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SPU Wooster Michigan Michigan State UW-Seattle Seattle U Whitworth University Oberlin St Olaf Denison WMU Beloit College| Kalamazoo College | Pacific Lutheran University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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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 | ||
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| 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 | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 11:1 | ||
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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/