Alma College Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
Alma College is a private research university in Alma, Michigan, enrolling about 1,148 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 57.03% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $54,742 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $49,552
- 2024 Average Net Price: $20,694 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 57.03% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 1,148 98.3% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 62.87%
- Carnegie Classification: Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions
- First-Generation Students: 24.1%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 4.0% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 6.9% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 62.3%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,218
- Applicants (IPEDS): 3,975
- Room & Board: $14,180 annual estimate
Alma College: what the data shows
Common questions about Alma College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Alma College?
Alma College is located in Alma, MI (ZIP 48801-1599).
NCES locale classification: Town distant.
Is Alma College public or private?
Alma College is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does Alma College cost?
Published tuition: $49,552.
Average net price after aid: $20,694.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $17,162 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $18,009 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $18,076 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $18,699 |
| $110,001+ | $23,618 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $198,208.
How hard is it to get into Alma College?
Admission rate: 57.03%.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Alma College?
Total enrollment: 1,148 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 1,218 students.
Graduate enrollment: 38 students.
About 98% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Alma College?
150%-time completion rate: 62.87%.
First-year retention: 85.0%.
What do graduates of Alma College earn?
Median earnings: $45,720 six years after entry; $54,742 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $27,000.
27.04% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Alma College known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Business Administration and Management, General (40 completions)
- Psychology, General (37 completions)
- Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology (36 completions)
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General (20 completions)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (16 completions)
- Elementary Education and Teaching (14 completions)
- Political Science and Government, General (14 completions)
- Environmental Studies (13 completions)
- Communication and Media Studies (12 completions)
- Secondary Education and Teaching (12 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Alma College a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 57.03%; completion rate 62.87%; median earnings $54,742 at 10 years; net price $20,694. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$49,552
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Alma College was $49,552.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$20,694
2024 Value
In 2024 Alma College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $20,694.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$82,776 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$20,694 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$198,208 4-Year Tuition
$14,180 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$2,172 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$65,904 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$263,616 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Alma College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
27.04% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
56.60% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Alma College was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Alma College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $32,660 | $32,660 | $20,130 |
| 2014 | $34,220 | $34,220 | $21,824 |
| 2015 | $35,428 | $35,428 | $22,080 |
| 2016 | $37,310 | $37,310 | $21,351 |
| 2017 | $38,768 | $38,768 | $21,836 |
| 2018 | $40,258 | $40,258 | $21,985 |
| 2019 | $41,398 | $41,398 | $22,449 |
| 2020 | $42,622 | $42,622 | $23,200 |
| 2021 | $43,872 | $43,872 | $23,437 |
| 2022 | $45,616 | $45,616 | $23,074 |
| 2023 | $47,430 | $47,430 | $24,663 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
57.03% Acceptance Rate
3,975 Total Applicants
2,610 Students Admitted
346 First-Time Students Enrolled
13.26% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution is selective, accepting about half of all applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Alma College reported total enrollment of about 1,148 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 47% male and 53% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (77.3%), Black or African American (6.0%), and Non-Resident Alien (5.7%). About 27.04% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 24.1% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
98.3% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Alma College in 2024 is 1,148 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 1,218 students. Graduate enrollment is about 38 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
85.0%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 77.3%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
56.68% 100% Completion Time
62.87% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 56.68% of students graduating from Alma College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Business Administration and Management, General: 68% male / 32% female
- Psychology, General: 22% male / 78% female
- Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology: 31% male / 69% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Alma College.
Return on Investment
$27,000 Median Student Debt
$54,742 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
49.32% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
561.33% Return on Investment
4.9 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Alma College.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 41 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Business Administration and Management, General: 40 completions
2. Psychology, General: 37 completions
3. Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology: 36 completions
4. Biology/Biological Sciences, General: 20 completions
5. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 16 completions
6. Elementary Education and Teaching: 14 completions
7. Political Science and Government, General: 14 completions
8. Environmental Studies: 13 completions
9. Communication and Media Studies: 12 completions
Most popular programs at Alma College.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Alma College graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Alma College from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 62.3%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $7,879
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $14,519
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Alma College is a private non-profit institution located in Alma, MI, classified as Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Business Administration and Management, General, Psychology, General, Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology. Enrollment is approximately 1,148 students. Student body composition includes White (77.3%), Black or African American (6.0%), Non-Resident Alien (5.7%). The admission rate is 57.03%. The 150%-time completion rate is 62.87%. Approximately 27.04% of students receive Pell Grants. About 24.1% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Carnegie Classification: Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions
Location
Alma, MI 48801-1599
Region: Great Lakes
Insights and Analysis
Alma College provides educational opportunities for students seeking higher education. Prospective students should carefully evaluate all factors including costs, outcomes, and program offerings when making their enrollment decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Alma College located?
Alma College is located in Alma, MI.
What is Alma College's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Alma College is 57.0% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 3,975 applicants and 2,610 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does Alma College cost?
Reported tuition is $49,552 and average net price is $20,694 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $14,180 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Alma College?
Alma College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 1,218 students, White (77.3%), Black or African American (6.0%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Alma College?
About 24.1% of students at Alma College are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Alma College earn?
Median earnings are $45,720 six years after entry and $54,742 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Alma College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 62.9% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Alma College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $27,000.
Is Alma College public or private?
Alma College is a private nonprofit institution located in Alma, MI.
Is Alma College an HBCU?
No. Alma College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Alma College a tribal college?
No. Alma College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Alma College a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Alma College does not meet that proxy (reported share 3.6%).
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Michigan college costs
- Michigan colleges by ROI
- Great Lakes regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Michigan
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.