Alma College vs. CCS

Deciding between Alma College and College for Creative Studies? 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
College for Creative Studies

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Alma College Alma, MI
  • CCS Detroit, MI
  • Setting
  • Alma College Distant Town
  • CCS Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Alma College 1,197
  • CCS 1,433
  • Type
  • Alma College Private 4 Year
  • CCS Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Alma College
  • CCS
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Alma College Presbyterian Church (USA)
  • CCS -
  • Status
  • Alma College Non-profit
  • CCS Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Alma College
  • CCS

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Alma College $49,552
  • CCS $53,350
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Alma College $49,552
  • CCS $53,350
  • Room & Board
  • Alma College $14,180
  • CCS $15,272
  • Average Net Price
  • Alma College $22,094
  • CCS $36,055
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Alma College $41,618
  • CCS $30,108
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Alma College 100%
  • CCS 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Alma College 5,208
  • CCS 1,079
  • Admitted
  • Alma College 2,970
  • CCS 992
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Alma College 57%
  • CCS 91.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Alma College 9.6%
  • CCS 24.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Alma College
  • CCS
  • Typical ACT score
  • Alma College
  • CCS
  • Average High School GPA
  • Alma College 3.5
  • CCS 3.19
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Alma College A-
  • CCS B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Alma College Unavailable
  • CCS Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Alma College Low
  • CCS
  • ACT Range
  • Alma College
  • CCS
  • SAT Range
  • Alma College
  • CCS
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Alma College Test-free
  • CCS Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Alma College
  • CCS

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Alma College 14:1
  • CCS 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Alma College
    • Business (21%)
    • Biology (15%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • CCS
    • Visual and Performing Arts (87%)
    • Communications Technology (13%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Alma College 67%
  • CCS 57%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Alma College $48,300
  • CCS $46,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Alma College 77%
  • CCS 60%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Alma College $27,000
  • CCS $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Alma College $279
  • CCS $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Alma College 47%
  • CCS 34%
  • % Women
  • Alma College 53%
  • CCS 66%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Alma College Very Low
  • CCS Medium
  • HBCU
  • Alma College No
  • CCS No
  • % White
  • Alma College 83%
  • CCS 58%
  • % Asian
  • Alma College 1%
  • CCS 4%
  • % Black
  • Alma College 4%
  • CCS 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • Alma College 4%
  • CCS 4%
  • % Native American
  • Alma College 0%
  • CCS 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Alma College 0%
  • CCS 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Alma College 2%
  • CCS 4%
  • % International
  • Alma College 1%
  • CCS 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Alma College 4%
  • CCS 11%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Alma College 81%
  • CCS 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Alma College 11%
  • CCS 19%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Alma College in Alma, MI with College for Creative Studies in Detroit, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

College for Creative Studies is larger than Alma College based on total student enrollment (1,433 students vs. 1,197 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Alma College is located in Alma, MI (Distant Town setting); College for Creative Studies is in Detroit, MI (Large City setting).
  • Alma College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. College for Creative Studies is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Alma College 14:1; College for Creative Studies 10:1.

Alma College vs. CCS Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Alma College or CCS? 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 Alma College than CCS ($22,094 vs. $36,055).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Alma College are 7.2% lower than at College for Creative Studies ($14,180 vs. $15,272).
  • College for Creative Studies is 7.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Alma College (about $3,798 more per year; $53,350.00 vs. $49,552.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7.7% higher at CCS than at Alma College (about $3,798 more per year; $53,350.00 vs. $49,552.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Alma College than at College for Creative Studies (100% vs. 98%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Alma College students is 38.2% larger than aid received by College for Creative Studies students ($41,618 vs. $30,108).

Alma College vs. CCS Admissions comparison

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

  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Alma College - Test-free; CCS - Test-free.
  • Accepted freshman Alma College students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at CCS (3.19).
  • CCS has a higher acceptance rate (91.9%) than Alma College (57%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.6% at Alma College vs. 24.9% at CCS.

Alma College vs. CCS Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Alma College and CCS? 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 College for Creative Studies's (57%).
  • Graduates from Alma College earn a median of about $2,200 more per year than CCS graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,300 vs. $46,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, College for Creative Studies and Alma College graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, College for Creative Studies 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 CCS 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.