Kalamazoo College
Kalamazoo, Michigan · Private Nonprofit · 75.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 74/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Kalamazoo College scores 74 (Fair Value) on the CampusROI scale - a mixed picture that reflects genuine strengths in graduate outcomes alongside a debt burden that outpaces earnings for many programs. The completion rate of 76.0% is a real strength, as is the repayment rate of 85.7%, which signals that graduates do manage their loans despite the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.659. Computer and Information Sciences stands out clearly: 29 graduates earning $72,008 at year one and $117,826 at year four, with no debt-to-earnings ratio data but strong trajectory. Business Administration (35 graduates) earns $47,481 at year one with a C+ ROI grade. The weaker programs are Biology (F grade, debt-to-earnings 1.105) and English Language and Literature (F grade, debt-to-earnings 1.046) - both reflect graduates whose near-term earnings cannot comfortably service Kalamazoo's debt levels. The K-Plan, which integrates study abroad and internships into the degree, is a distinguishing feature that may produce non-earnings value the Scorecard data does not fully capture.
Kalamazoo College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $61,050/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $61,050/yr |
| Average net price | $19,072/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $76,288 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $65,590 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $39,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,077 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $276 |
| Estimated payback period | 7.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 76.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,149 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $61,050/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $19,072/year, or roughly $76,288 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $12,019/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $28,672/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $26,077, which works out to about $276 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($39,600) and comes to 0.66, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $12,019 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $11,804 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $15,337 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $24,412 |
| $110,001+ | $28,672 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $12,019 net per year at Kalamazoo. Over four years, that amounts to roughly $48,000. Against a 7.1-year payback period and $39,600 average 6-year earnings, the case is reasonable for students in high-earning programs. The 76% completion rate is a relative strength; most students who start do finish. Low-income students should focus on program selection - nursing, CS, and business produce meaningfully better outcomes than humanities or social sciences at this price point.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $15,337 net per year, and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $24,412 - a meaningful jump that signals the aid formula thins for families in the upper-middle range. Families earning $75,000-$110,000 face a four-year cost approaching $100,000.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000 or more pay $28,672 net per year - roughly $115,000 over four years. At that cost, the 7.1-year payback period and $39,600 average 6-year earnings require careful program selection. CS and business graduates who leverage the K-Plan effectively can justify full-cost enrollment; humanities students at full pay at Kalamazoo should have a clear plan for the post-graduation period, whether that is graduate school or a specific employer pipeline.
Earnings by Major
Top 9 most popular majors at Kalamazoo College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | $52,863 | F |
| Psychology | $54,747 | D |
| Business Administration and Management | $75,260 | C+ |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $117,826 | - |
| Social Sciences, Other | $59,193 | D |
| English Language and Literature | $49,150 | F |
| Chemistry | $63,824 | C |
| International Relations | $45,265 | D |
| Economics | $72,170 | C |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences is Kalamazoo's strongest financial program: 29 graduates, $72,008 median year-one earnings, $117,826 at year four. No debt or ROI grade data is available. CS graduates from liberal arts colleges increasingly enter software engineering, data roles, and technology consulting. The K-Plan's internship component likely adds practical experience that benefits graduates in technical hiring pipelines.
Business Administration and Management
Business Administration (35 graduates) earns $47,481 at year one and $75,260 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.548 (ROI grade C+). The four-year trajectory to $75,260 is reasonable, but graduates carrying $26,000 in debt will spend several years with meaningful payment obligations. Students in this program should target career placements early.
Economics
Economics (16 graduates) earns $42,508 at year one and $72,170 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.635 (ROI grade C). The four-year jump is strong and suggests meaningful career progression - likely into business, finance, consulting, or graduate study. Median debt of $27,000 is high relative to year-one earnings of $42,508, creating a tight repayment window.
Biology
Biology (56 graduates) is Kalamazoo's largest program by reported graduates and earns $24,211 at year one and $52,863 at year four. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.105 (ROI grade F) reflects a common problem for pre-professional biology students: near-term earnings are low while debt is high, because the career pipeline runs through graduate or medical school where Scorecard does not capture subsequent earnings. Students in biology are largely tracking toward health professions, graduate research, or medical school - the Scorecard six-year earnings figure significantly underrepresents their ultimate financial trajectory.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 81.0% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 85.7% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 81.4% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 87.4% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Kalamazoo College’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 75.3% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 580-680 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 590-700 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 20-29 |
| Enrollment | 1,149 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 25.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,916 |
At 75.3%, Kalamazoo is accessible for most applicants who meet basic academic qualifications. The SAT and ACT ranges are broad (ACT 20-29), suggesting the college values demonstrated interest and fit over cutoff scores.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.659 is the primary concern.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kalamazoo College (this school) | 74 | $19,072 | $65,590 |
| Mount Saint Mary's University | 75 | $21,413 | $72,379 |
| Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health | 74 | $21,863 | $65,071 |
| Washington & Jefferson College | 72 | $25,002 | $67,918 |
| Albion College | 65 | $14,301 | $58,799 |
| Adrian College | 39 | $25,368 | $55,504 |
Who Thrives Here
Kalamazoo admits 75.3% of applicants, with SAT mid-ranges of 580-680 Math and 590-700 Reading, and ACT composite 20-29. The 1,149-student campus is intimate and residential. Kalamazoo attracts students drawn to experiential education - the K-Plan integrates internships, study abroad, and a senior individualized project into every degree, producing a differentiated graduate experience. Students who benefit most from Kalamazoo are those with clear professional or graduate-school intent who can leverage the K-Plan.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Kalamazoo College is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $19,072 a year after aid ($76,288 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $65,590 a decade out, the cost takes about 7.1 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 76.0% graduation rate, high loan repayment success. What to keep an eye on: a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66 (median across the schools we score: 0.61).
Median debt of $26,077 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $39,600 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Kalamazoo College: Common Questions
Is Kalamazoo College worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Kalamazoo College is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 74/100 on our ROI scale. At $19,072 a year after aid ($76,288 over four years) against $65,590 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 7.1 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Kalamazoo College cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $19,072 a year, or roughly $76,288 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Kalamazoo College graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $65,590 ten years after enrolling, roughly $23,790 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Kalamazoo College?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 7.1 years for Kalamazoo College. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Kalamazoo College graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $26,077, against average earnings of $39,600 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Kalamazoo College?
The six-year graduation rate is 76.0%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.