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Kalamazoo Valley Community College Reviews

Average Rating Details

Academic Rigor

Dorm Life

Food and Dining

See Kalamazoo Valley Community College reviews submitted by students. Find out what students have to say about various aspects of attending Kalamazoo Valley Community College. Read about academic experiences and campus life in these free Kalamazoo Valley Community College reviews, or contribute your own Kalamazoo Valley Community College review if you're a current student there.

  • 2 out of 2 people found this review useful.

    Jacob from Kalamazoo, MI

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Am learning a lot

    There are two types of teachers here, the amazing ones and the incompetent ones. Just make sure you do your research to make sure your teacher is legitimate. The good teachers here are great at what they do and are easily better than most large university teachers.
    Am enjoying being here

    As with most community colleges you get a lot of the older population coming back to school. About 50% of the school is made of of people over 24. I never experienced any problems with any other students. Everyone was friendly and got along with little problems.
    Bang for the buck

    You can't really beat the price offered at Valley if you get in-district tuition. Even the out of district tuition is a great price. Do yourself a favor and go here first, so you can save your money and still get the same quality education.
    Tips for prospective students

    You may be fooled by the lure of a big university, but let me tell you that it is a waste of money. The quality of education you get in your first two years at a big university is usually taught by lower level professors and teacher assistants. So, don't fool yourself into thinking it is a better education. At Valley you end up paying less money for a better education.
    Great for these types of students

    KVCC is great for a lot of people. It is great if you don't know what you want to do straight out of high school. It is great if you want to save money before transferring. It is great if you are older and want to just go part time. Basically it is great if you want to get good classes for cheap and then transfer.

  • Alyssa from Portage, MI

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    In three sentences

    Kalamazoo Valley Community College was a great start for me because of it's small size. Most of my professors were very good at what they do, and were very willing to help those who needed additional instruction. My only complaint would be the lack activities for students on campus.
    Tips for prospective students

    At Valley, there are many wonderful professors, but there are also many bad ones. I would definitely recommend reading reviews about them online, or asking around campus. For any student that is interested in going above and beyond the average student, I would encourage them to check out the honors program. This is a great way to get a better education as well as much needed help on paying for tuition.
    Academic Rigor

    Their academic rigor is varied. I always asked about my professors and got the ones that were more difficult. In the honors program, the professors were amazing and required a lot out of the students. However, I have heard about many professors that are super easy and/or that are simply not very good at teaching.

  • LaTasha from Kalamazoo, MI

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    In three sentences

    KVCC is a welcoming atmosphere for students of all ages and skill sets. Small classrooms make contact with instructors easy and helpful. Three different campuses make it easy for people all over Kalamazoo to get their education.
    Tips for prospective students

    Make the most of your time here. The material is overall not very challenging so make sure to ask questions and gain contacts while you're here. Check out the Arcadia Commons Campus - it's downtown and the atmosphere is so fun.
    Academic Rigor

    This is a community college, and it is not very challenging, though it prepares you well for universities.
    Dorm Life

    No dorms here.
    Food and Dining

    Very few options on campus, although the Arcadia Commons Campus is downtown which provides you with many great options such as The Union, Irving's Market, Subway, etc.
    What to do for fun

    Get to know your professors and fellow students.
    Bang for the buck

    Great deal for the money. Most credits transfer to WMU so you can save yourself a ton of money by doing your first two years and/or summer semesters here.
    Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus

    None.
    Great for these types of students

    Adults, working people, return-students.
    Clubs and Activities

    I know of very few.
    Greek Life

    None that I know of.
    Campus Safety

    Campus police are always walking around.

  • Ellie from Kalamazoo, MI

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    In three sentences

    I love KVCC and have attended for three years. I was undecided, so I took a lot of varying classes, both to fulfill general education requirements and to explore different options. Classes were small, most of my instructors were awesome and I love the campus.
    Tips for prospective students

    I would suggest planning on getting there 45 minutes early for the first few days of classes. Parking is the one downside of KVCC and people snipe spots all through the semester by following people down aisles to their cars.
    Academic Rigor

    Some instructors are very demanding of their students. I found these instructors to be the best, though. They are passionate about their jobs and really want you to succeed.
    Dorm Life

    As Kalamazoo Valley is a community college, there are no dorms. I decided to move into a near-by apartment complex devoted to both WMU and KVCC students.
    Food and Dining

    Oshtemo has the essentials like Arby's, Wendy's, McDonald's and Taco Bell, as well as vending machines and the campus cafe, but Kalamazoo itself is packed with great restaurants and nightlife.
    What to do for fun

    Wild Bull downtown is a great place for any young person. Thursday nights are 18+ and are typically the busiest night of the week. The Library, another college bar in Kalamazoo, also offers a 19+ night on Fridays.
    Bang for the buck

    I received a great education at a discount price. Many KVCC courses transfer to larger schools like WMU, GVSU and even UofM.
    Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus

    My favorite place on the main campus is the Library. It's a beautiful room situated in the back corner of the school overlooking a woodsy nature preserve.
    Great for these types of students

    People who can't afford or aren't ready for a traditional four-year university.
    Clubs and Activities

    Kalamazoo Valley Community College has a great sports program and has several different mens and womens teams. The school has recently adopted several club teams and intramural leagues as well.
    Greek Life

    Phi Theta Kappa is the honors society for two-year colleges. KVCC is a proud participant.
    Campus Safety

    There are red emergency phones throughout the hallways and KVCC boasts a great policy academy. Last year, the school added their own police and lighted blue safety phones throughout the parking lots.

