Alma College vs. Pacific Northwest College of Art

Comparable Facts

Compare Alma College in Alma, MI with Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland, OR on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Alma College is larger than Pacific Northwest College of Art based on total student enrollment (1,197 students vs. 466 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Alma College is located in Alma, MI (Distant Town setting); Pacific Northwest College of Art is in Portland, OR (Large City setting).
• Alma College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Pacific Northwest College of Art is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Alma College 14:1; Pacific Northwest College of Art 9:1.

Alma College vs. Pacific Northwest College of Art Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Alma College or Pacific Northwest College of Art? 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 Pacific Northwest College of Art ($22,094 vs. $39,710).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Alma College are 28.2% lower than at Pacific Northwest College of Art ($14,180 vs. $19,760).
• Alma College is 1.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pacific Northwest College of Art (about $546 more per year; $49,552.00 vs. $49,006.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.1% higher at Alma College than at Pacific Northwest College of Art (about $546 more per year; $49,552.00 vs. $49,006.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Alma College as at Pacific Northwest College of Art (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Alma College students is 35.7% larger than aid received by Pacific Northwest College of Art students ($41,618 vs. $30,666).

Alma College vs. Pacific Northwest College of Art Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Alma College or Pacific Northwest College of Art? 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 Pacific Northwest College of Art and Alma College.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Alma College - Test-free; Pacific Northwest College of Art - Test-free.
• Pacific Northwest College of Art has a higher acceptance rate (74.8%) than Alma College (57%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.6% at Alma College vs. 28.1% at Pacific Northwest College of Art.

Alma College vs. Pacific Northwest College of Art Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Alma College and Pacific Northwest College of Art? 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 Pacific Northwest College of Art's (42%).
• Graduates from Alma College earn a median of about $18,400 more per year than Pacific Northwest College of Art graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,300 vs. $29,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Alma College graduates have a $981 lower median loan debt than Pacific Northwest College of Art graduates ($27,000 vs. $27,981).
• Among borrowers, Alma College graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pacific Northwest College of Art graduates ($279 vs. $289).
• More Alma College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pacific Northwest College of Art students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 50%)

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.