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PrivateUrban

Cornerstone University

Grand Rapids, Michigan 49525-5897

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Campus Vibe

Small & IntimateUrbanPrivateBusiness Focus

Known for business — close-knit campus

Cornerstone University is a private institution in Grand Rapids with particular strength in business and psychology.

A small campus of 1.4K undergraduates with a 15:1 student-faculty ratio. The urban location puts students at the center of city life.

62% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $47,314 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $22,384.

Established
1941
Mascot
Golden Eagle
Type
Private university
Conference
National Association of

Campus Visits

96 upcoming visits · Next: Mon, Jun 1 · Campus Visit

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73%Acceptance
SAT Avg
1,387Students
15:1Student:Faculty
62%Grad Rate
$47,314Earnings 10yr
$22,384Net Price

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

Cornerstone University Launches New Data Science Minor

Starting Fall 2026, students can pursue an interdisciplinary data science minor combining CS, statistics, and domain courses.

tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

The board of trustees approved a 3.2% tuition increase for the upcoming academic year, in line with peer institutions.

Admissions

Acceptance Rate73.2%

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Admissions Intel

Acceptance Rate

73.2%

Trend

Yield Rate

35.0%

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$29,100
Room & Board$12,200
Books & Supplies$840
Total Cost of Attendance$40,737
Average Net Price$22,384
Median Debt at Graduation$25,000
Monthly Payment (10yr)$265

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$17,129
$30–48K$18,158
$48–75K$21,507
$75–110K$23,345
$110K+$25,522

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

45.4%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$18,634

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

11

Peer Average

13

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus security, emergency notification system

Incident Breakdown (2024)

3

Burglary

1

Aggravated Assault

0

Robbery

1

Motor Vehicle Theft

1

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

3

Drug Arrests

2

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (64)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

84%

Mixed
  • 84% first-year retention rate
  • Active student organizations
  • Engaged campus community

Mental Health Services

Counselor Ratio

1:350

24/7 Crisis Line

Yes

Free Sessions

12 per year

Avg Wait

5 days

Walk-in hours available weekdays

Disability Services

Dedicated OfficeOffice of Disability Services
Extended test timeNote-taking assistanceHousing accommodationsAccessible transportation

ADA-compliant campus with ongoing accessibility improvements

Dining

Rating

★★★★☆

Score

4/5

Meal Plan

$6,200/yr

VegetarianVeganGluten-freeHalalKosher

Multiple dining halls with farm-to-table options

Student Body

Undergrads
1,387
Gender Split
61% / 39%
Women / Men
First Generation
35%
Pell Grant Recipients
30%

Race & Ethnicity

White 72%
Black 7%
Hispanic 5%
Asian 2%
Two+ 2%
Int'l 6%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate61.6%
Freshman Retention83.8%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$42,598
10 Years$47,314

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

Rankings

U.S. News
#45
2
vs 2024
Forbes
#52
1
vs 2024
Niche
#38
3
vs 2024

More About This School

Varsity Sports — Golden Eagles

Basketball championships

History & Fun Facts

  • History Cornerstone was founded in 1941 as the Baptist Bible Institute by the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches as an evening school.
  • The first class graduated in 1944, and the first degree was conferred in 1947.
  • It was accredited in 1963 as a four-year degree-granting college and renamed Grand Rapids Baptist Bible College and Seminary.
  • WCSG began broadcasting in June 1973 with an easy listening and fine arts format.
  • In 1993, it absorbed the Grand Rapids School of Bible and Music.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

112Above Average

Housing and food costs are higher than national average

Climate (School Year)

68°
Sep
55°
Oct
42°
Nov
30°
Dec
25°
Jan
28°
Feb
38°
Mar
50°
Apr
62°
May
Snowfall: 48"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 120

Nearest Cities

Bostonpop. 675,647
90 miles(95 min)
Hartfordpop. 121,054
60 miles(70 min)

