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Albion College vs Kalamazoo College: which has better ROI?

Private nonprofit, Albion MI · vs · Private nonprofit, Kalamazoo MI

The verdict

Kalamazoo College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $76,288 in 4.4 years versus 5.5 years at Albion College, on median earnings of $65,590 vs $58,799 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureAlbion CollegeKalamazoo College
Net price / yr$14,301$19,072
Total net cost$57,204$76,288
Median earnings, 10 yrs$58,799$65,590
Median debt$27,000$26,077
Payback5.5 yrs4.4 yrs
20-year net return$151,576$268,312

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Albion College or Kalamazoo College?

Albion College, at $14,301 a year after aid versus $19,072 — a gap of $4,771 a year, or $19,084 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Albion College or Kalamazoo College graduates earn more?

Kalamazoo College graduates report a median $65,590 ten years after entry, $6,791 more than the $58,799 at Albion College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.

Which leaves students with less debt, Albion College or Kalamazoo College?

Kalamazoo College: its completers carry a median $26,077 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Albion College, a difference of $923. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

76% of students finish at Kalamazoo College, against 62% at Albion College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.

Albion College vs Kalamazoo College: frequently asked questions

Is Albion College or Kalamazoo College a better value?
Kalamazoo College. It clears its $76,288 net cost in about 4.4 years versus 5.5 years at Albion College, on median earnings of $65,590 vs $58,799 ten years out.
Which is cheaper, Albion College or Kalamazoo College?
Albion College: $14,301/yr net price after aid versus $19,072/yr at Kalamazoo College — a difference of $4,771 a year, or about $19,084 over four years.
Do Albion College or Kalamazoo College graduates earn more?
Kalamazoo College graduates earn a median $65,590 ten years after entry, versus $58,799 at Albion College — a $6,791 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.