Kalamazoo College vs. Purdue

Deciding between Kalamazoo College and Purdue University Main Campus? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Kalamazoo College
Purdue University Main Campus

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Kalamazoo College Kalamazoo, MI
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • Kalamazoo College Small City
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Kalamazoo College 1,166
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • Kalamazoo College Private 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Kalamazoo College #231
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Kalamazoo College -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • Kalamazoo College Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Kalamazoo College
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Kalamazoo College $61,050
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Kalamazoo College $61,050
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • Kalamazoo College $12,549
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • Kalamazoo College $26,956
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Kalamazoo College $47,252
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Kalamazoo College 99%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Kalamazoo College 3,553
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • Kalamazoo College 2,676
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Kalamazoo College 75.3%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Kalamazoo College 11.7%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Kalamazoo College 1280
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • Kalamazoo College 24
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Kalamazoo College 3.73
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Kalamazoo College A-
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Kalamazoo College Difficult
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Kalamazoo College
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • Kalamazoo College 20/29
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • Kalamazoo College 1170/1380
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Kalamazoo College Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Kalamazoo College Jan 15, 2027
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Kalamazoo College 10:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Kalamazoo College
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Physical Sciences (11%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Kalamazoo College 80%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Kalamazoo College $54,400
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Kalamazoo College 81%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Kalamazoo College $26,450
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Kalamazoo College $273
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Kalamazoo College 45%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • Kalamazoo College 55%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Kalamazoo College High
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • Kalamazoo College No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • Kalamazoo College 60%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • Kalamazoo College 7%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • Kalamazoo College 6%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Kalamazoo College 10%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • Kalamazoo College 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Kalamazoo College 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Kalamazoo College 5%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • Kalamazoo College 7%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Kalamazoo College 6%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Kalamazoo College 67%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Kalamazoo College 30%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Kalamazoo College Yes
  • Purdue Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Kalamazoo College Yes
  • Purdue No
  • Meal Plan
  • Kalamazoo College Yes
  • Purdue Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Kalamazoo College No
  • Purdue No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Kalamazoo College No
  • Purdue Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Kalamazoo College in Kalamazoo, MI with Purdue University Main Campus in West Lafayette, IN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Purdue University Main Campus is larger than Kalamazoo College based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 1,166 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Kalamazoo College is located in Kalamazoo, MI (Small City setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Kalamazoo College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Purdue University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Kalamazoo College 10:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

Kalamazoo College vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Kalamazoo College or Purdue? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Purdue University Main Campus than Kalamazoo College ($13,722 vs. $26,956).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kalamazoo College are 2.1% lower than at Purdue University Main Campus ($12,549 vs. $12,820).
  • Kalamazoo College is 511% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $51,058 more per year; $61,050.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 112% higher at Kalamazoo College than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $32,256 more per year; $61,050.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Kalamazoo College than at Purdue University Main Campus (99% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Kalamazoo College students is 318.4% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($47,252 vs. $11,294).

Kalamazoo College vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Kalamazoo College or Purdue? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Purdue and Kalamazoo College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Purdue University Main Campus (1340) is 60 points higher than at Kalamazoo College (1280).
  • Incoming Purdue students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 24 at Kalamazoo College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Kalamazoo College 1170/1380; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Kalamazoo College 20/29; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Kalamazoo College - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Kalamazoo College Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Kalamazoo College students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at Purdue (3.67).
  • Kalamazoo College has a higher acceptance rate (75.3%) than Purdue (49.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.7% at Kalamazoo College vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

Kalamazoo College vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Kalamazoo College and Purdue? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Kalamazoo College's six-year graduation rate (80%) is higher than Purdue University Main Campus's (68%).
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $6,800 more per year than Kalamazoo College graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,200 vs. $54,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Purdue University Main Campus graduates have a $4,950 lower median loan debt than Kalamazoo College graduates ($21,500 vs. $26,450).
  • Among borrowers, Purdue graduates have an estimated $51 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Kalamazoo College graduates ($222 vs. $273).
  • More Kalamazoo College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purdue students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 78%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.