Alma College vs. CMU

Deciding between Alma College and Central Michigan 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.

Alma College
Central Michigan University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Alma College Alma, MI
  • CMU Mount Pleasant, MI
  • Setting
  • Alma College Distant Town
  • CMU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Alma College 1,197
  • CMU 14,488
  • Type
  • Alma College Private 4 Year
  • CMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Alma College
  • CMU #782
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Alma College Presbyterian Church (USA)
  • CMU -
  • Status
  • Alma College Non-profit
  • CMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Alma College
  • CMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Alma College $49,552
  • CMU $14,760
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Alma College $49,552
  • CMU $14,760
  • Room & Board
  • Alma College $14,180
  • CMU $12,564
  • Average Net Price
  • Alma College $22,094
  • CMU $17,575
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Alma College $41,618
  • CMU $13,042
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Alma College 100%
  • CMU 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Alma College 5,208
  • CMU 21,969
  • Admitted
  • Alma College 2,970
  • CMU 19,732
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Alma College 57%
  • CMU 89.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Alma College 9.6%
  • CMU 11.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Alma College
  • CMU 1080
  • Typical ACT score
  • Alma College
  • CMU 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • Alma College 3.5
  • CMU 3.47
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Alma College A-
  • CMU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Alma College Unavailable
  • CMU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • Alma College Low
  • CMU
  • ACT Range
  • Alma College
  • CMU 21/27
  • SAT Range
  • Alma College
  • CMU 960/1200
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Alma College Test-free
  • CMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Alma College
  • CMU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Alma College 14:1
  • CMU 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Alma College
    • Business (21%)
    • Biology (15%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • CMU
    • Business (24%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Alma College 67%
  • CMU 54%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Alma College $48,300
  • CMU $44,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Alma College 77%
  • CMU 54%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Alma College $27,000
  • CMU $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Alma College $279
  • CMU $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Alma College 47%
  • CMU 39%
  • % Women
  • Alma College 53%
  • CMU 61%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Alma College Very Low
  • CMU Low
  • HBCU
  • Alma College No
  • CMU No
  • % White
  • Alma College 83%
  • CMU 79%
  • % Asian
  • Alma College 1%
  • CMU 1%
  • % Black
  • Alma College 4%
  • CMU 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Alma College 4%
  • CMU 4%
  • % Native American
  • Alma College 0%
  • CMU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Alma College 0%
  • CMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Alma College 2%
  • CMU 3%
  • % International
  • Alma College 1%
  • CMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Alma College 4%
  • CMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Alma College 81%
  • CMU 88%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Alma College 11%
  • CMU 9%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Alma College in Alma, MI with Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Central Michigan University is larger than Alma College based on total student enrollment (14,488 students vs. 1,197 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Alma College is located in Alma, MI (Distant Town setting); Central Michigan University is in Mount Pleasant, MI (Distant Town setting).
  • Alma College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Central Michigan University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Alma College 14:1; Central Michigan University 16:1.

Alma College vs. CMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Alma College or CMU? 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 Central Michigan University than Alma College ($17,575 vs. $22,094).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central Michigan University are 11.4% lower than at Alma College ($12,564 vs. $14,180).
  • Alma College is 235.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than CMU (about $34,792 more per year; $49,552.00 vs. $14,760.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 235.7% higher at Alma College than at Central Michigan University (about $34,792 more per year; $49,552.00 vs. $14,760.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Alma College than at Central Michigan University (100% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Alma College students is 219.1% larger than aid received by Central Michigan University students ($41,618 vs. $13,042).

Alma College vs. CMU Admissions comparison

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

  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsCentral Michigan University 960/1200.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsCentral Michigan University 21/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Alma College - Test-free; CMU - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman Alma College students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at CMU (3.47).
  • CMU has a higher acceptance rate (89.8%) than Alma College (57%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.6% at Alma College vs. 11.3% at CMU.

Alma College vs. CMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Alma College and CMU? 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 Central Michigan University's (54%).
  • Graduates from Alma College earn a median of about $3,800 more per year than CMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,300 vs. $44,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Central Michigan University and Alma College graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Central Michigan University and Alma College graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
  • More Alma College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CMU students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 54%)

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.