Head-to-head comparison
University of Michigan-Dearborn vs Kalamazoo College: which has better ROI?
Option A Dearborn, MI
University of Michigan-Dearborn
- Net price / year
- $9,492
- Earnings, 10 years
- $59,649
- Payback
- 3.4 yrs
Option B Kalamazoo, MI
Kalamazoo College
- Net price / year
- $19,072
- Earnings, 10 years
- $65,590
- Payback
- 4.4 yrs
University of Michigan-Dearborn has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $37,968 in 3.4 years versus 4.4 years at Kalamazoo College, on median earnings of $59,649 vs $65,590 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Michigan-Dearborn | Kalamazoo College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,492 | $19,072 |
| Total net cost | $37,968 | $76,288 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $59,649 | $65,590 |
| Median debt | $22,500 | $26,077 |
| Payback | 3.4 yrs | 4.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $187,812 | $268,312 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Michigan-Dearborn or Kalamazoo College?
University of Michigan-Dearborn, at $9,492 a year after aid versus $19,072 — a gap of $9,580 a year, or $38,320 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 University of Michigan-Dearborn or Kalamazoo College graduates earn more?
Kalamazoo College graduates report a median $65,590 ten years after entry, $5,941 more than the $59,649 at University of Michigan-Dearborn. 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, University of Michigan-Dearborn or Kalamazoo College?
University of Michigan-Dearborn: its completers carry a median $22,500 in federal loans versus $26,077 at Kalamazoo College, a difference of $3,577. 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 University of Michigan-Dearborn. 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.