teach.

"When I walked into the classroom the first day of second semester," she recalls, "I was thinking 'yeah this is fun.' You can talk about serious things, you can push students, but you can have fun too."

Yet behind the fun is a well-thought-out approach to what it means to be a teacher.

In her faith and learning integration statement (required by the college as part of the reappointment and tenure process) Vander Woude said: "Although most of us can appear externally to function according to society’s standards, individuals with communicative disorders generally cannot. Their forms of brokenness brand them publicly as imperfect individuals. My hermeneutical goal is to encourage students to reflect on what it is like to live both publicly and privately with a communication disorder. I want them to seek, as Christians, to understand what it is like to have trouble communicating, to encounter odd responses from others, or even worse, to be ignored in everyday situations."

This annual award honors a faculty member for extraordinary skill and commitment; for influencing the education and careers of students in profoundly Christian ways; for service to the College, the Christian church, the profession, and the community; and most of all, for providing to Calvin students – and to all of us – a shining standard of intelligence, effectiveness, wisdom, Christian dedication, and character.

While Calvin professors may be the most dedicated, the most prolific, and the most inspiring Christian college faculty, the professors at Calvin are paid considerably less than faculty at other religiously affiliated colleges of comparative excellence. It is Calvin's task in this and upcoming years to continue to recruit and retain exemplary teachers.

"Focusing on affordable Christian education, Calvin works to maintain tuition below the average for private colleges and universities nationally."

Dr. Gaylen Byker, Calvin president

During this current year (2007–08) Calvin's tuition, room & board and fees are $2,000 below the national average.

Calvin College ranks as one of America's Best Value Colleges by The Princeton Review

Dr. Judith
Vander Woude,
2008 recipient of the Presidential Award for Exemplary Teaching

"My hermeneutical goal is to encourage students to reflect on what it is like to live both publicly and privately with a communication disorder. I want them to seek, as Christians, to understand what it is like to have trouble communicating, to encounter odd responses from others, or even worse, to be ignored in everyday situations."

Judith
Vander Woude

Calvin continues to improve faculty development, including enhancements to its salary structure and a program to enhance research fellowships and sabbaticals, providing qualifying faculty with an opportunity to update and expand their own scholarship and to add value to their teaching.

"Calvin is blessed to have a faculty that is extremely productive in scholarship, research and publishing," adds Tom McWhertor. "Faculty development efforts enhance and expand the education available to students since they benefit from what professors are learning and they often are involved in research projects and fellowships as student researchers."

It is Calvin's task in this and upcoming years to continue to recruit and retain
exemplary teachers.

Additional Resources:

2006-07 College Costs: Keep Rising Prices in Perspective - The College Board
Trends In College Pricing - (PDF, 1.49 MB) The College Board
CCCU Tuition Survey - Council for Christian Colleges and Universities