Alma College
#10 Best Communications Colleges in Michigan- Graduation Rate
- 63% C+
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $54,742 B
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $20,694 C-
- 21% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 57% B
- Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 16.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $16.5 over 20 years. Ranked #10 in Best Communications Colleges in Michigan.
Every $1 spent returns $16.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,283,563.
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 34% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $16.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Alma College Matters
Alma College is a private college in Alma, 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 College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate College
- Enrollment
- 1,148
- Setting
- Town
- Designations
- 66
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Education, Psychology, Biology & Biomedical
Why students choose Alma 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
Competitive — admits about 57% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $20,694 a year after grants and scholarships — 21% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $54,742 ten years after enrolling — 34% above the typical college, against $27,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.2% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 67% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.66 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Alma College, with an enrollment of about 1,148 students, is a good fit for those who value a close-knit academic community. The college has a 57% acceptance rate, making it accessible for many students. Popular programs here include Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Business and Marketing, Education, Psychology, and Health Professions. This range of majors reflects a commitment to both the sciences and the arts, which can help students tailor their education to their interests and career goals.
After graduation, alumni earn an average of $54,742 within ten years, which gives a solid indication of the potential return on investment for students. While the college has a graduation rate of 63%, it's important to consider the financial aspects of attending. The average net price is about $20,694, which is relatively manageable for many families. With 27% of students receiving Pell Grants, there's support available for those who need it, although the mobility rate isn't specified.
When it comes to the practicalities of attending Alma College, students graduate with a median debt of $27,000. This can impact life after college, so it's worth thinking about how this fits into your financial plans. Generally, students who thrive here are those who appreciate a personalized learning environment and are eager to engage with their professors and peers. If you're looking for a supportive college experience that balances academics and community, Alma might be worth considering.
Rankings
- #10 Best Communications Colleges in Michigan
- #15 Best Education Colleges in Michigan
- #18 Best Psychology Colleges in Michigan
- #20 Best Biology Colleges in Michigan
- #25 Best Business Colleges in Michigan
- #27 Best Bachelor's Programs in Michigan
- #29 Best Master's Programs in Michigan
- #41 Best Colleges in Michigan
Can I Get In?
How selective Alma 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 Alma College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Alma College, located in Alma, Michigan, offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 57% of applicants receiving an offer. The graduation rate is roughly 63%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 57%
- Retention Rate
- 85%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 62%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,879
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 14:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.39
- First-Gen Students
- 24%
- Applicants
- 3,372
- Admitted
- 2,180
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 Alma College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Alma College is $49,552, 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 $20,694. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $17,162 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $49,552
- Out-of-State
- $49,552
- Avg Net Price
- $20,694
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 27%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 57%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $17,162
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $18,009
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $18,076
- Family Income $110K+
- $23,618
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Alma College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Alma College earn a median of $54,742, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $45,720
- 8 Years
- $50,698
- 10 Years
- $54,742
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.49x
- Earning > $25K
- 61%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (210)
- 59%
- 100% (210)
- 59%
- 100% (210)
- 59%
- 100% (210)
- 59%
How Alma 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 Alma College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Alma College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $20,694/year ($82,776 total). Graduates earn $54,742 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,366,339 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,283,563 (16.5× your investment). The median debt is $27,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 63% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $82,776
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,366,339
- Net Return
- $1,283,563
- ROI Multiple
- 16.5×
- Cost Per Year
- $20,694
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 63%
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 Alma College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Alma 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 1.17%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 23.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $98,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.17%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 23.3%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 5.0%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $98,200
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $2,497,697
- Investment Income
- $-14,232,239
Top Programs
The fields Alma College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
- Business & Marketing 21%
- Education 13%
- Psychology 13%
- Biology & Biomedical 9%
- Social Sciences 9%
- Visual & Performing Arts 6%
- Communications 5%
- Health Professions 5%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Alma 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
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Alma College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Alma College, located in Alma, Michigan, offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 57% of applicants receiving an offer. The graduation rate is roughly 63%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Alma College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Alma College is $49,552, 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 $20,694. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $17,162 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
Is Alma College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Alma College earn a median of $54,742, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Alma College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Alma 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 1.17%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 23.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $98,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Alma 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 Alma College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.66, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), 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 Alma College.
- Knox CollegeGalesburg, IL · Close peer68% grad $54,820 earn 71% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Coe CollegeCedar Rapids, IA · Close peer62% grad $57,125 earn 64% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Russell Sage CollegeTroy, NY · Close peer59% grad $58,316 earn 53% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Mount St. Joseph UniversityCincinnati, OH · Close peer56% grad $51,509 earn 59% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Spring Arbor UniversitySpring Arbor, MI · Close peer61% grad $51,732 earn 52% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Roberts Wesleyan UniversityRochester, NY · Close peer65% grad $55,031 earn 71% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Alma 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 Alma College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.66, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), 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