Kalamazoo College vs. Wisconsin

Deciding between Kalamazoo College and University of Wisconsin Madison? 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
University of Wisconsin Madison

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Kalamazoo College Kalamazoo, MI
  • Wisconsin Madison, WI
  • Setting
  • Kalamazoo College Small City
  • Wisconsin Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Kalamazoo College 1,166
  • Wisconsin 51,044
  • Type
  • Kalamazoo College Private 4 Year
  • Wisconsin Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Kalamazoo College #231
  • Wisconsin #109
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Kalamazoo College -
  • Wisconsin -
  • Status
  • Kalamazoo College Non-profit
  • Wisconsin Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Kalamazoo College
  • Wisconsin
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Kalamazoo College $61,050
  • Wisconsin $11,603
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Kalamazoo College $61,050
  • Wisconsin $42,103
  • Room & Board
  • Kalamazoo College $12,549
  • Wisconsin $14,124
  • Average Net Price
  • Kalamazoo College $26,956
  • Wisconsin $14,235
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Kalamazoo College $47,252
  • Wisconsin $17,741
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Kalamazoo College 99%
  • Wisconsin 35%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Kalamazoo College 3,553
  • Wisconsin 65,894
  • Admitted
  • Kalamazoo College 2,676
  • Wisconsin 29,782
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Kalamazoo College 75.3%
  • Wisconsin 45.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Kalamazoo College 11.7%
  • Wisconsin 28.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Kalamazoo College 1280
  • Wisconsin 1450
  • Typical ACT score
  • Kalamazoo College 24
  • Wisconsin 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Kalamazoo College 3.73
  • Wisconsin 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Kalamazoo College A-
  • Wisconsin A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Kalamazoo College Difficult
  • Wisconsin Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Kalamazoo College
  • Wisconsin Low
  • ACT Range
  • Kalamazoo College 20/29
  • Wisconsin 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • Kalamazoo College 1170/1380
  • Wisconsin 1380/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Kalamazoo College Test optional
  • Wisconsin Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Kalamazoo College Jan 15, 2027
  • Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Kalamazoo College 10:1
  • Wisconsin 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Kalamazoo College
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Physical Sciences (11%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
  • Wisconsin
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Kalamazoo College 80%
  • Wisconsin 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Kalamazoo College $54,400
  • Wisconsin $64,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Kalamazoo College 81%
  • Wisconsin 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Kalamazoo College $26,450
  • Wisconsin $22,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Kalamazoo College $273
  • Wisconsin $230
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Kalamazoo College 45%
  • Wisconsin 47%
  • % Women
  • Kalamazoo College 55%
  • Wisconsin 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Kalamazoo College High
  • Wisconsin Low
  • HBCU
  • Kalamazoo College No
  • Wisconsin No
  • % White
  • Kalamazoo College 60%
  • Wisconsin 76%
  • % Asian
  • Kalamazoo College 7%
  • Wisconsin 6%
  • % Black
  • Kalamazoo College 6%
  • Wisconsin 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Kalamazoo College 10%
  • Wisconsin 5%
  • % Native American
  • Kalamazoo College 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Kalamazoo College 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Kalamazoo College 5%
  • Wisconsin 3%
  • % International
  • Kalamazoo College 7%
  • Wisconsin 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Kalamazoo College 6%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Kalamazoo College 67%
  • Wisconsin 45%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Kalamazoo College 30%
  • Wisconsin 46%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Kalamazoo College in Kalamazoo, MI with University of Wisconsin Madison in Madison, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Wisconsin Madison is larger than Kalamazoo College based on total student enrollment (51,044 students vs. 1,166 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Kalamazoo College is located in Kalamazoo, MI (Small City setting); University of Wisconsin Madison is in Madison, WI (Midsize City setting).
  • Kalamazoo College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Wisconsin Madison is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Kalamazoo College 10:1; University of Wisconsin Madison 18:1.

Kalamazoo College vs. Wisconsin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Kalamazoo College or Wisconsin? 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 University of Wisconsin Madison than Kalamazoo College ($14,235 vs. $26,956).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kalamazoo College are 11.2% lower than at University of Wisconsin Madison ($12,549 vs. $14,124).
  • Kalamazoo College is 426.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wisconsin (about $49,447 more per year; $61,050.00 vs. $11,603.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 45% higher at Kalamazoo College than at University of Wisconsin Madison (about $18,947 more per year; $61,050.00 vs. $42,103.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Kalamazoo College than at University of Wisconsin Madison (99% vs. 35%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Kalamazoo College students is 166.3% larger than aid received by University of Wisconsin Madison students ($47,252 vs. $17,741).

Kalamazoo College vs. Wisconsin Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Kalamazoo College or Wisconsin? 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 Wisconsin and Kalamazoo College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Wisconsin Madison (1450) is 170 points higher than at Kalamazoo College (1280).
  • Incoming Wisconsin students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 24 at Kalamazoo College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Kalamazoo College 1170/1380; University of Wisconsin Madison 1380/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Kalamazoo College 20/29; University of Wisconsin Madison 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Kalamazoo College - Test optional; Wisconsin - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Kalamazoo College Jan 15, 2027; Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Wisconsin students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at Kalamazoo College (3.73).
  • Kalamazoo College has a higher acceptance rate (75.3%) than Wisconsin (45.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.7% at Kalamazoo College vs. 28.6% at Wisconsin.

Kalamazoo College vs. Wisconsin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Kalamazoo College and Wisconsin? 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).

  • University of Wisconsin Madison's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than Kalamazoo College's (80%).
  • Graduates from University of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of about $10,400 more per year than Kalamazoo College graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,800 vs. $54,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Wisconsin Madison graduates have a $4,200 lower median loan debt than Kalamazoo College graduates ($22,250 vs. $26,450).
  • Among borrowers, Wisconsin graduates have an estimated $43 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Kalamazoo College graduates ($230 vs. $273).
  • More Wisconsin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Kalamazoo College students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 81%)

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.