Alma College vs. GVSU

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

Alma College GVSU
Location Alma, MI Allendale, MI
Setting Distant Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,273 22,269
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #559
Religious Affiliation Presbyterian Church (USA) - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website alma.edu gvsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Alma College GVSU
Tuition (In State) $47,160 $14,628
Tuition (Out of State) $47,160 $20,820
Room & Board $13,128 $11,142
Avg Net Price $24,862 $17,995
Avg Grant Aid $36,447 $8,925
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 86%

Admission

Alma College GVSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,975 24,297
Admitted 2,610 23,008
Acceptance Rate 65.7% 94.7%
Enrolled % 13.3% 21%
Avg High School GPA 3.5 3.65
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/28
SAT Range 940/1190
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline May 1, 2026

Academics

Alma College GVSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (21%)
  • Biology (15%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)

Outcomes

Alma College GVSU
Graduation Rate 67% 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,300 $44,600
Making Student Loan Payments 77% 62%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $258

Diversity

Alma College GVSU
% Men 1% 4%
% Women 2% 10%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 83% 83%
% Black 4% 5%
% Hispanic 4% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 4% 0%

Students

Alma College GVSU
% In-State 90% 91%
% Out-of-State 6% 8%

Campus

Alma College GVSU
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

  • Grand Valley State University is larger than than Alma College based on total student enrollment (22,269 students vs. 1,273 students)

Alma College vs. GVSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Alma College or GVSU?

  • Alma College is 222.4% more expensive to attend than GVSU for in-state tuition ($47,160.00 vs. $14,628.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 126.5% higher at Alma College than Grand Valley State University ($47,160.00 vs. $20,820.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Grand Valley State University than Alma College ($17,995 vs. $24,862)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grand Valley State University are 17.8% lower than costs at Alma College ($11,142 vs. $13,128)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Alma College than Grand Valley State University (100% vs. 86%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Alma College students is 308.4% larger than aid received Grand Valley State University ($36,447 vs. $8,925)

Alma College vs. GVSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Alma College (1110) is 20 points higher than at GVSU (1090)
  • Incoming Alma College students have at the same average ACT score (24) as students at GVSU (24)
  • Accepted freshman GVSU students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at Alma College (3.5)
  • GVSU has a higher acceptance rate (94.7%) than Alma College (65.7%)

Alma College vs. GVSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Alma College or GVSU? 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 GVSU and Alma College.

  • The graduation rate at Alma College is higher than Grand Valley State University (67% vs. 63%)
  • Graduates from Alma College earn on average $3,700 more per year than GVSU graduates after ten years. ($48,300 vs. $44,600)
  • Grand Valley State University students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Alma College graduates. ($25,000 vs. $27,000)
  • GVSU graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than Alma College graduates. ($258 vs. $279)
  • More Alma College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GVSU students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 62%)

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