Cost & financial aid brief
Kettering University Tuition, Costs & Financial Aid
How much does Kettering University cost after financial aid?
For the average aid recipient at Kettering University, aid covers about 43% of the published cost, but the remaining price is still substantial. The sticker-to-net gap described above is an average across recipients, not a quoted bill for a particular family.
Across the lowest, second-lowest, middle, second-highest, and highest income bands, pricing is lowest in the second-lowest band and becomes higher in each later band. The lowest band does not have the lowest listed price, so the pattern is uneven rather than a uniform income-based discount.
That pattern shows where average net prices sit across family-income bands; it does not describe any individual aid package.
For families considering Kettering University, published costs remain high even after aid: the cost of attendance is $61,250. Average net price, what aid recipients pay after grants and scholarships, is $24,910 for the lowest family-income band, $23,273 for the lower-middle band, $31,544 for the middle band, $33,401 for the upper-middle band, and $39,399 for the highest band.
The spread between the lowest and highest bands is $14,489, and Azimuth ranks the university #1,308 for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Aid covers about 43% of the published cost for the average aid recipient, rather than promising that result for every family.
Across all aid recipients, the average net price is $34,660, with $26,590 in average aid savings against the sticker price. The peer median, the middle value for comparable institutions (same type and size), is $22,347; Kettering's average is $12,313 above it.
Published tuition and fees are $48,470, and room and board are $10,400. Borrowing is common at completion: median federal student loan debt among borrowers who complete is $27,000.
That is $2,000 above the $25,000 peer median for comparable institutions (same type and size), and 94.8% of federal aid recipients borrow federal loans. That debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $307 a month if repaid over ten years.
Parent PLUS borrowers have median borrowing of $35,000.
Student loans: what does repayment look like?
Kettering University pairs a high federal borrowing share with debt levels that vary widely among borrowers who complete. Federal loans are used by 94.8% of federal aid recipients, and median federal student loan debt at completion is $27,000.
At comparable institutions (same type and size), the peer median federal debt is $25,000, leaving the university's median $2,000 above that benchmark. For the separate parent-borrower population, median Parent PLUS borrowing is $35,000.
Kettering University has a strong return picture centered on earnings well after students finish. Graduates working and not enrolled have median earnings of $99,943 four years after completion.
Azimuth places those earnings in the 97th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. Earnings beyond expectations also favor the university.
That measure compares what graduates earn to what expects for similar students. Graduates earn about $25,120 more than the model expects for similar students.
Azimuth places that measure in the 98th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. The downside earnings scenario is $91,693, the typical scenario is $99,943, and the upside scenario is $113,106.
Median federal debt is $2,000 above the $25,000 peer median for comparable institutions (same type and size). That debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $307 a month if repaid over ten years. High modeled earnings sit alongside debt above the peer benchmark.
For the separate parent-borrower population, median Parent PLUS borrowing at Kettering University is $35,000. For student borrowers, that debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $307 a month if repaid over ten years.
Repayment figures are in the Financial GPS card below. Borrowing populations and model assumptions.
Parent loans: what can the family afford?
How Parent PLUS borrowing affects families
- Median Parent PLUS debt
- $35,000
- Estimated parent payment
- $445/mo
| Income | Risk level |
|---|---|
| $35,000 | High pressure |
| $50,000 | High pressure |
| $75,000 | High pressure |
| $100,000 | High pressure |
| $150,000 | Safe |
| $200,000 | Safe |
The model holds the parent balance fixed and varies parent income. Read the assumptions and limits.
Student and parent loans: the monthly payments
Financial GPS
What does repayment look like?
- Institution median student debt
- $27,000
- Institution Parent PLUS debt
- $35,000
Federal loans only; private or institutional loans aren’t included.
- Estimated student payment · monthly
- $307/mo
- Estimated Parent PLUS payment · monthly
- $445/mo
- Modeled student + parent payments
- $752/mo
Payments use school-wide median balances, not a specific major’s.
Student payment as a share of available income
At median graduate earnings of $99,943, with a $22,590 annual allowance for basic expenses:
4.8% of income above the allowance · Excellent
- Excellent Under 8% · selected scenario
- Good 8–under 12%
- Concerning 12–20%
- High risk Over 20%
How this estimate works
These are modeled earnings scenarios, not observed earnings percentiles. Annual student payments ÷ (earnings − basic-expense allowance). The starting allowance, $22,590, uses the published framework’s 2024 baseline; it is not a current local living-cost estimate. Change it for your budget, including taxes and other obligations. This combines school-level figures for illustration, not a typical individual’s budget or an official school rating. Parent PLUS is separate.
Payment assumptions
Payments are 10-year standard payments on the median balance, before loan fees, used as a yardstick. Rates for newly issued loans may differ, and loans made after July 1, 2026 can repay over a longer term; existing loans keep their original fixed rates.
Data & methodology
Sources and reporting periods: methodology.
Analysis and methodology by Daniel Rogers, founder of College Azimuth.
Explanatory text is AI-assisted drafting checked against those figures; it is not an additional data source.
Figure notes link to sources and limitations. About College Azimuth.
Net price and borrowing. The 2023–24 income-band averages include living costs and cover eligible first-time, full-time aid recipients; public-school figures reflect in-state tuition. They are not individual aid offers. Peer matching supplies overall net prices, not matched income-band averages. College Scorecard data and documentation.
A personal student-risk assessment also needs your major and borrowing plan; these school-level illustrations do not assign you a personal risk zone.
Payments are 10-year standard payments on the median balance, before loan fees, used as a yardstick. Rates for newly issued loans may differ, and loans made after July 1, 2026 can repay over a longer term; existing loans keep their original fixed rates. Private-loan figures from the Common Data Set are separate from these federal repayment illustrations.