Kalamazoo College vs. PLU

Should I go to Kalamazoo College or Pacific Lutheran University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Kalamazoo College or PLU 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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Kalamazoo College vs. Pacific Lutheran University comparison
Kalamazoo College Pacific Lutheran University College 3 College 4
Kalamazoo College Pacific Lutheran University
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Overview

Kalamazoo College PLU
Location Kalamazoo, MI Tacoma, WA
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,210 2,633
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #221 #311
Religious Affiliation - Evangelical Lutheran Church - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website kzoo.edu plu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Kalamazoo College PLU
Tuition (In State) $56,001 $49,472
Tuition (Out of State) $56,001 $49,472
Room & Board $11,340 $11,826
Avg Net Price $26,981 $24,825
Avg Grant Aid $41,855 $36,435
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 99%

Admission

Kalamazoo College PLU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,702 3,334
Admitted 2,934 2,964
Acceptance Rate 79.3% 88.9%
Enrolled % 12.7% 17.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.73 3.71
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Very High
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 26/32 27/30
SAT Range 1200/1370 1253/1423
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, 2025 Aug 15, 2025

Academics

Kalamazoo College PLU
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (28%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Physical Sciences (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Education (6%)

Outcomes

Kalamazoo College PLU
Graduation Rate 80% 66%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $54,400 $52,300
Making Student Loan Payments 81% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,450 $25,800
Median Loan Payment $273 $266

Diversity

Kalamazoo College PLU
% Men 43% 36%
% Women 57% 64%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 60% 68%
% Black 6% 3%
% Hispanic 10% 8%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 5% 7%
% International 7% 4%
% Unknown Race 6% 1%

Students

Kalamazoo College PLU
% In-State 65% 74%
% Out-of-State 32% 22%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Pacific Lutheran University is larger than than Kalamazoo College based on total student enrollment (2,633 students vs. 1,210 students)

Kalamazoo College vs. PLU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Kalamazoo College or PLU?

  • Kalamazoo College is 13.2% more expensive to attend than PLU for in-state tuition ($56,001.00 vs. $49,472.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 13.2% higher at Kalamazoo College than Pacific Lutheran University ($56,001.00 vs. $49,472.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pacific Lutheran University than Kalamazoo College ($24,825 vs. $26,981)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kalamazoo College are 4.3% lower than costs at Pacific Lutheran University ($11,340 vs. $11,826)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Pacific Lutheran University than Kalamazoo College (99% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Kalamazoo College students is 14.9% larger than aid received Pacific Lutheran University ($41,855 vs. $36,435)

Kalamazoo College vs. PLU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Kalamazoo College students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at PLU (3.71)
  • PLU has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than Kalamazoo College (79.3%)

Kalamazoo College vs. PLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Kalamazoo College or PLU? 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 PLU and Kalamazoo College.

  • The graduation rate at Kalamazoo College is higher than Pacific Lutheran University (80% vs. 66%)
  • Graduates from Kalamazoo College earn on average $2,100 more per year than PLU graduates after ten years. ($54,400 vs. $52,300)
  • Pacific Lutheran University students graduate with a $650 lower median federal student loan debt than Kalamazoo College graduates. ($25,800 vs. $26,450)
  • PLU graduates are paying $7 less per month on federal student loans than Kalamazoo College graduates. ($266 vs. $273)
  • More Kalamazoo College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PLU students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 74%)

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