Alma College vs. Messenger College

Should I go to Alma College or Messenger College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Alma College or Messenger College 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. Messenger College comparison
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Alma College
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Overview

Alma College Messenger College
Location Alma, MI Joplin, TX
Setting Distant Town Small City
Enrollment 1,273 26
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation Presbyterian Church (USA) Other Protestant - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website alma.edu messengercollege.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Alma College Messenger College
Tuition (In State) $47,160 $9,600
Tuition (Out of State) $47,160 $9,600
Room & Board $13,128 $12,635
Avg Net Price $24,862 $18,221
Avg Grant Aid $36,447 $7,978
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Alma College Messenger College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,975 14
Admitted 2,610 7
Acceptance Rate 65.7% 50%
Enrolled % 13.3% 100%
Avg High School GPA 3.5 2.9
Typical High School Grades B+ B-
Admissions Standards Unavailable Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range
SAT Range
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jul 1, 2026

Academics

Alma College Messenger College
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 8:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (21%)
  • Biology (15%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (83%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (11%)
  • Business (6%)

Outcomes

Alma College Messenger College
Graduation Rate 67% 10%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,300 $24,000
Making Student Loan Payments 77% 40%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 N/A
Median Loan Payment $279 N/A

Diversity

Alma College Messenger College
% Men 1% 19%
% Women 2% 35%
Racial Diversity Very Low High
HBCU No No
% White 83% 54%
% Black 4% 18%
% Hispanic 4% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 5%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 4% 8%

Students

Alma College Messenger College
% In-State 90% 50%
% Out-of-State 6% 50%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Alma College is larger than than Messenger College based on total student enrollment (1,273 students vs. 26 students)

Alma College vs. Messenger College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Alma College or Messenger College?

  • Alma College is 391.2% more expensive to attend than Messenger College for in-state tuition ($47,160.00 vs. $9,600.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 391.2% higher at Alma College than Messenger College ($47,160.00 vs. $9,600.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Messenger College than Alma College ($18,221 vs. $24,862)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Messenger College are 3.9% lower than costs at Alma College ($12,635 vs. $13,128)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Alma College as Messenger College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Alma College students is 356.8% larger than aid received Messenger College ($36,447 vs. $7,978)

Alma College vs. Messenger College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Alma College students have a 0.6 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Messenger College (2.9)
  • Alma College has a higher acceptance rate (65.7%) than Messenger College (50%)

Alma College vs. Messenger College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Alma College is higher than Messenger College (67% vs. 10%)
  • Graduates from Alma College earn on average $24,300 more per year than Messenger College graduates after ten years. ($48,300 vs. $24,000)
  • More Alma College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Messenger College students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 40%)

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