Alma College vs. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design

Comparable Facts

Compare Alma College in Alma, MI with Pennsylvania College of Art and Design in Lancaster, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Alma College is larger than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design based on total student enrollment (1,197 students vs. 414 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Alma College is located in Alma, MI (Distant Town setting); Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is in Lancaster, PA (Small City setting).
• Alma College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Alma College 14:1; Pennsylvania College of Art and Design 10:1.

Alma College vs. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Alma College or Pennsylvania College of Art and Design? 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 Pennsylvania College of Art and Design ($22,094 vs. $28,826).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Alma College are 17.7% lower than at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design ($14,180 vs. $17,230).
• Alma College is 54.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (about $17,402 more per year; $49,552.00 vs. $32,150.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 54.1% higher at Alma College than at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (about $17,402 more per year; $49,552.00 vs. $32,150.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Alma College as at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Alma College students is 177.7% larger than aid received by Pennsylvania College of Art and Design students ($41,618 vs. $14,989).

Alma College vs. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Alma College - Test-free; Pennsylvania College of Art and Design - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman Alma College students have a 0.37 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (3.13).
• Pennsylvania College of Art and Design has a higher acceptance rate (99.2%) than Alma College (57%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.6% at Alma College vs. 32.5% at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design.

Alma College vs. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Alma College and Pennsylvania College of Art and Design? 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 Pennsylvania College of Art and Design's (52%).
• Graduates from Alma College earn a median of about $19,600 more per year than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,300 vs. $28,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pennsylvania College of Art and Design and Alma College graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Pennsylvania College of Art and Design 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 Pennsylvania College of Art and Design students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 58%)

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.