Art Center College of Design vs. Alma College

Comparable Facts

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

Art Center College of Design is larger than Alma College based on total student enrollment (2,308 students vs. 1,197 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Art Center College of Design is located in Pasadena, CA (Midsize City setting); Alma College is in Alma, MI (Distant Town setting).
• Art Center College of Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Alma College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Art Center College of Design 9:1; Alma College 14:1.

Art Center College of Design vs. Alma College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Art Center College of Design or Alma 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 Alma College than Art Center College of Design ($22,094 vs. $53,271).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Alma College are 27.8% lower than at Art Center College of Design ($14,180 vs. $19,632).
• Art Center College of Design is 9.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Alma College (about $4,618 more per year; $54,170.00 vs. $49,552.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9.3% higher at Art Center College of Design than at Alma College (about $4,618 more per year; $54,170.00 vs. $49,552.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Alma College than at Art Center College of Design (100% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Alma College students is 85.7% larger than aid received by Art Center College of Design students ($41,618 vs. $22,412).

Art Center College of Design vs. Alma College Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Art Center College of Design - Test-free; Alma College - Test-free.
• Art Center College of Design has a higher acceptance rate (74.5%) than Alma College (57%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 31.5% at Art Center College of Design vs. 9.6% at Alma College.

Art Center College of Design vs. Alma College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Art Center College of Design and Alma 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).

• Alma College's six-year graduation rate (67%) is higher than Art Center College of Design's (54%).
• Graduates from Art Center College of Design earn a median of about $10,000 more per year than Alma College graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,300 vs. $48,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Alma College graduates have a $4,250 lower median loan debt than Art Center College of Design graduates ($27,000 vs. $31,250).
• Among borrowers, Alma College graduates have an estimated $44 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Art Center College of Design graduates ($279 vs. $323).
• More Alma College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Art Center College of Design students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 73%)

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.