Alpena Community College vs. Grand Rapids Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Alpena Community College in Alpena, MI with Grand Rapids Community College in Grand Rapids, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Grand Rapids Community College is larger than Alpena Community College based on total student enrollment (12,468 students vs. 1,581 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Alpena Community College is located in Alpena, MI (Rural Fringe setting); Grand Rapids Community College is in Grand Rapids, MI (Midsize City setting).
• Alpena Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Grand Rapids Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Alpena Community College 15:1; Grand Rapids Community College 19:1.

Alpena Community College vs. Grand Rapids Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Alpena Community College or Grand Rapids Community College? 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 Alpena Community College than Grand Rapids Community College ($3,946 vs. $9,720).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Alpena Community College are 4.5% lower than at Grand Rapids Community College ($8,815 vs. $9,227).
• Grand Rapids Community College is 3.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Alpena Community College (about $279 more per year; $8,289.00 vs. $8,010.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 52.5% higher at Grand Rapids Community College than at Alpena Community College (about $4,209 more per year; $12,219.00 vs. $8,010.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Alpena Community College than at Grand Rapids Community College (78% vs. 67%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Alpena Community College students is 28.9% larger than aid received by Grand Rapids Community College students ($8,108 vs. $6,288).

Alpena Community College vs. Grand Rapids Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Alpena Community College or Grand Rapids Community College? 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 Grand Rapids Community College and Alpena Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Alpena Community College - Open admission; Grand Rapids Community College - Open admission.
• Accepted freshman Grand Rapids Community College students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (3.0) than students at Alpena Community College (2.67).

Alpena Community College vs. Grand Rapids Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Alpena Community College and Grand Rapids Community College? 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).

• Graduates from Grand Rapids Community College earn a median of about $400 more per year than Alpena Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,700 vs. $33,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Alpena Community College graduates have a $115 lower median loan debt than Grand Rapids Community College graduates ($9,093 vs. $9,208).
• Among borrowers, Alpena Community College graduates have an estimated $1 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Grand Rapids Community College graduates ($94 vs. $95).
• More Alpena Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Grand Rapids Community College students, three years after graduation. (41% vs. 34%)

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.