Kalamazoo Valley Community College vs. SMC

Comparable Facts

Compare Kalamazoo Valley Community College in Kalamazoo, MI with Southwestern Michigan College in Dowagiac, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Kalamazoo Valley Community College is larger than SMC based on total student enrollment (6,334 students vs. 2,000 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Kalamazoo Valley Community College is located in Kalamazoo, MI (Midsize Suburban setting); Southwestern Michigan College is in Dowagiac, MI (Rural Fringe setting).
• Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southwestern Michigan College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Kalamazoo Valley Community College 14:1; Southwestern Michigan College 17:1.

Kalamazoo Valley Community College vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Kalamazoo Valley Community College or SMC? 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 Kalamazoo Valley Community College than SMC ($4,436 vs. $6,684).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kalamazoo Valley Community College are 30.2% lower than at Southwestern Michigan College ($7,558 vs. $10,825).
• Southwestern Michigan College is 13.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Kalamazoo Valley Community College (about $960 more per year; $7,864.00 vs. $6,904.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.3% higher at Kalamazoo Valley Community College than at Southwestern Michigan College (about $700 more per year; $9,094.00 vs. $8,394.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern Michigan College than at Kalamazoo Valley Community College (94% vs. 73%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern Michigan College students is 24.5% larger than aid received by Kalamazoo Valley Community College students ($8,166 vs. $6,558).

Kalamazoo Valley Community College vs. SMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Kalamazoo Valley Community College or SMC? 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 SMC and Kalamazoo Valley Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Kalamazoo Valley Community College - Open admission; SMC - Open admission.

Kalamazoo Valley Community College vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Kalamazoo Valley Community College and SMC? 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).

• Graduates from Kalamazoo Valley Community College earn a median of about $3,800 more per year than SMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,400 vs. $29,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southwestern Michigan College and Kalamazoo Valley Community College graduates have the same median loan debt ($12,000 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Southwestern Michigan College and Kalamazoo Valley Community College graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($124 vs. $124).
• More Kalamazoo Valley Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SMC students, three years after graduation. (29% vs. 28%)

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.