Marian vs. Alma College

Comparable Facts

Compare Marian University in Indianapolis, IN with Alma College in Alma, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Marian University is larger than Alma College based on total student enrollment (3,486 students vs. 1,197 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Marian University is located in Indianapolis, IN (Large City setting); Alma College is in Alma, MI (Distant Town setting).
• Marian University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Alma College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Marian University 13:1; Alma College 14:1.

Marian vs. Alma College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Marian 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 Marian ($22,094 vs. $22,786).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Marian University are 2.3% lower than at Alma College ($13,850 vs. $14,180).
• Alma College is 21.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Marian (about $8,888 more per year; $49,552.00 vs. $40,664.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 21.9% higher at Alma College than at Marian University (about $8,888 more per year; $49,552.00 vs. $40,664.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Alma College than at Marian University (100% vs. 97%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Alma College students is 28.6% larger than aid received by Marian University students ($41,618 vs. $32,351).

Marian vs. Alma College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Marian 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 Marian.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Marian - Test-free; Alma College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Marian Aug 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Marian students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at Alma College (3.5).
• Marian has a higher acceptance rate (95.5%) than Alma College (57%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.6% at Marian vs. 9.6% at Alma College.

Marian vs. Alma College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Marian 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 Marian University's (58%).
• Graduates from Alma College earn a median of about $3,500 more per year than Marian graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,300 vs. $44,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Alma College and Marian graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Alma College and Marian 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 Marian students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 57%)

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.