Degree Dividend
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Kalamazoo Valley Community College vs Bay Mills Community College: which has better ROI?

Public, Kalamazoo MI · vs · Public, Brimley MI

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Kalamazoo Valley Community College comes closer — median earnings $38,618 against a $5,958 total, vs $30,048 at Bay Mills Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureKalamazoo Valley Community CollegeBay Mills Community College
Net price / yr$2,979$3,073
Total net cost$5,958$12,292
Median earnings, 10 yrs$38,618$30,048
Median debt$9,699
Payback
20-year net return-$200,798-$378,532

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

Which is cheaper, Kalamazoo Valley Community College or Bay Mills Community College?

Kalamazoo Valley Community College, at $2,979 a year after aid versus $3,073 — a gap of $94 a year, or $6,334 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Kalamazoo Valley Community College or Bay Mills Community College graduates earn more?

Kalamazoo Valley Community College graduates report a median $38,618 ten years after entry, $8,570 more than the $30,048 at Bay Mills Community 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 graduates more of its students?

30% of students finish at Bay Mills Community College, against 28% at Kalamazoo Valley Community 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.

Kalamazoo Valley Community College vs Bay Mills Community College: frequently asked questions

Is Kalamazoo Valley Community College or Bay Mills Community College a better value?
Kalamazoo Valley Community College comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Kalamazoo Valley Community College or Bay Mills Community College?
Kalamazoo Valley Community College: $2,979/yr net price after aid versus $3,073/yr at Bay Mills Community College — a difference of $94 a year, or about $6,334 over four years.
Do Kalamazoo Valley Community College or Bay Mills Community College graduates earn more?
Kalamazoo Valley Community College graduates earn a median $38,618 ten years after entry, versus $30,048 at Bay Mills Community College — a $8,570 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.