Kuyper College
Grand Rapids, Michigan · Private Nonprofit · 69.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 25/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Kuyper College is a small Reformed Christian institution in Grand Rapids, Michigan, enrolling 145 students and focused on integrating faith with professional preparation. Its overall ROI score of 25 - Below Benchmark - reflects several compounding challenges: average earnings of $27,000 at six years, a 33.4-year payback period, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.792, and a 50% completion rate. The sticker tuition of $27,660 drops to an average net price of $15,644 through institutional aid, and lower-income students in certain bands pay closer to $10,765 - the most accessible pricing tier. Pell Grant recipients represent 43% of the student body, consistent with Kuyper's commitment to serving students with limited means. The repayment rate of 78% at three years is one of the few positive data points, suggesting graduates who do borrow generally manage their obligations. The single program with Scorecard earnings data is Social Work, with four-year median earnings of $35,472 - modest but reflective of the mission-driven career paths Kuyper serves. For students specifically called to Reformed Christian ministry, social services, or related vocations, Kuyper's community and theological formation may justify the financial risk. The data make clear, however, that prospective students must minimize borrowing and enter with a concrete vocational plan.
How Kuyper College scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- ROI Score25/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- Payback period33.4 years - The median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Kuyper College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $27,660/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $27,660/yr |
| Average net price | $15,644/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $62,576 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $41,066 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $27,000 |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,389 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $227 |
| Estimated payback period | 33.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 50.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 145 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $27,660/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $15,644/year, or roughly $62,576 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $14,024/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $21,321/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $21,389, which works out to about $227 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($27,000) and comes to 0.79, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $14,024 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $10,765 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $13,865 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $24,243 |
| $110,001+ | $21,321 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Students from families earning under $30,000 pay approximately $14,024 annually - roughly $56,000 over four years. Against six-year earnings of $27,000, the standard financial return is negative until well into the payback period. Pell Grants are critical for making Kuyper accessible, and students should model debt scenarios carefully to avoid borrowing beyond what mission-aligned wages can sustain.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income students in the $30,000 - $48,000 band qualify for the lowest net price band at $10,765 - an unusual circumstance where this middle band pays less than the lowest band. At that price, the investment is more manageable. However, at $13,865 - $24,243 for higher middle-income bands, the math becomes more challenging given the $27,000 average earnings at six years.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income families paying near $21,321 annually are effectively subsidizing the institution without the same needs-based grant support. The 33.4-year payback period means the investment is premised on non-financial returns - vocational calling, community formation, and theological preparation - rather than economic return.
Earnings by Major
Top 1 most popular majors at Kuyper College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Social Work | $35,472 | - |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Social Work
The only program with Scorecard earnings data shows four-year median earnings of $35,472. The cohort of 6 graduates is very small, limiting statistical precision. Social work wages reflect the structural constraints of public and nonprofit service sectors. Students in this program who pursue an MSW - which many social work roles require for licensure - may see improved earnings over time, but the undergraduate investment should be kept as low as possible.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 74.6% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 78.2% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 68.8% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 77.8% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Kuyper College’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 69.1% |
| Enrollment | 145 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 43.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $5,553 |
Kuyper admits 69% of applicants and does not publish standardized test score ranges, consistent with a personalized admissions process. Applicants will typically demonstrate Christian faith commitment and alignment with the college's Reformed theological tradition. The small enrollment means cohort-level relationships with faculty begin at admission.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kuyper College (this school) | 25 | $15,644 | $41,066 |
| Albion College | 65 | $14,301 | $58,799 |
| Adrian College | 39 | $25,368 | $55,504 |
| Humphreys University-Stockton and Modesto Campuses | 25 | $5,524 | $39,248 |
| Caribbean University-Vega Baja | 20 | $5,235 | $22,842 |
| Universidad Pentecostal Mizpa | 17 | $6,440 | $21,410 |
Who Thrives Here
Kuyper College fits students committed to Reformed Christian faith integration who are drawn to careers in ministry, social work, education, or community service. The tiny campus of 145 students creates an unusually close-knit formation environment. Prospective students should understand that the financial case is difficult without significant grant aid and a clear mission-aligned career path. Students primarily motivated by career earnings will find the data compelling grounds to explore other options.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, Kuyper College scores 25/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $15,644 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $41,066 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 33.4 years. In our view that makes the financial case a hard one to make on the numbers alone, but those numbers are averages: your major, your aid package and what you want from a degree all change the picture, so run your own numbers before you commit.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, its 50.0% graduation rate, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.79 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a long payback period.
Median debt of $21,389 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $27,000 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.79. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Kuyper College: Common Questions
Is Kuyper College worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. Kuyper College scores 25/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $15,644 a year after aid against $41,066 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 33.4 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does Kuyper College cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $15,644 a year, or roughly $62,576 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Kuyper College graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $41,066 ten years after enrolling, at or below the $41,800 median for high-school graduates (NCES, 2022). With little earnings gap to cover the cost, the financial return is hard to make.
How long does it take to pay off Kuyper College?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 33.4 years for Kuyper College. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Kuyper College graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $21,389, against average earnings of $27,000 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.79. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Kuyper College?
The six-year graduation rate is 50.0%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.