Admit rate has ranged 74%–80% over the last 5 years. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Kalamazoo College, a small liberal arts powerhouse in southwest Michigan, stands out for its distinctive 'K-Plan'—a flexible, experiential curriculum that integrates study abroad, internships, and senior projects. With a 10:1 student-faculty ratio and a tight-knit campus where 64% of students live on-site, Kalamazoo fosters intense intellectual engagement and a quirky, activist spirit. Its 76% graduation rate and $52K median starting salary for graduates defy its modest 75% acceptance rate.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Letters of recommendation
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
Demonstrated competencies
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
1,149
In-state tuition
$61,050
Out-of-state tuition
$61,050
Acceptance Rate
75-76%
Notable Programs
Biology, Chemistry, English, 'K-Plan'
On-Campus Housing
64%
Early Acceptance Rate
87.3%
Student-Faculty Ratio
10:1
Median Starting Salary
$52,000
Merit Scholarship Range
$44K–$52K/year
Graduation Rate (6-year)
76-82%
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$65,590
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
3.4×
Median debt at graduation
$26,077
Graduation rate
76%
First-year retention
85%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
83%
Pell (lower-income) share
41%
First-generation share
14%
Endowment / student
$264,834
Financial health
3.0 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Economics$55,964
Business/Commerce, General$47,729
Chemistry$41,565
Social Sciences, Other$31,038
Psychology, General$22,920
English Language and Literature, General$20,140
Biology, General
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
1
Per 1,000 students
0.87
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
92
Summer high
81°F
Winter low
23°F
Annual rain
41"
Annual snow
38"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
104
Scholarly works
2,390
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Share of this school’s graduates who go on to earn research doctorates (2010–20), by national rank and per-capita yield (NSF institutional-yield ratio). A signal of a research-oriented student culture — not a causal promise, since it partly reflects who enrolls. Only top producers appear. Source: NSF NCSES, Baccalaureate Origins of U.S. Research Doctorate Recipients.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Kalamazoo College?
Kalamazoo College's acceptance rate is approximately 75% (Kalamazoo, MI), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Kalamazoo College?
Admitted students at Kalamazoo College typically score 1170–1380 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Kalamazoo College cost?
At Kalamazoo College, the average net price (after aid) is about $19,072 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Kalamazoo College?
Kalamazoo College enrolls approximately 1,149 undergraduate students.
Where is Kalamazoo College located?
Kalamazoo College is located in Kalamazoo, MI.
Admissions
Kalamazoo College is moderately selective, with a 75-76% acceptance rate (higher than the national average of 57%) and an early Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. of 87.3%. Admitted students typically have SAT scores between 1208–1370, though the college emphasizes a Holistic admissionsA review that weighs the whole applicant — grades, essays, activities, and context — rather than relying on test scores and GPA alone. process. In 2022, 3,551 students applied, with 2,675 accepted and 1,166 enrolling. Notably, the college offers no early decision plan, focusing instead on regular decision cycles.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
$19,045
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
1.1%
Bottom → top quintile
41%
From bottom quintile
3%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Academics
Kalamazoo’s 30 majors—spanning biology, psychology, business, and the physical sciences—are delivered through its signature 'K-Plan', a flexible liberal arts framework with minimal gen-ed requirements. The college prides itself on small classes (10:1 student-faculty ratio) and a curriculum that prioritizes analytical thinking, communication, and ethical reasoning. Popular majors include biology (top program), chemistry, and English, with 7% of graduates majoring in the latter. The 'K-Plan' also mandates experiential learning: study abroad, internships, and senior projects are woven into the degree.
Life at Kalamazoo revolves around a close-knit, residential community: 64% of students live on campus, with most off-campus students within four blocks. The college boasts 80+ student organizations, from cultural clubs to activism groups, and the Office of Intercultural Student Life actively fosters dialogue around diversity. Safety is a highlight—93% of students report feeling 'extremely safe' on campus. Traditions include immersive orientation programs and frequent faculty-student collaborations, reinforcing the college’s collaborative, intellectually curious vibe.
Kalamazoo punches above its weight in graduation rates (76-82%), ranking second-highest in Michigan as of 2021. Six-year rates have fluctuated between 74-86% since 2013. Career outcomes are strong: the median starting salary for 2022 grads was $52,000 within six months of graduation. The college’s focus on experiential learning (study abroad, internships) likely contributes to these results, alongside robust support from the Office of Career & Professional Development.
Tuition and fees total $66,308, with room/board adding $13,803. However, 100% of admitted students receive merit scholarships ranging from $44,000–$52,000 annually, slashing the Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. to $26,050 for most. Need-based aidFinancial aid awarded based on your family's ability to pay, as measured by forms like the FAFSA, rather than on achievements. and additional scholarships (e.g., fine arts awards) further reduce costs. The college’s net price calculator helps families estimate personalized costs, and 66.61% of students receive financial aid, with an average package of $61,080.
Kalamazoo’s 'K-Plan' is its crown jewel—a rare blend of academic rigor and real-world immersion that sets it apart from peer liberal arts colleges. The program’s mandatory study abroad, internships, and senior projects ensure graduates leave with more than a diploma: they’ve tackled complex problems globally. Combined with a 10:1 student-faculty ratio, a tight-knit residential community, and strong ROI (82% graduation rate, $52K median starting salary), Kalamazoo offers a highly personalized education that’s both intellectually demanding and pragmatically focused.
Kalamazoo College logo · sourceOur Location, Kalamazoo Michigan | About K | Kalamazoo College · sourceCampus Map for Kalamazoo College - About Kalamazoo College · sourceKalamazoo College - Kalamazoo, MI | Appily · source
