Kalamazoo College vs. WMU

Should I go to Kalamazoo College or Western Michigan University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Kalamazoo College or WMU 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. Western Michigan University comparison
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Kalamazoo College Western Michigan University
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Overview

Kalamazoo College WMU
Location Kalamazoo, MI Kalamazoo, MI
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 1,210 17,000
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #221 #634
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website kzoo.edu wmich.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Kalamazoo College WMU
Tuition (In State) $56,001 $14,523
Tuition (Out of State) $56,001 $18,154
Room & Board $11,340 $11,102
Avg Net Price $26,981 $20,030
Avg Grant Aid $41,855 $6,813
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 93%

Admission

Kalamazoo College WMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,702 20,501
Admitted 2,934 17,334
Acceptance Rate 79.3% 84.6%
Enrolled % 12.7% 15.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.73 3.5
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 26/32 19/27
SAT Range 1200/1370 990/1220
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

Academics

Kalamazoo College WMU
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (28%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Physical Sciences (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Engineering (6%)

Outcomes

Kalamazoo College WMU
Graduation Rate 80% 56%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $54,400 $48,900
Making Student Loan Payments 81% 54%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,450 $26,633
Median Loan Payment $273 $275

Diversity

Kalamazoo College WMU
% Men 43% 47%
% Women 57% 53%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 60% 72%
% Black 6% 12%
% Hispanic 10% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 3%
% International 7% 4%
% Unknown Race 6% 1%

Students

Kalamazoo College WMU
% In-State 65% 79%
% Out-of-State 32% 19%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Western Michigan University is larger than than Kalamazoo College based on total student enrollment (17,000 students vs. 1,210 students)

Kalamazoo College vs. WMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Kalamazoo College or WMU?

  • Kalamazoo College is 285.6% more expensive to attend than WMU for in-state tuition ($56,001.00 vs. $14,523.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 208.5% higher at Kalamazoo College than Western Michigan University ($56,001.00 vs. $18,154.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Michigan University than Kalamazoo College ($20,030 vs. $26,981)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Michigan University are 2.1% lower than costs at Kalamazoo College ($11,102 vs. $11,340)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Kalamazoo College than Western Michigan University (98% vs. 93%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Kalamazoo College students is 514.3% larger than aid received Western Michigan University ($41,855 vs. $6,813)

Kalamazoo College vs. WMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Kalamazoo College students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at WMU (3.5)
  • WMU has a higher acceptance rate (84.6%) than Kalamazoo College (79.3%)

Kalamazoo College vs. WMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Kalamazoo College is higher than Western Michigan University (80% vs. 56%)
  • Graduates from Kalamazoo College earn on average $5,500 more per year than WMU graduates after ten years. ($54,400 vs. $48,900)
  • Kalamazoo College students graduate with a $183 lower median federal student loan debt than WMU graduates. ($26,450 vs. $26,633)
  • Kalamazoo College graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than WMU graduates. ($273 vs. $275)
  • More Kalamazoo College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WMU students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 54%)

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