North Central College vs. Kalamazoo College

Deciding between North Central College and Kalamazoo College? 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.

North Central College
Kalamazoo College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • North Central College Naperville, IL
  • Kalamazoo College Kalamazoo, MI
  • Setting
  • North Central College Midsize City
  • Kalamazoo College Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • North Central College 3,003
  • Kalamazoo College 1,166
  • Type
  • North Central College Private 4 Year
  • Kalamazoo College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • North Central College #372
  • Kalamazoo College #231
  • Religious Affiliation
  • North Central College United Methodist
  • Kalamazoo College -
  • Status
  • North Central College Non-profit
  • Kalamazoo College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • North Central College
  • Kalamazoo College
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • North Central College $45,726
  • Kalamazoo College $61,050
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • North Central College $45,726
  • Kalamazoo College $61,050
  • Room & Board
  • North Central College $14,688
  • Kalamazoo College $12,549
  • Average Net Price
  • North Central College $23,276
  • Kalamazoo College $26,956
  • Average Grant Aid
  • North Central College $34,056
  • Kalamazoo College $47,252
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • North Central College 100%
  • Kalamazoo College 99%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • North Central College 4,596
  • Kalamazoo College 3,553
  • Admitted
  • North Central College 3,554
  • Kalamazoo College 2,676
  • Acceptance Rate
  • North Central College 77.3%
  • Kalamazoo College 75.3%
  • Enrolled
  • North Central College 13.6%
  • Kalamazoo College 11.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • North Central College 1180
  • Kalamazoo College 1280
  • Typical ACT score
  • North Central College 26
  • Kalamazoo College 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • North Central College 3.6
  • Kalamazoo College 3.73
  • Typical High School Grades
  • North Central College A-
  • Kalamazoo College A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • North Central College Challenging
  • Kalamazoo College Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • North Central College
  • Kalamazoo College
  • ACT Range
  • North Central College 24/29
  • Kalamazoo College 20/29
  • SAT Range
  • North Central College 1055/1310
  • Kalamazoo College 1170/1380
  • Submit Test Scores
  • North Central College Test optional
  • Kalamazoo College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • North Central College Apr 15, 2027
  • Kalamazoo College Jan 15, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • North Central College 12:1
  • Kalamazoo College 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • North Central College
    • Business (28%)
    • Education (13%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Kalamazoo College
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Physical Sciences (11%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • North Central College 64%
  • Kalamazoo College 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • North Central College $48,900
  • Kalamazoo College $54,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • North Central College 74%
  • Kalamazoo College 81%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • North Central College $25,000
  • Kalamazoo College $26,450
  • Median Loan Payment
  • North Central College $258
  • Kalamazoo College $273
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • North Central College 45%
  • Kalamazoo College 45%
  • % Women
  • North Central College 55%
  • Kalamazoo College 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • North Central College Low
  • Kalamazoo College High
  • HBCU
  • North Central College No
  • Kalamazoo College No
  • % White
  • North Central College 71%
  • Kalamazoo College 60%
  • % Asian
  • North Central College 2%
  • Kalamazoo College 7%
  • % Black
  • North Central College 4%
  • Kalamazoo College 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • North Central College 11%
  • Kalamazoo College 10%
  • % Native American
  • North Central College 0%
  • Kalamazoo College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • North Central College 0%
  • Kalamazoo College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • North Central College 3%
  • Kalamazoo College 5%
  • % International
  • North Central College 2%
  • Kalamazoo College 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • North Central College 7%
  • Kalamazoo College 6%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • North Central College 80%
  • Kalamazoo College 67%
  • % Out-of-State
  • North Central College 16%
  • Kalamazoo College 30%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare North Central College in Naperville, IL with Kalamazoo College in Kalamazoo, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

North Central College is larger than Kalamazoo College based on total student enrollment (3,003 students vs. 1,166 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • North Central College is located in Naperville, IL (Midsize City setting); Kalamazoo College is in Kalamazoo, MI (Small City setting).
  • North Central College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Kalamazoo College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: North Central College 12:1; Kalamazoo College 10:1.

North Central College vs. Kalamazoo College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, North Central College or Kalamazoo 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 North Central College than Kalamazoo College ($23,276 vs. $26,956).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kalamazoo College are 14.6% lower than at North Central College ($12,549 vs. $14,688).
  • Kalamazoo College is 33.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than North Central College (about $15,324 more per year; $61,050.00 vs. $45,726.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 33.5% higher at Kalamazoo College than at North Central College (about $15,324 more per year; $61,050.00 vs. $45,726.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at North Central College than at Kalamazoo College (100% vs. 99%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Kalamazoo College students is 38.7% larger than aid received by North Central College students ($47,252 vs. $34,056).

North Central College vs. Kalamazoo College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, North Central College or Kalamazoo 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 Kalamazoo College and North Central College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Kalamazoo College (1280) is 100 points higher than at North Central College (1180).
  • Incoming North Central College students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 24 at Kalamazoo College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: North Central College 1055/1310; Kalamazoo College 1170/1380.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: North Central College 24/29; Kalamazoo College 20/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: North Central College - Test optional; Kalamazoo College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: North Central College Apr 15, 2027; Kalamazoo College Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Kalamazoo College students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at North Central College (3.6).
  • North Central College has a higher acceptance rate (77.3%) than Kalamazoo College (75.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.6% at North Central College vs. 11.7% at Kalamazoo College.

North Central College vs. Kalamazoo College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for North Central College and Kalamazoo 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).

  • Kalamazoo College's six-year graduation rate (80%) is higher than North Central College's (64%).
  • Graduates from Kalamazoo College earn a median of about $5,500 more per year than North Central College graduates about ten years after starting college ($54,400 vs. $48,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, North Central College graduates have a $1,450 lower median loan debt than Kalamazoo College graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,450).
  • Among borrowers, North Central College graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Kalamazoo College graduates ($258 vs. $273).
  • More Kalamazoo College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former North Central College students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 74%)

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.