Head-to-head comparison
Oakland University vs Kalamazoo College: which has better ROI?
Option A Rochester Hills, MI
Oakland University
- Net price / year
- $9,120
- Earnings, 10 years
- $58,612
- Payback
- 3.6 yrs
Option B Kalamazoo, MI
Kalamazoo College
- Net price / year
- $19,072
- Earnings, 10 years
- $65,590
- Payback
- 4.4 yrs
Oakland University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $36,480 in 3.6 years versus 4.4 years at Kalamazoo College, on median earnings of $58,612 vs $65,590 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Oakland University | Kalamazoo College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,120 | $19,072 |
| Total net cost | $36,480 | $76,288 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $58,612 | $65,590 |
| Median debt | $22,750 | $26,077 |
| Payback | 3.6 yrs | 4.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $168,560 | $268,312 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Oakland University or Kalamazoo College?
Oakland University, at $9,120 a year after aid versus $19,072 — a gap of $9,952 a year, or $39,808 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Oakland University or Kalamazoo College graduates earn more?
Kalamazoo College graduates report a median $65,590 ten years after entry, $6,978 more than the $58,612 at Oakland University. 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Oakland University or Kalamazoo College?
Oakland University: its completers carry a median $22,750 in federal loans versus $26,077 at Kalamazoo College, a difference of $3,327. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
76% of students finish at Kalamazoo College, against 58% at Oakland University. 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.