Cornerstone University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It enrolls 1,298 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
64/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes62
Value34
Affordability50
Selectivity44
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 77.8%, Cornerstone University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
77.8%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Cornerstone University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↓
4.4 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Cornerstone University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $20,301 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$20,301
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
33%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
52%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$23,000
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,700
Room & Board (off-campus)
$9,600
Books & Supplies
$560
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,700
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,700
Total Cost of Attendance
$42,043
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$20,177
$30,001 – $48,000
$17,674
$48,001 – $75,000
$17,872
$75,001 – $110,000
$18,489
Over $110,000
$23,135
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,50010%percentile
$7,50025%percentile
$25,000Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$35,65690%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $18,500
↓ $6,500
No Pell $19,358
↓ $5,642
Dependent students $19,280
↓ $5,720
Independent students $17,063
↓ $7,937
Female students $18,634
↓ $6,366
Male students $18,563
↓ $6,437
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $10,500, less than completers ($25,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
42% of full-time students who enrolled at Cornerstone University graduate within six years, and 81% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
42%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
81%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Cornerstone University earn a median of $47,314 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$47,314
Earning > $25K
74%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$33,900
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$51,500
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$30,000
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$42,900
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$44,700
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $17,600, about 34% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
9.1 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 76% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Cornerstone University is home to 1,298 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 35% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
1,298
Part-Time
21%
First-Generation
35%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 70.3%913
Black 6.6%86
Hispanic 6.2%81
International 4.9%64
Other 2.8%36
Asian 1.6%21
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Cornerstone University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CityGrand Rapids, Michigan
Housing
Mostly residential780 beds on campus
Adult Learners
14%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Cornerstone University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
53 distinct programs across
19 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Cornerstone University is 15:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
15:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$98M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$60,324
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
51 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
17
33%
$65,532
Associate Professors
11
22%
$56,156
Assistant Professors
22
43%
$59,124
Instructors
1
2%
$44,036
Pros & Cons of Cornerstone University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Cornerstone University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Tight-knit, close community feel
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Below-average completion rate
Best for:
Based on the data, Cornerstone University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cornerstone University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Cornerstone University.
Is Cornerstone University hard to get into?
Cornerstone University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 77.8%.
What is the acceptance rate at Cornerstone University?
Cornerstone University has an acceptance rate of 77.8%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Cornerstone University cost?
The average net price after aid at Cornerstone University is $20,301 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Cornerstone University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $47,314 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $20,301 per year. That's roughly 2.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Cornerstone University known for?
Cornerstone University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Counseling Psychology, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Cornerstone University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Cornerstone University are $47,314, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Cornerstone University accredited?
Yes. Cornerstone University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Cornerstone University?
Cornerstone University enrolls 1,298 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Cornerstone University?
Cornerstone University graduates 42% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Cornerstone University a public or private college?
Cornerstone University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Cornerstone University located?
Cornerstone University is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
What programs does Cornerstone University offer?
Cornerstone University offers 53 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Counseling Psychology, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Cornerstone University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Cornerstone University is 15:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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