Five Years In: Calvin School of Business Builds Leaders Grounded in Christian Liberal Arts
This month marks five years since Calvin University broke ground on a state-of-the-art facility built to equip business leaders and entrepreneurs as Christ’s agents of renewal in the world. In the years since, the Calvin University School of Business (CUSB) has translated that vision into measurable momentum—growing student demand, expanding programs, and deepening outcomes that extend well beyond bricks and mortar.
Since 2022, enrollment has grown 64 percent, from 532 to 870 students—growth that stands out at a time when many colleges and universities are seeing steep declines. That growth reflects both student interest and the school’s commitment to building clear pathways from classroom learning to real-world impact.
Academic programs
Five new academic programs have been launched or redesigned to meet student and market demand, complementing existing strengths in Accounting, Finance, Financial Planning, Human Resources Management, and Marketing.
New majors: Operations and Supply Chain Management; Business Analytics; Entrepreneurship.
Graduate program: A redesigned MBA focused on leadership and innovation.
Curriculum: New courses in AI and business.
Co-curricular programs
Five new co-curricular programs were launched to help students start businesses, develop leadership skills, network with the business community, and prepare for fulfilling careers. These programs complement existing student organizations like the HR Club, Knight Investment Management (KIM), the Marketing Club, Nexus Peer Financial Coaching, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), and the Women’s Business Network.
Entrepreneurship: Calvin Startup Garage, which helps students start and scale thriving redemptive businesses.
Professional community: The Accounting Club; the Supply Chain Management Association; International Business Student Club.
Career readiness: The Student Professional Development Program.
Student leadership: The Student Leadership Council, which partners with the dean, department chairs, and faculty to support the long-term health and vitality of the CUSB.
Donors and Calvin alumni have been tremendously supportive, contributing more than $4.5 million and establishing five new named or endowed scholarships to help make a CUSB education accessible and affordable. In total, business students are now supported by 122 named or endowed scholarships with a value of nearly $445,000 annually.
The school has added or replaced nine faculty members with significant business experience and strong academic training, bringing more than 100 years of experience across fields like investment banking and supply chain management. That expertise shapes what students learn and how they tackle real business problems, while faculty scholarship continues to gain momentum through increased quality and quantity of publications along with initiatives including the Award for Scholarship and Christianity in Business and the Faith in Business author series.
“The numbers are exciting, but they only tell a fraction of the story,” said School of Business Dean Jim Ludema. “People love hiring Calvin business grads because, at Calvin, they receive a world-class business education combined with the Christian liberal arts like religion, history, philosophy, English, and the natural sciences. This powerful combination broadens their perspective and makes them more creative, visionary, proactive, kind, compassionate, and collaborative. Our graduates know how to solve real business problems and think deeply about their role and the role of business in the world.”
The investments are translating into strong outcomes for graduates. In recent years, CUSB reports that 100 percent of business graduates have been employed or enrolled in graduate school within six months of graduation.
“We're not just training business professionals,” added Ludema. “We're developing leaders who understand that business is about serving others. If the past five years are a preview of what’s to come, we believe God is calling us to continue to find new and creative ways to glorify him through the world of business.”
