An independent study from the Princeton Review shows that Kalamazoo College provides one of the most outstanding returns on investment in higher education, as the education-services company profiles and recommends K in the 2022 edition of The Best Value Colleges, an annual guide to undergraduate schools.

The Princeton Review examined more than 650 institutions for this year’s list and selected K among the top 209 colleges and universities. Kalamazoo College is one of just five Michigan institutions, private or public, to be honored this year.

Colleges and universities were selected based on surveys of students and administrators that addressed academics, cost, financial aid, career services, graduation rates, student debt and alumni support. The Princeton Review also factored in data from PayScale.com surveys regarding alumni salaries and job satisfaction.

“The schools we chose as our Best Value Colleges for 2022 are a select group: they comprise only about 7% of the nation’s four-year undergraduate institutions,” said Rob Franek, editor-in-chief of The Princeton Review. “We commend their administrators, faculties, staff and alumni for all they are doing to educate their students and guide them to success in their careers. These colleges are also exceptional for the generous amount of financial aid they award to students with need and/or for their comparatively low cost of attendance.”

According to K’s profile at the Princeton Review’s website, student respondents said the College “allows students to really develop personal relationships with their peers and professors” and is “a campus run by and for the students.” Students also said the open curriculum means they have more time to explore exactly what they want to learn.

The Princeton Review doesn’t rank the Best Value Colleges from 1 to 209. However, K received a separate honor in The Best Value Colleges guide as the College was ranked No. 18 on a list of the Top 20 Private Colleges Where Students Are Making an Impact. This means K students said through surveys that their student-government opportunities, the College’s sustainability efforts and K’s on-campus student engagement are providing students with opportunities to make a difference in their community. It also means alumni have reported feeling their jobs are meaningful, according to PayScale.com surveys.

“This honor from the Princeton Review affirms through another source what we’ve long known: Kalamazoo College students are receiving exceptional value in their education,” Dean of Admission Suzanne Lepley said. “Plus, the K-Plan—our approach to the liberal arts and sciences—prepares and empowers students to make a difference in communities around K now, and around the world throughout their careers after graduation.”

The Best Value Colleges is one of more than 150 books developed by The Princeton Review and published by Penguin Random House. Others that are resources on this topic include The Best 387 Colleges, which again includes K in 2022.