Kirtland Community College vs. SMC

Comparable Facts

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

Southwestern Michigan College is larger than Kirtland Community College based on total student enrollment (2,000 students vs. 1,905 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Kirtland Community College is located in Grayling, MI (Distant Rural setting); Southwestern Michigan College is in Dowagiac, MI (Rural Fringe setting).
• Kirtland 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: Kirtland Community College 17:1; Southwestern Michigan College 17:1.

Kirtland Community College vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Kirtland 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 Southwestern Michigan College than Kirtland Community College ($6,684 vs. $8,311).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwestern Michigan College are 1.4% lower than at Kirtland Community College ($10,825 vs. $10,980).
• Southwestern Michigan College is 7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Kirtland Community College (about $514 more per year; $7,864.00 vs. $7,350.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 17.6% higher at Kirtland Community College than at Southwestern Michigan College (about $1,476 more per year; $9,870.00 vs. $8,394.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern Michigan College than at Kirtland Community College (94% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Kirtland Community College students is 0.9% larger than aid received by Southwestern Michigan College students ($8,240 vs. $8,166).

Kirtland Community College vs. SMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Kirtland 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 Kirtland Community College.

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

Kirtland Community College vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Kirtland 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 Southwestern Michigan College earn a median of about $500 more per year than Kirtland Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($29,600 vs. $29,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Kirtland Community College graduates have a $1,250 lower median loan debt than SMC graduates ($10,750 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, Kirtland Community College graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SMC graduates ($111 vs. $124).
• More Kirtland Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SMC students, three years after graduation. (45% 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.