Data shows that students paid $15,059 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $940 more than the previous school year.
Among the five institutions in the county, Kalamazoo College stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $56,562. West Michigan College of Barbering and Beauty followed with an average of $16,695 per year. Kalamazoo Valley Community College students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $6,547.
At the time, at least $37.3 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Kalamazoo County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached more than $13.6 million.
Currently there are five higher education institutions in Kalamazoo County, including Ross Medical Education Center-Portage, Kalamazoo College, and Kalamazoo Valley Community College.
Undergraduate education costs have seen a significant increase over the past few decades. Data shows a 169% rise in the average total cost, including tuition, fees, room, and board, between 1980 and 2020.
According to a 2023 College Board report, in-state students at public universities paid an average of $11,260, while out-of-state students paid $29,150 in the 2023-24 academic year.
Meanwhile, student loan debt has steadily increased over the last 30 years, reaching $1.75 trillion in 2024, averaging a total of $28,950 per borrower. Federal loans make up 92% of the debt, with over half of students at both public and private four-year colleges graduating with student loans.
Available data sometimes exceeds 100% due to rounding and administrative calculations.
| Institution | Number of Students Receiving Grants | Total Amount of Grants Received | Average Amount of Grant Per Student | Number of Students Receiving Loans | Total Amount of Loans Received | Average Amount of Loans Per Student |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kalamazoo College | 363 | $16,379,592 | $45,123 | 177 | $1,136,482 | $6,421 |
| West Michigan College of Barbering and Beauty | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Kalamazoo Valley Community College | 264 | $1,434,864 | $5,435 | 75 | $373,738 | $4,983 |
| Ross Medical Education Center-Portage | 55 | $290,067 | $5,274 | 66 | $710,410 | $10,764 |
| Western Michigan University | 2,339 | $19,219,948 | $8,217 | 1,360 | $11,350,540 | $8,346 |
Alerts Sign-up