Kalamazoo Valley Community College vs. West Shore Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Kalamazoo Valley Community College in Kalamazoo, MI with West Shore Community College in Scottville, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Kalamazoo Valley Community College is larger than West Shore Community College based on total student enrollment (6,334 students vs. 1,120 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Kalamazoo Valley Community College is located in Kalamazoo, MI (Midsize Suburban setting); West Shore Community College is in Scottville, MI (Distant Rural setting).
• Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. West Shore Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Kalamazoo Valley Community College 14:1; West Shore Community College 12:1.

Kalamazoo Valley Community College vs. West Shore Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Kalamazoo Valley Community College or West Shore Community College? 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 West Shore Community College than Kalamazoo Valley Community College ($3,927 vs. $4,436).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kalamazoo Valley Community College are 19.3% lower than at West Shore Community College ($7,558 vs. $9,360).
• Kalamazoo Valley Community College is 7.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than West Shore Community College (about $484 more per year; $6,904.00 vs. $6,420.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.1% higher at Kalamazoo Valley Community College than at West Shore Community College (about $274 more per year; $9,094.00 vs. $8,820.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at West Shore Community College than at Kalamazoo Valley Community College (84% vs. 73%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by West Shore Community College students is 7.5% larger than aid received by Kalamazoo Valley Community College students ($7,048 vs. $6,558).

Kalamazoo Valley Community College vs. West Shore Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Kalamazoo Valley Community College or West Shore Community College? 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 West Shore Community College 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; West Shore Community College - Open admission.

Kalamazoo Valley Community College vs. West Shore Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Kalamazoo Valley Community College and West Shore Community College? 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 $3,400 more per year than West Shore Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,400 vs. $30,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, West Shore Community College graduates have a $2,391 lower median loan debt than Kalamazoo Valley Community College graduates ($9,609 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, West Shore Community College graduates have an estimated $25 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Kalamazoo Valley Community College graduates ($99 vs. $124).
• More West Shore Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Kalamazoo Valley Community College students, three years after graduation. (42% vs. 29%)

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.