Birmingham Southern College vs. Kalamazoo College

Should I go to Birmingham Southern College or Kalamazoo College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Birmingham Southern College or Kalamazoo College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Birmingham Southern College vs. Kalamazoo College comparison
Birmingham Southern College Kalamazoo College College 3 College 4
Birmingham Southern College Kalamazoo College
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Overview

Birmingham Southern College Kalamazoo College
Location Birmingham, AL Kalamazoo, MI
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 731 1,196
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #233
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bsc.edu kzoo.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Birmingham Southern College Kalamazoo College
Tuition (In State) $21,500 $58,185
Tuition (Out of State) $21,500 $58,185
Room & Board $14,300 $12,084
Avg Net Price $24,170 $26,050
Avg Grant Aid $14,223 $45,123
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 98%

Admission

Birmingham Southern College Kalamazoo College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,987 3,656
Admitted 2,071 2,787
Acceptance Rate 51.9% 76.2%
Enrolled % 7.1% 13.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.72 3.73
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Challenging Very High
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/27
SAT Range 1150/1340 1188/1373
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2026

Academics

Birmingham Southern College Kalamazoo College
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • General Studies (7%)
  • History (7%)
  • Social Sciences (28%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Physical Sciences (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • English and Literature (8%)

Outcomes

Birmingham Southern College Kalamazoo College
Graduation Rate 62% 80%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $51,000 $54,400
Making Student Loan Payments 75% 81%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,850 $26,450
Median Loan Payment $277 $273

Diversity

Birmingham Southern College Kalamazoo College
% Men 2% 1%
% Women 0% 1%
Racial Diversity Low High
HBCU No No
% White 79% 60%
% Black 11% 6%
% Hispanic 2% 10%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 5%
% International 0% 7%
% Unknown Race 0% 6%

Students

Birmingham Southern College Kalamazoo College
% In-State 61% 65%
% Out-of-State 38% 32%

Campus

Birmingham Southern College Kalamazoo College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Kalamazoo College is larger than than Birmingham Southern College based on total student enrollment (1,196 students vs. 731 students)

Birmingham Southern College vs. Kalamazoo College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Birmingham Southern College or Kalamazoo College?

  • Kalamazoo College is 170.6% more expensive to attend than Birmingham Southern College for in-state tuition ($58,185.00 vs. $21,500.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 170.6% higher at Kalamazoo College than Birmingham Southern College ($58,185.00 vs. $21,500.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Birmingham Southern College than Kalamazoo College ($24,170 vs. $26,050)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kalamazoo College are 18.3% lower than costs at Birmingham Southern College ($12,084 vs. $14,300)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Birmingham Southern College than Kalamazoo College (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Kalamazoo College students is 217.3% larger than aid received Birmingham Southern College ($45,123 vs. $14,223)

Birmingham Southern College vs. Kalamazoo College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Birmingham Southern College or Kalamazoo College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Kalamazoo College or Birmingham Southern College .

  • Accepted freshman Kalamazoo College students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at Birmingham Southern College (3.72)
  • Kalamazoo College has a higher acceptance rate (76.2%) than Birmingham Southern College (51.9%)

Birmingham Southern College vs. Kalamazoo College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Birmingham Southern College or Kalamazoo College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Kalamazoo College and Birmingham Southern College.

  • The graduation rate at Kalamazoo College is higher than Birmingham Southern College (80% vs. 62%)
  • Graduates from Kalamazoo College earn on average $3,400 more per year than Birmingham Southern College graduates after ten years. ($54,400 vs. $51,000)
  • Kalamazoo College students graduate with a $400 lower median federal student loan debt than Birmingham Southern College graduates. ($26,450 vs. $26,850)
  • Kalamazoo College graduates are paying $4 less per month on federal student loans than Birmingham Southern College graduates. ($273 vs. $277)
  • More Kalamazoo College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Birmingham Southern College students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 75%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/