  • Haley from Three Rivers, MI

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    In three sentences

    i feel as if kalamazoo valley community college is actually a great college to attend. it is this way because unlike universities, the teachers are more direct and into helping their students. personally, i find the teachers at a community college like this more approachable and valuable than someone that is a higher university teacher, because when i dual enrolled at a university, the teachers weren't very personable with their students.
    Tips for prospective students

    a few tips for prospective students are to look into check the teacher ratings before signing up for a class; there are always a few raw eggs in the bunch of teachers at any school. also, that community college isn't something to be ashamed of attending. community college is just as accredited as any other university, especially since kvcc helps students with transfer programs to a t, and it is a great way to save money when attending the same classes provided at a university.
    Academic Rigor

    i feel as if the teaching staff makes it quite difficult for one to pass a course if one didn't retain any information. on the bright side, however, every teacher that i've encountered thus far has help me both in the class room and one on one. this makes it much easier for a student struggling to overcome their struggle.
    Dorm Life

    we don't have dorms at kvcc because it is a community college; everyone drives.
    Food and Dining

    campus has a wide range of foods in the cafeteria that are accustomed to everything ranging from your binge fast food eater to your vegetarian.
    What to do for fun

    kvcc has a wide range of clubs; everywhere from academic elite and phi theta kappa to clubs for anything you can be interested in. we have gay alliance clubs, art clubs, you name it. also, if you're into working out, kvcc has a very nice gym and weight room that is free to use for all enrolled kvcc students as well as a pool.
    Great for these types of students

    kvcc is great for the type of students that want to save a little money for the same type of classes offered at universities, and they will transfer if you work with your counselors on the classes to take. kvcc transfers to western michigan university and grand valley very easily, if i might add.
    Clubs and Activities

    this college has a very wide range of clubs and activities for students, as i stated before. a lot of them are posted on kvcc's website.
    Campus Safety

    campus safety is 100%. we have campus police walking around at all times, and there have never been reports of shootings or anything that could be considered unsafe.

  • Lydia from Kalamazoo, MI

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Am learning a lot

    It depends on your background (high school, motivation, etc) but classes at Valley are relatively easy provided that you put the proper amount of time and effort into each one (which is normally not a lot, less than two hours a week for each class).
    Am enjoying being here

    Valley has a very friendly environment; there are always events going on and the teachers are very helpful.
    Bang for the buck

    Valley is relatively cheap especially compared to most four-year universities and most of the classes do transfer, so it's a good deal!
    Tips for prospective students

    Go to your professor's office hours if you are having a hard time; they normally aren't very busy and they'd love to have you there. Buy your books online so you don't spend too much money.
    Great for these types of students

    Valley is great for students who are looking to adjust to college before taking the big plunge into a four-year university. Be motivated!

  • Rachel from Kalamazoo, MI

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Am learning a lot

    KVCC has a great learning environment that is friendly, well-paced, open, and student-friendly. The class size at KVCC is perfect -- it's still easy to get one-on-one time with the instructors without getting lost in the crowd. The instructors at KVCC are interested and invested in their students and do their work for the joy of teaching, which shines through in their every-day classroom manners.
    Am enjoying being here

    As a student, I've loved KVCC because of how friendly the campus and staff are, and the value of classes I get for the money I pay. The instructors are friendly and welcoming to the student, and the campus has great resources for students to get involved with each other, academically, and in the community.
    Bang for the buck

    KVCC might be a two-year institution, but the classes are still well-paced and challenging. I don't feel like I'm receiving lesser education or less challenging material because I attend a community college. My education is thorough and well rounded at a very manageable price.
    Tips for prospective students

    Get to know the campus before your first day of class. KVCC's campus is airy and inviting, but can be a little complex at first. Finding your classrooms beforehand will ensure that you know where you're going and you won't get lost. Also, register for classes on the first possible day. KVCC is popular and classes fill up very quickly. Register as early as possible -- don't procrastinate!
    Great for these types of students

    KVCC is great for all types of students. Classes begin at the developmental level for students who need refresher or beginner classes, and progress all the way through advanced levels in all subjects. KVCC has something for everyone, and is an easy campus to integrate into.