Alma College is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Alma, Michigan. It enrolls 1,148 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
70/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes63
Value48
Affordability41
Selectivity78
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 57%, Alma College is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
57%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Alma College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
3.3 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Alma College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $20,694 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$20,694
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
27%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
57%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$49,552
Room & Board (on-campus)
$14,180
Room & Board (off-campus)
$9,888
Books & Supplies
$2,172
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,980
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,980
Total Cost of Attendance
$63,650
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$17,162
$30,001 – $48,000
$18,009
$48,001 – $75,000
$18,076
$75,001 – $110,000
$18,699
Over $110,000
$23,618
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,50010%percentile
$9,50025%percentile
$27,000Medianpercentile
$28,50075%percentile
$38,50090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $26,702
↓ $298
No Pell $21,500
↓ $5,500
Dependent students $23,250
↓ $3,750
Independent students $13,750
↓ $13,250
Female students $25,000
↓ $2,000
Male students $21,500
↓ $5,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $10,000, less than completers ($27,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
56% of full-time students who enrolled at Alma College graduate within six years, and 81% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
56%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
81%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Alma College earn a median of $54,742 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$54,742
Earning > $25K
82%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$42,800
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$51,900
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$38,600
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$47,000
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$48,300
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $9,100, about 18% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
18.4 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 93% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Alma College is home to 1,148 students, a small, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
1,148
Part-Time
2%
First-Generation
24%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 77.4%888
Black 6.0%69
International 5.7%65
Hispanic 3.6%41
Other 3.1%36
Asian 0.9%10
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Alma College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: DistantAlma, Michigan
Housing
Strongly residential1,314 beds for 1,148 students
Adult Learners
2%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
4-1-4 Planscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Alma College offers
a varied set of programs:
34 distinct programs across
16 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Alma College is 14:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
14:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$188M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$64,328
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
87 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
20
23%
$81,464
Associate Professors
27
31%
$64,510
Assistant Professors
24
28%
$54,354
Instructors
8
9%
$61,270
Lecturers
8
9%
$53,846
Pros & Cons of Alma College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Alma College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Reasonable class sizes
Tight-knit, close community feel
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
High published cost of attendance before aid
Best for:
Based on the data, Alma College is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Alma College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Alma College.
Is Alma College hard to get into?
Admissions at Alma College are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 57%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Alma College?
Alma College has an acceptance rate of 57%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Alma College cost?
The average net price after aid at Alma College is $20,694 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Alma College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $54,742 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $20,694 per year. That's roughly 2.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Alma College known for?
Alma College is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Teacher Education (K-12), Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Alma College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Alma College are $54,742, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Alma College accredited?
Yes. Alma College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Alma College?
Alma College enrolls 1,148 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Alma College?
Alma College graduates 56% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Alma College a public or private college?
Alma College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Alma College located?
Alma College is located in Alma, Michigan.
What programs does Alma College offer?
Alma College offers 34 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Teacher Education (K-12), Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Alma College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Alma College is 14:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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