Kettering University
Flint, Michigan · Private Nonprofit · 78.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 88/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Kettering University is a small private nonprofit engineering and applied sciences institution in Flint, Michigan, enrolling about 1,205 students. It earns an overall ROI score of 88 - placing it in the Strong Value tier. The payback period of just 4.7 years is exceptional, driven by engineering graduates entering high-demand industries immediately. Average six-year earnings of $66,100 and median ten-year earnings of $94,823 reflect the 43% earnings premium engineering credentials generate in the automotive, manufacturing, and technology sectors. The 96% repayment rate at three years is the single most striking data point: virtually no Kettering graduate is struggling to make loan payments. Despite a list tuition of $48,470, the net price drops to $34,660 after aid, and low-income students pay as little as $24,910. The 71% completion rate is solid for an intensive STEM-focused program. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41 earns an 86 on that subscore. Kettering's co-operative education model - where students alternate between coursework and industry work terms - contributes directly to these outcomes by building employment relationships before graduation.
The median graduate earns $94,823 ten years after entry - well above the roughly $53,600 median across the schools we score.
Kettering University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $48,470/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $48,470/yr |
| Average net price | $34,660/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $138,640 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $94,823 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $66,100 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 4.7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 70.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,205 |
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: $48,470/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $34,660/year, or roughly $138,640 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 $24,910/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $39,399/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $27,000, which works out to about $286 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($66,100) and comes to 0.41, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
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 | $24,910 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $23,273 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $31,544 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $33,401 |
| $110,001+ | $39,399 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Students from families earning under $30,000 face a net price of $24,910 - significant, but contextualized by the 4.7-year payback period and $66,100 average earnings at six years. Pell-eligible students who complete the co-op program will typically service their debt within three to four years of graduation.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income students ($30,001 - $48,000) see a net price of $23,273 that is slightly lower than the net price for the lowest income bracket, which may reflect aid packaging. At this price, the engineering ROI is clear: median 10-year earnings of nearly $95,000 against a four-year cost well under $100,000 represents an excellent investment.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income students ($110,000-plus) pay $39,399 in net price - close to full cost. Families at this income level will find Kettering's engineering ROI compelling even without significant grant aid.
Earnings by Major
Top 6 most popular majors at Kettering University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | $99,292 | B |
| Electrical Engineering | $109,977 | B+ |
| Computer Science | $106,638 | B+ |
| Computer Engineering | $120,531 | B |
| Industrial Engineering | $86,265 | - |
| Chemical Engineering | $103,868 | B |
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.
Electrical Engineering
Electrical Engineering is Kettering's top income-generating program. Graduates earn $86,360 one year out, climbing to $109,977 at four years - exceptional numbers for any private institution. Against $30,080 in median debt, the ratio of 0.35 earns a B+ grade. The 53 annual graduates are well-positioned for automotive electronics, defense, and technology roles in the Detroit and broader Midwest corridor.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering is the largest program with 157 graduates annually. One-year median earnings of $79,307 reflect successful co-op to full-time conversion, rising to $99,292 at four years. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.35 earns a B grade. Mechanical engineering at Kettering feeds directly into Michigan's automotive supply chain and the broader manufacturing economy, where the co-op network provides a meaningful hiring advantage.
Computer Science
Computer Science graduates earn $83,751 one year out and $106,638 at four years. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.33 earns a B+ grade. Students benefit from Kettering's co-op network in engineering-adjacent technology roles.
Computer Engineering
Computer Engineering graduates earn $82,580 one year out and $120,531 at four years - the highest four-year earnings across Kettering's tracked programs. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.36 earns a B grade. Strong demand for embedded systems and automotive software engineers underpins these outcomes.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 95.1% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 96.2% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 88.1% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 90.0% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Kettering University’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 | 78.7% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 580-670 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 580-660 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 26-30 |
| Enrollment | 1,205 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 17.0% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,222 |
SAT math mid-range is 580 - 670 and ACT composite is 26 - 30. Students should present strong math and science preparation. The co-op model requires students to manage employment logistics alongside academics, which is a real but rewarding commitment.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettering University (this school) | 88 | $34,660 | $94,823 |
| Clarkson University | 88 | $30,305 | $89,696 |
| Dominican University of California | 81 | $35,333 | $84,713 |
| D'Youville University | 78 | $20,433 | $66,942 |
| Albion College | 65 | $14,301 | $58,799 |
| Adrian College | 39 | $25,368 | $55,504 |
Who Thrives Here
Kettering is built for students who are certain they want an engineering or technical career and willing to commit to the demanding co-op curriculum that alternates semesters with paid industry work. With a Pell rate of 17%, the population skews toward middle- and upper-income students, though low-income aid packages are competitive. The ACT 26 - 30 and SAT 580 - 670 math mid-ranges signal a genuinely selective institution. Students who thrive are analytically strong, professionally oriented, and eager to build industry relationships from day one.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, Kettering University pays off. You'd pay about $34,660 a year after aid ($138,640 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $94,823 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 4.7 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 70.8% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $27,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $66,100 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Kettering University: Common Questions
Is Kettering University worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Kettering University pays off. It scores 88/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $34,660 a year after aid ($138,640 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $94,823 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 4.7 years to earn back.
How much does Kettering University 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 $34,660 a year, or roughly $138,640 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 Kettering University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $94,823 ten years after enrolling, roughly $53,023 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 Kettering University?
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 4.7 years for Kettering University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Kettering University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $27,000, against average earnings of $66,100 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Kettering University?
The six-year graduation rate is 70.8%, 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.