With the cost of higher education increasing annually, many families are exploring ways to save for college.
Calvin’s Tuition Gift Certificate Program offers you the opportunity to help make a Calvin education affordable for tomorrow’s students—at today’s costs!
Consider how a Calvin education could make a lasting impact on the life of your child, grandchild, niece, nephew, or neighbor. For over 140 years Calvin has been challenging young people to open their minds, strengthen their faith, and hone their gifts, preparing them for lives of service in God’s world. Such an education is life-changing and world-renewing.
Purchasing a Calvin tuition gift certificate for a young person would help make such an education possible—and clearly demonstrates your support and encouragement of that student’s future!
A Calvin tuition gift certificate is a unique gift because it will continue to grow in value, thus reducing the impact of future tuition increases. While its value can be measured in actual dollars and cents, its benefits can be seen in the lives of Calvin alumni all over the world.
Tuition Units
Tuition gift certificates can be purchased in increments called units. One unit represents 1/100th of one full school years tuition at Calvin. A certificate of 100 units would pay for one school years tuition. A full school year includes two semesters of 12–17 credits each.
Tuition Increases
Once a certificate is issued for a certain number of units, that certificate will always be worth that fraction of a full school year’s tuition cost. In other words, the value of the units will grow at the same rate at which tuition costs increase.
Example: John and Marie Brown purchased ten tuition units for their daughter, Grace, in 2004 when Grace was born. At that time, Calvin’s tuition was $17,770, so their ten-unit certificate cost the Browns $1,777. When Grace enrolled at Calvin in fall of 2022, tuition had increased to $38,370. The value of her ten-unit certificate, therefore, had increased to $3,837 and, as planned, supplemented 10 percent of Grace’s tuition expenses.
Re-designating Tuition Gift Certificates
The purchaser of a tuition gift certificate may re-designate the certificate to another prospective student. Any changes to the certificate must be made in the records on file at Calvin University and not merely on the paper certificate held by the purchaser. Calvin will then issue a new certificate to the purchaser. Certificates may not be refunded—only re-designated.
Charitable Gift Implications
The money paid to Calvin to purchase tuition units does not in any way constitute a charitable gift to Calvin and cannot, therefore, be deducted as such. However, if the named student beneficiary does not enroll at Calvin and the purchaser is not able to re-designate the certificate to an alternate beneficiary, the purchaser may re-designate the certificate to the Calvin University Scholarship Fund. The purchaser would then receive a gift receipt for the value of the certificate units based on the tuition cost on the date of the re-designation.
According to Calvin’s best understanding of the law, neither the purchase of a certificate nor the application of a certificate to the cost of tuition is a taxable event. However, you should consult your own tax advisor regarding the tax implications for your particular situation.
Scholarship and Financial Aid Implications
Expiration of Tuition Gift Certificates
If the certificate is purchased before the designated student’s 18th birthday, the certificate will not expire until the student’s 25th birthday. If the certificate is purchased on or after the designated student’s 18th birthday, the certificate will be valid for seven years beyond the date of issue. If a certificate expires without reassignment, the benefit will be credited to the Calvin University Scholarship Fund.
Costs and Procedures
The cost of a tuition unit (1/100th of a full year’s tuition cost at Calvin) is established on February 1 based on the tuition cost for the next academic year, which begins the following September. Therefore, purchases made on or after February 1 are made on the basis of the tuition cost for the next academic year.
Today’s Certificate Value
Current Purchase Cost
$383.70 per unit
Valid until January 29, 2024
Certificates purchased during academic year 2023/2024 may be redeemed, at the earliest, in the academic year 2025/2026