Alma College vs. Cleveland State

Should I go to Alma College or Cleveland State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Alma College or Cleveland State 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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Alma College vs. Cleveland State University comparison
Alma College Cleveland State University College 3 College 4
Alma College Cleveland State University
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Overview

 Alma College Cleveland State
Location Alma, MI Cleveland, OH
Setting Distant Town Large City
Enrollment 1,260 14,385
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #769
Religious Affiliation Presbyterian Church (USA) - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website alma.edu csuohio.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Alma College Cleveland State
Tuition (In State) $45,346 $12,144
Tuition (Out of State) $45,346 $17,359
Room & Board $12,624 $14,197
Avg Net Price $23,995 $15,719
Avg Grant Aid $34,736 $9,436
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 91%

Admission

 Alma College Cleveland State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,372 11,570
Admitted 2,180 9,872
Acceptance Rate 64.7% 85.3%
Enrolled % 15.3% 16.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.5 3.31
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/25
SAT Range 880/1130
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025

Academics

 Alma College Cleveland State
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (21%)
  • Biology (15%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

 Alma College Cleveland State
Graduation Rate 67% 30%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,300 $44,200
Making Student Loan Payments 77% 47%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $279 $222

Diversity

 Alma College Cleveland State
% Men 47% 46%
% Women 53% 54%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 83% 64%
% Black 4% 17%
% Hispanic 4% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 1% 5%
% Unknown Race 4% 2%

Students

 Alma College Cleveland State
% In-State 90% 85%
% Out-of-State 6% 7%

Campus

 Alma College Cleveland State
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Cleveland State University is larger than than Alma College based on total student enrollment (14,385 students vs. 1,260 students)

Alma College vs. Cleveland State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Alma College or Cleveland State?

  • Alma College is 273.4% more expensive to attend than Cleveland State for in-state tuition ($45,346.00 vs. $12,144.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 161.2% higher at Alma College than Cleveland State University ($45,346.00 vs. $17,359.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Cleveland State University than Alma College ($15,719 vs. $23,995)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Alma College are 12.5% lower than costs at Cleveland State University ($12,624 vs. $14,197)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Alma College than Cleveland State University (100% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Alma College students is 268.1% larger than aid received Cleveland State University ($34,736 vs. $9,436)

Alma College vs. Cleveland State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Alma College (1110) is 82 points higher than at Cleveland State (1028)
  • Incoming Alma College students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Cleveland State (22)
  • Accepted freshman Alma College students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Cleveland State (3.31)
  • Cleveland State has a higher acceptance rate (85.3%) than Alma College (64.7%)

Alma College vs. Cleveland State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Alma College or Cleveland State? 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 Cleveland State and Alma College.

  • The graduation rate at Alma College is higher than Cleveland State University (67% vs. 30%)
  • Graduates from Alma College earn on average $4,100 more per year than Cleveland State graduates after ten years. ($48,300 vs. $44,200)
  • Cleveland State University students graduate with a $5,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Alma College graduates. ($21,500 vs. $27,000)
  • Cleveland State graduates are paying $57 less per month on federal student loans than Alma College graduates. ($222 vs. $279)
  • More Alma College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cleveland State students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 47%)

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