The Christian university explains what is behind the record number of enrollments

A Christian university this year welcomed its largest class in a decade, a development the school says is the result of a multi-year growth effort and its commitment to integrating faith and biblical principles into its students’ educational experiences.

Calvin University is a private Christian school in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Named after Christian reformer John Calvin, the university began in 1876 as a ministry training school and expanded from there.

In addition to offering more than 100 majors and programs to its 3,600 students, the university strives to provide graduates and undergraduates with an education that teaches them how to act as servants of Christ in this world.

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“At Calvin, we are very mission-oriented,” Lauren Jensen, vice president for Enrollment Strategy at the university, told The Christian Post in an interview. “We are clear about who we are. I think young men and women are excited about that and are happy to be part of a Christian community where faith is integrated into the education we do, both in the classroom and within the curriculum.”

According to the vice president for enrollment strategy, Calvin University welcomed its largest class in a decade, with an incoming class 12% larger than last year’s and 20% more freshmen than the year before.”

This trend of growing enrollment numbers, according to Jensen, is due to several strategies that have been underway for years. The university employee explained that the school has been building its recruitment team and developing new ways to connect with prospective students.

Two years ago, Calvin began offering a $2,000 visiting grant to students. Students who attend and then enroll at the university will receive a $2,000 scholarship applied to their financial aid.

“And we’re so excited about that because students can come and interact with our faculty and beautiful spaces, and they can meet our Christian community,” Jensen said. “They fall in love with the school and use that grant to cover the cost of school.”

As for academics, Jensen shared that the university will be adding an aerospace concentration to its respected engineering program in the fall of 2025. The school has also expanded options for students interested in music or community building opportunities by launching its first marching band program this year.

“So we’re taking the strength that we’ve had in our academic programs and expanding it,” Jensen said.

The vice president for enrollment strategies also noted that part of Calvin University’s appeal is that it lives up to its status as a Christian university, something Jensen said appeals to students who want to pursue academic excellence while growing in their faith. She added that some colleges and universities may brand themselves as Christian institutions, but some do not integrate the faith into their curricula and campus life.

Some prospective students and parents may be tempted to look at public universities because of the cost of tuition or because they think a secular education is more valuable than a faith-filled one. However, Jensen argued that Christian colleges like Calvin are worth the investment. She explained that faith-based schools are a place where students can live out their faith while having their perspectives challenged.

“You do that within a Christian community where you can grow, and that’s a beautiful thing that I think is worth pursuing and investing in,” she said. “Don’t just look at the sticker price. Go through the process, apply and receive the financial aid package. Do all of that because the community and faith formation and connection you will have with the faculty of a Christian college is so valuable to who you become in your adult life.