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CMU JCSU OC Comets Michigan State GVSU Saginaw Valley State University North Carolina Central University St. Augustine's College Albion College St. Augustine College WSSU Chowan University| Alma College | Shaw University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Alma College | Shaw University | ||
| Location | Alma, MI | Raleigh, NC | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 1,260 | 1,067 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | ||||
| Religious Affiliation | Presbyterian Church (USA) | Baptist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | alma.edu | shawu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Alma College | Shaw University | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $45,346 | $11,808 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $45,346 | $11,808 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,624 | $8,514 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $23,995 | $14,204 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $34,736 | $15,548 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 87% |
Admission |
Alma College | Shaw University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 3,372 | 2,435 | ||
| Admitted | 2,180 | 1,486 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 64.7% | 61% | ||
| Enrolled % | 15.3% | 13.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.5 | 2.6 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | C+ | ||
| 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 required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jul 30, 2025 |
Academics |
Alma College | Shaw University | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Alma College | Shaw University | ||
| Graduation Rate | 67% | 27% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $48,300 | $29,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 77% | 15% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $38,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $392 |
Diversity |
Alma College | Shaw University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 47% | 47% | ||
| % Women | 53% | 53% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | High | ||
| HBCU | No | Yes | ||
| % White | 83% | 1% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 58% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 0% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 0% | ||
| % International | 1% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 39% |
Students |
Alma College | Shaw University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 90% | 55% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 6% | 34% | ||
Campus |
Alma College | Shaw University | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Alma College is larger than than Shaw University based on total student enrollment (1,260 students vs. 1,067 students)
Alma College vs. Shaw University Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Alma College or Shaw University?
- Alma College is 284% more expensive to attend than Shaw University for in-state tuition ($45,346.00 vs. $11,808.00)
- Out of state tuition is 284% higher at Alma College than Shaw University ($45,346.00 vs. $11,808.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Shaw University than Alma College ($14,204 vs. $23,995)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shaw University are 48.3% lower than costs at Alma College ($8,514 vs. $12,624)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Alma College than Shaw University (100% vs. 87%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Alma College students is 123.4% larger than aid received Shaw University ($34,736 vs. $15,548)
Alma College vs. Shaw University Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Alma College or Shaw University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Shaw University or Alma College .
- Accepted freshman Alma College students have a 0.9 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Shaw University (2.6)
- Alma College has a higher acceptance rate (64.7%) than Shaw University (61%)
Alma College vs. Shaw University Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Alma College or Shaw University? 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 Shaw University and Alma College.
- The graduation rate at Alma College is higher than Shaw University (67% vs. 27%)
- Graduates from Alma College earn on average $19,300 more per year than Shaw University graduates after ten years. ($48,300 vs. $29,000)
- Alma College students graduate with a $11,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Shaw University graduates. ($27,000 vs. $38,000)
- Alma College graduates are paying $113 less per month on federal student loans than Shaw University graduates. ($279 vs. $392)
- More Alma College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Shaw University students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 15%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/