Knight Promise

What is the Knight Promise?

Financial aid you can count on each year.

At Calvin University, we believe your potential—not your financial circumstances—should shape your future. The Knight Promise is financial aid you can renew for up to five years, based on your academic achievement and initiative.

These award details are for first-year students starting at Calvin during the 2027–2028 academic year. Contact us for your award details if you plan to start before Fall 2027.

The Knight mascot leans on its shield, surrounded by icons.

Here's how it works

Visit campus ($2000)

Visit Calvin as a high school junior or senior, and you'll receive the $2000 Visit Grant. International students can qualify with virtual visits, too!

Plan your visit

Apply ($2000)

You'll earn the $2000 Knight for Life Award automatically when you apply and are admitted to Calvin.

Apply now

Submit the FAFSA ($2000)

If you are a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to Calvin each year and we'll award you the $2000 FAFSA Filing Grant. Use Calvin’s FAFSA code: 002241.

Submit the FAFSA

Live out of state? ($2000)

Live in a state other than Michigan or outside the U.S.? You’ll get this $2000 Out-of-State or International Grant automatically when you enroll at Calvin.

Academic scholarships ($10,000–$22,000)

You are guaranteed an academic scholarship with an unweighted high school GPA of 3.0 or higher. Awards vary. Keep scrolling for the full breakdown.

Renewal information

All Knight Promise awards renew automatically (for a total of five years) as long as you are making Satisfactory Academic Progress.
Additionally, you must submit the FAFSA each year to renew the FAFSA Filing Grant.

Knight Promise

Academic scholarships

You are guaranteed an academic scholarship with an unweighted high school GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Academic scholarships are awarded based on either an unweighted GPA or an ACT/SAT test score. Students only need to meet one of these criteria to qualify.

You can send us your updated GPA and test scores through April 30. (Your unweighted GPA is calculated during the application review process.) If you apply as "test optional," we only use your unweighted GPA.

If you have an unweighted high school GPA below 3.0, we'll base your award on your admission application.

Scholarship Amounts and Recipient Scores
Amount	Scholarship	Unweighted GPA	SAT	ACT	CLT
$22,000	National Merit	Selection determined by National Merit Corporation
$20,000	Trustee's	3.95 and above	1400 and above	31 and above	96 and above
$18,000	President's	3.85–3.94	1300–1390	28–30	86–95
$16,000	Provost's	3.75–3.84	1200–1290	25–27	78–85
$14,000	Dean's	3.50–3.74	1100–1190	22–24	72–77
$10,000–$12,000	Faculty's	3.49 and below	N/A	N/A	N/A

Explore Further

Other scholarships and financial aid

Explore other scholarship and aid opportunities in addition to the Knight Promise.

Named Scholarships

Calvin’s Named Scholarships are funded by generous donors and awarded based on your interests, studies, and achievements. With a single application, you’ll be automatically considered for scholarships where you meet the donor’s requirements. Most students match the requirements for 50-60 scholarships! So be sure to apply each year.

Learn more about Named Scholarships

Student Employment

Take advantage of more than 1,000 on-campus jobs available to Calvin students. Or, search employment options off campus.

Learn about student employment on our Career Center site

Outside Scholarships

Here are a few scholarship search tools to get you started.

View outside scholarships

Grants

Explore other federal, state, or Calvin-specific grants you may qualify for. Many of these are based on financial need.

Learn more about grants

Loans

If you submit the FAFSA, you may qualify for a Federal Direct Loan (up to $5,500 for first-year students) or federal parent loans. You can also explore private loans through through banks and credit unions.

Learn more about loans

At a Glance