Transit Scores

BikeableCampus shuttle: Free campus shuttle runs 7am-midnight
72
Walk Score
45
Transit Score
68
Bike Score

Local Economy

Unemployment Rate3.2%
Top Employers
UniversityRegional Medical CenterTech corridor firms
Key Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnology

Getting There

Nearest Airports

MKE Milwaukee116 mi
DTW Detroit126 mi
ORD Chicago O'Hare137 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA739 mi · ~21h 21m drive
New York, NY616 mi · ~17h 48m drive
Hartford, CT664 mi · ~19h 11m drive
Providence, RI727 mi · ~21h drive
Albany, NY600 mi · ~17h 20m drive
Syracuse, NY477 mi · ~13h 47m drive
Rochester, NY403 mi · ~11h 39m drive
Buffalo, NY340 mi · ~9h 49m drive
Philadelphia, PA579 mi · ~16h 44m drive
Pittsburgh, PA338 mi · ~9h 46m drive
Harrisburg, PA487 mi · ~14h 4m drive
Newark, NJ607 mi · ~17h 32m drive
Washington, DC528 mi · ~15h 15m drive
Baltimore, MD532 mi · ~15h 22m drive
Atlanta, GA641 mi · ~18h 31m drive
Charlotte, NC593 mi · ~17h 8m drive
Raleigh, NC620 mi · ~17h 55m drive
Miami, FL1228 mi · ~35h 29m drive
Orlando, FL1025 mi · ~29h 37m drive
Tampa, FL1053 mi · ~30h 25m drive
Nashville, TN475 mi · ~13h 43m drive
New Orleans, LA934 mi · ~26h 59m drive
Richmond, VA571 mi · ~16h 30m drive
Chicago, IL129 mi · ~3h 44m drive
Detroit, MI137 mi · ~3h 57m drive
Minneapolis, MN405 mi · ~11h 42m drive
St. Louis, MO385 mi · ~11h 7m drive
Kansas City, MO539 mi · ~15h 34m drive
Indianapolis, IN224 mi · ~6h 28m drive
Columbus, OH248 mi · ~7h 10m drive
Cleveland, OH224 mi · ~6h 28m drive
Milwaukee, WI117 mi · ~3h 23m drive
Dallas, TX931 mi · ~26h 54m drive
Houston, TX1061 mi · ~30h 39m drive
Austin, TX1104 mi · ~31h 54m drive
San Antonio, TX1178 mi · ~34h 2m drive
Los Angeles, CA1856 mi · ~53h 37m drive
San Francisco, CA1955 mi · ~56h 29m drive
San Diego, CA1849 mi · ~53h 25m drive
Seattle, WA1797 mi · ~51h 55m drive
Portland, OR1827 mi · ~52h 47m drive
Denver, CO1028 mi · ~29h 42m drive
Phoenix, AZ1572 mi · ~45h 25m drive
Salt Lake City, UT1356 mi · ~39h 10m drive
Honolulu, HI4347 mi · ~125h 35m drive
Upper Midwest / Northeast (cold winters, warm summers)

Visit Planning

Suggested Itinerary

9:00 AMArrive & park
Visitor parking lot
Free parking with visitor pass
9:30 AMCheck in at Admissions
Admissions Office
10:00 AMInformation session
Welcome Center
45 minutes
11:00 AMCampus tour
Starts at Welcome Center
75 minutes, student-led
12:30 PMLunch
Main Dining Hall
Visitor meal passes available
1:30 PMDepartment visit
Academic buildings
Schedule with department directly
2:30 PMExplore campus independently
Library, student center, residence halls

Airport Transit

Milwaukee (MKE)116 miles
Rental car
174 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
232 min$139-232
Detroit (DTW)126 miles
Rental car
189 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
252 min$151-252

Deadline Calendar

Cornerstone University Application Checklist

Decision Notifications

Cornerstone University — v2 Preview — TourStack