Albion College vs. SAU

Deciding between Albion College and Spring Arbor University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Albion College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Albion College Albion, MI
  • SAU Spring Arbor, MI
  • Setting
  • Albion College Distant Town
  • SAU Small Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Albion College 1,308
  • SAU 2,441
  • Type
  • Albion College Private 4 Year
  • SAU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Albion College #388
  • SAU #534
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Albion College United Methodist
  • SAU Free Methodist
  • Status
  • Albion College Non-profit
  • SAU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Albion College
  • SAU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Albion College $56,950
  • SAU $34,014
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Albion College $56,950
  • SAU $34,014
  • Room & Board
  • Albion College $12,830
  • SAU $11,440
  • Average Net Price
  • Albion College $16,719
  • SAU $21,067
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Albion College $53,298
  • SAU $23,877
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Albion College 100%
  • SAU 100%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Albion College 6,421
  • SAU 2,527
  • Admitted
  • Albion College 5,182
  • SAU 1,302
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Albion College 80.7%
  • SAU 51.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Albion College 6.9%
  • SAU 16.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Albion College 1050
  • SAU 1130
  • Typical ACT score
  • Albion College 23
  • SAU
  • Average High School GPA
  • Albion College 3.48
  • SAU 3.61
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Albion College B+
  • SAU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Albion College Easy
  • SAU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • Albion College
  • SAU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Albion College 19/27
  • SAU
  • SAT Range
  • Albion College 930/1160
  • SAU 1010/1240
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Albion College Test-free
  • SAU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Albion College
  • SAU
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Albion College 11:1
  • SAU 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Albion College
    • Social Sciences (19%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Physical Sciences (7%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
  • SAU
    • Business (31%)
    • Work and Family Studies (14%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Human Services (9%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Albion College 68%
  • SAU 56%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Albion College $55,600
  • SAU $42,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Albion College 75%
  • SAU 58%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Albion College $27,200
  • SAU $24,043
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Albion College $281
  • SAU $248
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Albion College 47%
  • SAU 25%
  • % Women
  • Albion College 53%
  • SAU 75%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Albion College Low
  • SAU Low
  • HBCU
  • Albion College No
  • SAU No
  • % White
  • Albion College 77%
  • SAU 77%
  • % Asian
  • Albion College 2%
  • SAU 1%
  • % Black
  • Albion College 6%
  • SAU 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • Albion College 5%
  • SAU 3%
  • % Native American
  • Albion College 0%
  • SAU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Albion College 0%
  • SAU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Albion College 2%
  • SAU 3%
  • % International
  • Albion College 2%
  • SAU 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Albion College 5%
  • SAU 5%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Albion College 70%
  • SAU 82%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Albion College 23%
  • SAU 15%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Albion College Yes
  • SAU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Albion College No
  • SAU No
  • Meal Plan
  • Albion College Yes
  • SAU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Albion College No
  • SAU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Albion College No
  • SAU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Albion College in Albion, MI with Spring Arbor University in Spring Arbor, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Spring Arbor University is larger than Albion College based on total student enrollment (2,441 students vs. 1,308 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Albion College is located in Albion, MI (Distant Town setting); Spring Arbor University is in Spring Arbor, MI (Small Suburban setting).
  • Albion College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Spring Arbor University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Albion College 11:1; Spring Arbor University 12:1.

Albion College vs. SAU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Albion College or SAU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Albion College than SAU ($16,719 vs. $21,067).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Spring Arbor University are 10.8% lower than at Albion College ($11,440 vs. $12,830).
  • Albion College is 67.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than SAU (about $22,936 more per year; $56,950.00 vs. $34,014.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 67.4% higher at Albion College than at Spring Arbor University (about $22,936 more per year; $56,950.00 vs. $34,014.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Albion College as at Spring Arbor University (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Albion College students is 123.2% larger than aid received by Spring Arbor University students ($53,298 vs. $23,877).

Albion College vs. SAU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Albion College or SAU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between SAU and Albion College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Spring Arbor University (1130) is 80 points higher than at Albion College (1050).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Albion College 930/1160; Spring Arbor University 1010/1240.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Albion College 19/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Albion College - Test-free; SAU - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman SAU students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at Albion College (3.48).
  • Albion College has a higher acceptance rate (80.7%) than SAU (51.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 6.9% at Albion College vs. 16.5% at SAU.

Albion College vs. SAU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Albion College and SAU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Albion College's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than Spring Arbor University's (56%).
  • Graduates from Albion College earn a median of about $13,000 more per year than SAU graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,600 vs. $42,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Spring Arbor University graduates have a $3,157 lower median loan debt than Albion College graduates ($24,043 vs. $27,200).
  • Among borrowers, SAU graduates have an estimated $33 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Albion College graduates ($248 vs. $281).
  • More Albion College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SAU students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 58%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.