While the K-Plan has evolved over the years, K’s flexible academic plan lets you shape your own college journey—combining majors, minors, concentrations, and co-curriculars to explore interests widely and dive deeply. Students don’t declare a major until February of sophomore year, so there’s no pressure to immediately pick a lane.

➡️ Alumni tip: Share how the K-Plan helped you chart your unique path

LandSea, K’s optional pre-orientation program, invites you to begin your college journey with backpacks, canoes and connection in the wilderness, whether you consider yourself “outdoorsy” or not! For those looking to venture farther, the majority of K students study abroad their junior year for three, six, or nine months—a more immersive experience compared to many other institutions and one of our most-loved offerings. You can choose from more than 50 programs in more than 35 countries, with experiences that foster independence, a love of travel, and global perspectives. Even better? Financial Aid and CIP scholarships can be used to cover most study abroad costs.
 
➡️ Alumni tip: Talk about your experience with LandSea or living and learning in another culture.

Small class sizes mean you get to know your professors and they get to know you—you won’t get lost in a giant lecture hall here! Your faculty will challenge you, support you, and collaborate with you. Many invite students to join their research and present at conferences. Some will end up being your mentors for life.

➡️ Alumni tip. Reflect on a faculty or staff member who made a lasting impact.

For students eager to create change, K offers plenty of opportunities. Through the Mary Jane Underwood Stryker Center for Civic Engagement, the Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership, The Larry J. Bell ‘80 Environmental Stewardship Center, and other programs, students weave coursework and their own student-led initiatives into efforts that shape communities and advance justice. 

➡️ Alumni tip: Mention how you got involved locally or globally while at K.

Every student completes an in-depth SIP—research, performance, or exhibit—demonstrating initiative and mastery in an area of personal interest. The SIP does not need to be in your major, and you will be guided by a faculty supervisor. If your SIP requires resources or travel, many departments have funding opportunities that you may apply for. 

➡️ Alumni tip. Share how your SIP helped shape your future or define your passion.

K is home to about 1,300 students from across the country and the world and fosters an environment where identity, inclusion, and dialogue matter. Around 30% of our student body are students of color, 22% are the first in their families to attend college and 27% receive Pell Grants. With over 80 student organizations—interest-based, identity-based, activity-based—you’ll find a place to belong and to grow. And time-honored traditions like Monte Carlo, Afro Fiesta Desi Sol and Day of Gracious Living bring the whole campus community together. 

➡️ Alumni tip. Highlight how you grew by engaging with different perspectives and participating in campus events. Talk about your lifelong friendships.

Students gain hands-on experience through internships, externships, leadership opportunities through various programs and organizations, and alumni networking. The Center for Career and Professional Development can help with coaching, connections, and translating your K experiences into a resume that puts your best foot forward. 

➡️ Alumni tip. Talk about a career-service quarter, internship, alumni meet-up, or how you landed your first job.

K’s campus sits in a friendly neighborhood overlooking a vibrant, artsy, and inclusive city, with theaters, restaurants, music, sports and nature all close by. Nearby Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo Valley Community College add to the college town vibe. 

➡️ Alumni tip. Share a favorite memory downtown, at the beach or around the city.

Living on campus keeps you at the heart of it all—close to friends, classes, events, and all the little moments that make college life memorable. Students are required to live on campus through their junior year, and K is constructing two new junior/senior halls that will be open in 2027. 

➡️ Alumni tip. Share how being on campus helped you build friendships, stay involved, and make the most of your time at K.

K grads go on to find fulfillment in fields from medicine to the arts, law to public service, startups to social impact—thanks to and sometimes regardless of their majors! A K liberal arts education provides you with transferrable skills you can use today and wherever your career path takes you. 

➡️ Alumni tip. Share your post-K path—and how K helped you get there.

College is a big investment in your future, and K is consistently rated a Best Value College by Princeton Review. About 98% of Kalamazoo College students receive financial aid and all applicants are considered for merit scholarships, which range between $40,000-$48,000 annually. Keep an open mind, apply, and see what your actual aid package looks like—you might be surprised by what’s possible once scholarships and need-based aid are factored in.