Head-to-head comparison
Calvin University vs Davenport University: which has better ROI?
Option A Grand Rapids, MI
Calvin University
- Net price / year
- $22,992
- Earnings, 10 years
- $58,375
- Payback
- 9.2 yrs
Option B Grand Rapids, MI
Davenport University
- Net price / year
- $17,707
- Earnings, 10 years
- $45,099
- Payback
- No payback
Calvin University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $91,968 in 9.2 years versus not at all at Davenport University, on median earnings of $58,375 vs $45,099 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Calvin University | Davenport University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,992 | $17,707 |
| Total net cost | $91,968 | $70,828 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $58,375 | $45,099 |
| Median debt | $23,250 | $26,000 |
| Payback | 9.2 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | $108,332 | -$136,048 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Calvin University or Davenport University?
Davenport University, at $17,707 a year after aid versus $22,992 — a gap of $5,285 a year, or $21,140 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Calvin University or Davenport University graduates earn more?
Calvin University graduates report a median $58,375 ten years after entry, $13,276 more than the $45,099 at Davenport University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Calvin University or Davenport University?
Calvin University: its completers carry a median $23,250 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Davenport University, a difference of $2,750. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
74% of students finish at Calvin University, against 57% at Davenport University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.