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Colleges in and near Grand Rapids

Grand Rapids is home to five colleges, with about 14,000 students on campus

Grand Rapids Community College (7,986 students on campus) and Calvin University (3,060) are inside the city. About 8% of Grand Rapids’ residents are enrolled in college, above Michigan (6%).

Grand Rapids Community CollegeAquinas CollegeCornerstone UniversityCalvin University

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Grand Rapids. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
10
38,065 students on campus
Nearest college
0.7 mi
Grand Rapids
Residents in college
8%
Above MI (6%)
Nearest community college
0.7 mi
Grand Rapids · $4,179 tuition
Nearest public university
11.8 mi
Grand Valley State · $15,140 in-state
Median household income
$69K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Grand Rapids

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

Four colleges within 4.1 milesAquinas College admits 90% of applicants; Cornerstone University admits 78%; Calvin University admits 71%. Together they have 13,630 students on campus.A community college 0.7 miles awayGrand Rapids Community College in Grand Rapids: tuition and fees $4,179 a year for Michigan residents.In-state price at Grand Valley StateLiving in Michigan, Grand Valley State University charges $15,140 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $21,548. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 8% of residentsAbove Michigan (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Grand Rapids

Eight private colleges within 9.9 miles, one public college within 11.8 miles, and Grand Rapids Community College 0.7 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miGrand Valley StateGrand RapidsCalvin UniversityGrand Rapids
University or collegeCommunity college
Grand Rapids Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 7,986 on campus · In Grand Rapids$9knet price21%graduate$38kearningsTuition and fees: $4,179 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Aquinas CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,269 on campus · In Grand Rapids90%admitted$17knet price65%graduate$50kearningsCornerstone UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,315 on campus · In Grand Rapids78%admitted$20knet price62%graduate$47kearningsGrace Christian UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 415 on campus · 3.4 mi · Wyoming · mostly online99%admitted$12knet price51%graduate$42kearnings56% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Calvin UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,060 on campus · In Grand Rapids71%admitted$23knet price74%graduate$58kearningsCalvin Theological SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 201 on campus · In Grand RapidsGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Ross College-Grand Rapids NorthUniversity or college · For-profit · 267 on campus · 4.7 mi · Grand Rapids$20knet price57%graduate$30kearningsEarnings are reported for all 7 campuses that file with it.Kuyper CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 152 on campus · 5.3 mi · Grand Rapids69%admitted$16knet price50%graduate$41kearningsDavenport UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,427 on campus · 9.9 mi · Grand Rapids98%admitted$18knet price57%graduate$45kearningsGrand Valley State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 20,973 on campus · 11.8 mi · Allendale83%admitted$16knet price67%graduate$56kearnings

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $48–75k, where Grand Rapids’ median household income ($69,108) falls.

Grand Rapids Community CollegeIn Grand Rapids · sticker $15,658 · tuition $4,179$8,362a year
Grace Christian University3.4 mi · Wyoming · mostly online · sticker $26,166$10,037a year
Grand Valley State University11.8 mi · Allendale · sticker $28,367$12,861a year
Aquinas CollegeIn Grand Rapids · sticker $51,652$13,594a year
Kuyper College5.3 mi · Grand Rapids · sticker $38,366$13,865a year
Cornerstone UniversityIn Grand Rapids · sticker $42,043$17,872a year
Calvin UniversityIn Grand Rapids · sticker $54,222$19,447a year
Ross College-Grand Rapids North4.7 mi · Grand Rapids · sticker $24,414$20,937a year
Davenport University9.9 mi · Grand Rapids · sticker $37,319$22,856a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Grand Rapids: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Grand RapidsCornerstone UniversityCalvin UniversityDavenport UniversityGrand Valley State
Grand Valley State University67% graduate$56k earnings$24k typical debt
Grand Rapids Community College21% graduate$38k earnings$9k typical debt
Calvin University74% graduate$58k earnings$23k typical debt
Davenport University57% graduate$45k earnings$26k typical debt
Cornerstone University62% graduate$47k earnings$25k typical debt
Aquinas College65% graduate$50k earnings$23k typical debt
Grace Christian University51% graduate$42k earnings$24k typical debt
Ross College-Grand Rapids North57% graduate$30k earnings*$10k typical debt
Kuyper College50% graduate$41k earnings$21k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Ross College-Grand Rapids North (7).

Majors

What students study in Grand Rapids

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Grand Rapids’ 4 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Liberal arts 25%Business 16%Health professions 13%Computer science 4%Engineering tech 4%Education 4%Everything else 35%

Biggest programs

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesGrand Rapids Community College · 731 graduates a year
$47k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingGrand Rapids Community College · 90 graduates a year
$74k4 yrs out
Engineering, GeneralCalvin University · 79 graduates a year
$82k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingCalvin University · 66 graduates a year
$75k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsCornerstone University · 59 graduates a year
$67k4 yrs out
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsCalvin University · 49 graduates a year
$47k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsAquinas College · 46 graduates a year
$74k4 yrs out
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasCalvin University · 46 graduates a year
$46k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Grand Rapids

Is Grand Rapids a college town?

No. About 8 of every 100 Grand Rapids residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Michigan (6). The largest campus in the city, Grand Rapids Community College, has 7,986 students on campus.

What colleges are in Grand Rapids?

Grand Rapids Community College, Calvin University, Cornerstone University, Aquinas College and 1 more are inside the city.

What is the closest community college to Grand Rapids, and what does it cost?

Grand Rapids Community College in Grand Rapids, 0.7 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,179 a year for Michigan residents; the federal net price, $8,621, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Grand Valley State University cost if we live in Michigan?

Tuition and fees are $15,140 a year in-state and $21,548 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $12,272 (under $30,000 income) to $22,534 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Grand Rapids. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →