Kettering University
#1 Best Computer Science Colleges in Michigan- Graduation Rate
- 71% B
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $94,823 A+
- Top 1% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $34,660 F
- 102% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 79% C
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 16.7× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $16.7 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Computer Science Colleges in Michigan.
Every $1 spent returns $16.7 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $2,182,796.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduates earn 133% more than the national college median.
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Social mobility rate of 3.11% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $16.7 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Kettering University Matters
Kettering University is a private university in Flint, MI and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 1% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 1,205
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Engineering, Computer Science & IT, Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical
Why students choose Kettering University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 79% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1160–1330. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $34,660 a year after grants and scholarships — 102% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $94,823 ten years after enrolling — 133% above the typical college, against $27,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 3.1% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 9% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.63 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of just over 1,200 students and an acceptance rate of 79%, Kettering University might be a good fit if you're looking for a focused, intimate educational experience. The standout programs here include Engineering, Computer Science and IT, Biology and Biomedical studies, as well as Business and Marketing. Students dive into hands-on learning that prepares them for real-world challenges, emphasizing practical skills in these fields.
Looking at what happens after graduation, the numbers tell a promising story. Graduates can expect to earn an average of $94,823 within ten years of completing their degree. This level of earnings reflects the direct connection between the programs offered and the job market, suggesting that students who invest their time and effort here can see substantial returns. Affordability is also a factor; while the net price is $34,660, many find the investment worthwhile given their future earning potential.
On the financial side, the median debt for graduates stands at $27,000, which is manageable when weighed against their earning capacity. Kettering attracts students who are ambitious and ready to engage in a rigorous academic environment. With a Pell Grant rate of 17%, there are opportunities for financial assistance, making it accessible for a wider range of students. Overall, those who thrive here are often driven individuals eager to take advantage of the strong connections between their studies and career opportunities.
Rankings
- #1 Best Computer Science Colleges in Michigan
- #1 Best Data Science Colleges in Michigan
- #3 Best Engineering Colleges in Michigan
- #5 Best Online Colleges in Michigan
- #6 Best Colleges in Michigan
- #9 Best Bachelor's Programs in Michigan
- #9 Best Master's Programs in Michigan
- #16 Highest-Paying Online Bachelor's Programs
Can I Get In?
How selective Kettering University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Kettering University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Flint, Michigan, Kettering University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 79%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,251. The graduation rate is roughly 71%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 79%
- Retention Rate
- 94%
- SAT Average
- 1251
- ACT Midpoint
- 28
- SAT Range
- 1160–1330
- ACT Range
- 26–30
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,222
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 12:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.45
- First-Gen Students
- 18%
- Applicants
- 1,823
- Admitted
- 1,472
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Kettering University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Kettering University is $48,470, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $34,660. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $24,910 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $48,470
- Out-of-State
- $48,470
- Avg Net Price
- $34,660
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 17%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 45%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $24,910
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $23,273
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $31,544
- Family Income $110K+
- $39,399
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Kettering University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Kettering University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Kettering University earn a median of $94,823, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $80,275
- 8 Years
- $85,240
- 10 Years
- $94,823
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.28x
- Earning > $25K
- 89%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (37)
- 10%
- 100% (37)
- 10%
- 100% (37)
- 10%
- 100% (37)
- 10%
How Kettering Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Kettering University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Kettering University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $34,660/year ($138,640 total). Graduates earn $94,823 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $2,321,436 in total earnings — a net gain of $2,182,796 (16.7× your investment). The median debt is $27,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 71% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $138,640
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $2,321,436
- Net Return
- $2,182,796
- ROI Multiple
- 16.7×
- Cost Per Year
- $34,660
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 71%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Kettering University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Kettering University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 3.11%, among the highest in the country. About 4.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 74.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $100,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 3.11%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 74.7%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 4.2%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $136,001
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $4,479,072
- Investment Income
- $-5,423,911
Top Programs
The fields Kettering University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Engineering 81% $98,830 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 15% $92,340 early-career
- Business & Marketing 2% $65,010 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 1%
- Mathematics & Statistics 1%
- Physical Sciences 0%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Kettering University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-AI/ML Engineer$156,000 · 23% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Computer Vision Engineer$145,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Kettering University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Flint, Michigan, Kettering University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 79%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,251. The graduation rate is roughly 71%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Kettering University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Kettering University is $48,470, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $34,660. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $24,910 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
Is Kettering University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Kettering University earn a median of $94,823, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
Does Kettering University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Kettering University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 3.11%, among the highest in the country. About 4.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 74.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $100,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Kettering University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Kettering University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.63, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Kettering University.
- Dominican University of CaliforniaSan Rafael, CA · Close peer77% grad $84,713 earn 84% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- SUNY Maritime CollegeThroggs Neck, NY · Close peer70% grad $95,951 earn 72% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Clarkson UniversityPotsdam, NY · Close peer74% grad $89,696 earn 77% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Rose-Hulman Institute of TechnologyTerre Haute, IN · Close peer80% grad $101,253 earn 77% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Saint Mary's College of CaliforniaMoraga, CA · Close peer70% grad $78,812 earn 87% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Manhattan UniversityRiverdale, NY · Close peer65% grad $86,316 earn 79% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Kettering University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Kettering University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.63, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note