Alma College vs. AQ

Comparable Facts

Compare Alma College in Alma, MI with Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Alma College is larger than AQ based on total student enrollment (1,197 students vs. 1,157 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Alma College is located in Alma, MI (Distant Town setting); Aquinas College is in Grand Rapids, MI (Midsize City setting).
• Alma College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Aquinas College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Alma College 14:1; Aquinas College 10:1.

Alma College vs. AQ Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Alma College or AQ? 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 Aquinas College than Alma College ($18,018 vs. $22,094).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Aquinas College are 17.6% lower than at Alma College ($11,680 vs. $14,180).
• Alma College is 23.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than AQ (about $9,334 more per year; $49,552.00 vs. $40,218.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 23.2% higher at Alma College than at Aquinas College (about $9,334 more per year; $49,552.00 vs. $40,218.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Alma College as at Aquinas College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Alma College students is 24.1% larger than aid received by Aquinas College students ($41,618 vs. $33,535).

Alma College vs. AQ Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Alma College or AQ? 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 AQ and Alma College.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsAquinas College 910/1140.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsAquinas College 20/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Alma College - Test-free; AQ - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman AQ students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at Alma College (3.5).
• AQ has a higher acceptance rate (89.9%) than Alma College (57%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.6% at Alma College vs. 11.8% at AQ.

Alma College vs. AQ Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Alma College and AQ? 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).

• Alma College's six-year graduation rate (67%) is higher than Aquinas College's (52%).
• Graduates from Alma College earn a median of about $8,300 more per year than AQ graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,300 vs. $40,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Aquinas College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Alma College graduates ($26,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, AQ graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Alma College graduates ($268 vs. $279).
• More Alma College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AQ students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 60%)

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.