Albion College
#2 Best Communications Colleges in Michigan- Graduation Rate
- 59% C
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $58,799 B+
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $14,301 C+
- 17% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 81% C
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 26.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $26.4 over 20 years. Ranked #2 in Best Communications Colleges in Michigan.
Every $1 spent returns $26.4 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,450,934.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Earnings 44% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $26.4 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Albion College Matters
Albion College is a private liberal arts college in Albion, MI and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Liberal Arts College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate · Arts & Sciences
- Enrollment
- 1,300
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, Social Sciences, Communications
Why students choose Albion College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 81% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $14,301 a year after grants and scholarships — 17% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $58,799 ten years after enrolling — 44% above the typical college, against $27,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.7% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 92% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.68 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of about 1,300 students, Albion College is a good fit for those looking for a close-knit academic community. An acceptance rate of 81% indicates that while the college values a diverse range of applicants, it still attracts motivated students. Many here choose to study fields like Business and Marketing, Biology, Social Sciences, Psychology, or Communications. These programs can offer a well-rounded education, preparing students for various career paths.
When it comes to life after graduation, the average earnings for alumni ten years out is $58,799. This can be a solid starting point for many graduates, especially considering the cost of living in Michigan. Albion's affordability is notable, with an average net price of $14,301 after financial aid. This makes it accessible for a wide range of families, especially those benefiting from the 47% Pell Grant rate, which helps support students from low-income backgrounds.
Looking at the financial picture, graduates leave with a median debt of $27,000. This figure is important as it helps frame the long-term financial commitment students are making. Those who tend to thrive at Albion are likely self-motivated and engaged, taking advantage of the smaller class sizes and the supportive environment. The college encourages students to connect with faculty and peers, enhancing both their educational experience and their future career prospects.
Rankings
- #2 Best Communications Colleges in Michigan
- #4 Best Biology Colleges in Michigan
- #8 Best Psychology Colleges in Michigan
- #14 Best Colleges in Michigan
- #15 Best Bachelor's Programs in Michigan
- #15 Best Master's Programs in Michigan
- #18 Best Education Colleges in Michigan
- #22 Best Business Colleges in Michigan
Can I Get In?
How selective Albion College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Albion College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Albion, Michigan, Albion College admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 81%. The graduation rate is roughly 59%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 81%
- Retention Rate
- 71%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 88%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,469
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 11:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.66
- First-Gen Students
- 28%
- Applicants
- 6,827
- Admitted
- 4,541
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Albion College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Albion College is $56,950, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $14,301. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,036 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $56,950
- Out-of-State
- $56,950
- Avg Net Price
- $14,301
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 47%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 64%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $10,036
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $9,772
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $12,085
- Family Income $110K+
- $24,368
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Albion College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Albion College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Albion College earn a median of $58,799, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $48,203
- 8 Years
- $55,035
- 10 Years
- $58,799
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.46x
- Earning > $25K
- 68%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (206)
- 58%
- 100% (206)
- 58%
- 100% (206)
- 58%
- 100% (206)
- 58%
How Albion Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Albion College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Albion College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $14,301/year ($57,204 total). Graduates earn $58,799 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,508,138 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,450,934 (26.4× your investment). The median debt is $27,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 59% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $57,204
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,508,138
- Net Return
- $1,450,934
- ROI Multiple
- 26.4×
- Cost Per Year
- $14,301
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 59%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Albion College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Albion College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.68%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower: only about 2.3% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 30.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $120,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.68%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 30.1%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 2.3%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $163,989
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $1,106,577
- Investment Income
- $-19,763,459
Top Programs
The fields Albion College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 15% $74,419 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 14% $35,271 early-career
- Social Sciences 11% $49,131 early-career
- Communications 10% $36,562 early-career
- Psychology 9% $32,345 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 4%
- Education 4% $42,086 early-career
- Physical Sciences 4%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Albion College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Albion College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Albion, Michigan, Albion College admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 81%. The graduation rate is roughly 59%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Albion College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Albion College is $56,950, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $14,301. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,036 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
Is Albion College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Albion College earn a median of $58,799, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Albion College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Albion College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.68%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower: only about 2.3% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 30.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $120,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Albion College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Albion College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.68, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 11% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Albion College.
- University of BaltimoreBaltimore, MD · Close peer43% grad $61,335 earn 79% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Nebraska Wesleyan UniversityLincoln, NE · Close peer67% grad $56,405 earn 80% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Walsh UniversityNorth Canton, OH · Close peer60% grad $59,764 earn 71% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- SUNY Polytechnic InstituteUtica, NY · Close peer57% grad $64,355 earn 81% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Goldey-Beacom CollegeWilmington, DE · Close peer58% grad $59,892 earn 85% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Simpson CollegeIndianola, IA · Close peer64% grad $59,274 earn 86% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Albion College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Albion College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.68, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 11% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note