Loras College vs. Alma College

Comparable Facts

Compare Loras College in Dubuque, IA with Alma College in Alma, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Alma College is larger than Loras College based on total student enrollment (1,197 students vs. 1,189 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Loras College is located in Dubuque, IA (Small City setting); Alma College is in Alma, MI (Distant Town setting).
• Loras College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Alma College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Loras College 12:1; Alma College 14:1.

Loras College vs. Alma College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Loras College 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 Loras College than Alma College ($21,631 vs. $22,094).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Loras College are 22.4% lower than at Alma College ($11,000 vs. $14,180).
• Alma College is 24.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Loras College (about $9,728 more per year; $49,552.00 vs. $39,824.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 24.4% higher at Alma College than at Loras College (about $9,728 more per year; $49,552.00 vs. $39,824.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Loras College as at Alma College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Alma College students is 44.3% larger than aid received by Loras College students ($41,618 vs. $28,835).

Loras College vs. Alma College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Loras College 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 Loras College.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Loras College - Test-free; Alma College - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman Alma College students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Loras College (3.48).
• Loras College has a higher acceptance rate (99.9%) than Alma College (57%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.6% at Loras College vs. 9.6% at Alma College.

Loras College vs. Alma College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Loras College 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 Loras College's (59%).
• Graduates from Loras College earn a median of about $900 more per year than Alma College graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,200 vs. $48,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Alma College and Loras College graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Alma College and Loras College graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
• More Loras College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Alma College students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 77%)

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.