Alma College
A good fit for students who want small classes and close faculty access. no major red flags in the data. generous financial aid cuts net price well below sticker.
About This School
Alma College is a private nonprofit institution located in Alma, Michigan with approximately 1,148 undergraduate students enrolled. Alma College has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 57%. The average net price after financial aid is $20,694 per year. The graduation rate is 63%, and the typical graduate earns $46,500 within 10 years of enrollment.
Alma College is a private liberal arts college in Alma, Michigan. It enrolls approximately 1,200 students and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Alma College is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA) and offers bachelor's degrees in multiple disciplines as well as two master's degree programs. Its athletics teams, nicknamed the Scots, are part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) – Division III and the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA).
The numbers tell a mixed story here: a 64% graduation rate and 76% freshman retention suggest that a meaningful share of students don't finish, which is worth asking about during a visit. On the financial side, the roughly $24,600 average net price is reasonable for a small private college, and median debt of $23,250 is manageable — though median earnings of $46,500 a decade out aren't particularly impressive. Worth considering if you're drawn to a tight-knit liberal arts environment in a small-town setting and have a specific major in mind, but make sure to pressure-test your fit before committing.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 20% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
Alma College graduates earn most above the national rate in Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness ($63,641 vs $54,562 nationally), and most below it in Marketing ($53,871 vs $69,303).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 29 | $57,287 | $68,257 | −$10,970 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 28 | $44,458 | $47,382 | −$2,924 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 26 | $80,386 | $88,910 | −$8,524 |
| Psychology, General | 23 | $52,280 | $50,706 | +$1,574 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 22 | $63,641 | $54,562 | +$9,079 |
| Marketing | 11 | $53,871 | $69,303 | −$15,432 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 7 | $77,001 | $76,194 | +$807 |
| English Language and Literature, General | 5 | $48,445 | $48,590 | −$145 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 4 | $53,947 | $56,359 | −$2,412 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (1,148 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
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See How Colleges Compare
Alma College is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Alma College?
Alma College has an acceptance rate of 57%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is Alma College hard to get into?
Alma College is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of 57%. Solid grades and a complete application give most applicants a real shot.
How much does Alma College cost?
The average net price at Alma College is about $20,694 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at Alma College?
Alma College has a graduation rate of 63%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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