Alma College vs. LEC

Comparable Facts

Compare Alma College in Alma, MI with Lake Erie College in Painesville, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Alma College is larger than LEC based on total student enrollment (1,197 students vs. 1,108 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Alma College is located in Alma, MI (Distant Town setting); Lake Erie College is in Painesville, OH (Large Suburban setting).
• Alma College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Lake Erie College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Alma College 14:1; Lake Erie College 12:1.

Alma College vs. LEC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Alma College or LEC? 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 LEC ($22,094 vs. $22,892).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lake Erie College are 8.1% lower than at Alma College ($13,036 vs. $14,180).
• Alma College is 31.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than LEC (about $11,918 more per year; $49,552.00 vs. $37,634.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 31.7% higher at Alma College than at Lake Erie College (about $11,918 more per year; $49,552.00 vs. $37,634.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Alma College as at Lake Erie College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Alma College students is 49.3% larger than aid received by Lake Erie College students ($41,618 vs. $27,879).

Alma College vs. LEC Admissions comparison

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

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsLake Erie College 945/1115.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsLake Erie College 18/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Alma College - Test-free; LEC - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: LEC Aug 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Alma College students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at LEC (3.19).
• LEC has a higher acceptance rate (70.4%) than Alma College (57%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.6% at Alma College vs. 19.7% at LEC.

Alma College vs. LEC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Alma College and LEC? 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 Lake Erie College's (53%).
• Graduates from Alma College earn a median of about $11,700 more per year than LEC graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,300 vs. $36,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Lake Erie College and Alma College graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Lake Erie College 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 LEC 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.