Adrian College vs. SAU

Should I go to Adrian College or Spring Arbor University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Adrian College or SAU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Adrian College vs. Spring Arbor University comparison
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Adrian College
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Overview

Adrian College SAU
Location Adrian, MI Spring Arbor, MI
Setting Distant Town Small Suburban
Enrollment 1,821 2,396
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #846 #501
Religious Affiliation United Methodist Free Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website adrian.edu arbor.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Adrian College SAU
Tuition (In State) $38,321 $31,020
Tuition (Out of State) $38,321 $31,020
Room & Board $12,980 $10,652
Avg Net Price $24,870 $22,375
Avg Grant Aid $31,555 $20,677
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 99%

Admission

Adrian College SAU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,329 2,312
Admitted 2,299 1,094
Acceptance Rate 69.1% 47.3%
Enrolled % 22.1% 20.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.2 3.61
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Easy Easy
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 17/25 20/26
SAT Range 940/1160 970/1135
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025

Academics

Adrian College SAU
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (21%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (12%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Business (31%)
  • Work and Family Studies (14%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Human Services (9%)

Outcomes

Adrian College SAU
Graduation Rate 49% 56%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,900 $42,600
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 58%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $24,043
Median Loan Payment $279 $248

Diversity

Adrian College SAU
% Men 53% 23%
% Women 47% 77%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 72% 77%
% Black 9% 10%
% Hispanic 5% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 0% 1%
% Unknown Race 9% 5%

Students

Adrian College SAU
% In-State 64% 83%
% Out-of-State 30% 13%

Campus

Adrian College SAU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Spring Arbor University is larger than than Adrian College based on total student enrollment (2,396 students vs. 1,821 students)

Adrian College vs. SAU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Adrian College or SAU?

  • Adrian College is 23.5% more expensive to attend than SAU for in-state tuition ($38,321.00 vs. $31,020.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 23.5% higher at Adrian College than Spring Arbor University ($38,321.00 vs. $31,020.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Spring Arbor University than Adrian College ($22,375 vs. $24,870)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Spring Arbor University are 21.9% lower than costs at Adrian College ($10,652 vs. $12,980)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Adrian College as Spring Arbor University (99% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Adrian College students is 52.6% larger than aid received Spring Arbor University ($31,555 vs. $20,677)

Adrian College vs. SAU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Adrian College or SAU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SAU or Adrian College .

  • The average SAT score at Spring Arbor University (1073) is 65 points higher than at Adrian College (1008)
  • Incoming SAU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Adrian College (22)
  • Accepted freshman SAU students have a 0.41 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at Adrian College (3.2)
  • Adrian College has a higher acceptance rate (69.1%) than SAU (47.3%)

Adrian College vs. SAU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Adrian College or SAU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between SAU and Adrian College.

  • The graduation rate at SAU is higher than Adrian College (56% vs. 49%)
  • Graduates from Spring Arbor University earn on average $2,700 more per year than Adrian College graduates after ten years. ($42,600 vs. $39,900)
  • Spring Arbor University students graduate with a $2,957 lower median federal student loan debt than Adrian College graduates. ($24,043 vs. $27,000)
  • SAU graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than Adrian College graduates. ($248 vs. $279)
  • More Adrian College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SAU students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 58%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/