McDaniel College vs. Alma College

Comparable Facts

Compare McDaniel College in Westminster, MD with Alma College in Alma, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

McDaniel College is larger than Alma College based on total student enrollment (2,868 students vs. 1,197 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• McDaniel College is located in Westminster, MD (Small Suburban setting); Alma College is in Alma, MI (Distant Town setting).
• McDaniel College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Alma College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: McDaniel College 13:1; Alma College 14:1.

McDaniel College vs. Alma College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, McDaniel 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 Alma College than McDaniel College ($22,094 vs. $24,497).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at McDaniel College are 8.5% lower than at Alma College ($12,974 vs. $14,180).
• McDaniel College is 5.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Alma College (about $2,529 more per year; $52,081.00 vs. $49,552.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.1% higher at McDaniel College than at Alma College (about $2,529 more per year; $52,081.00 vs. $49,552.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at McDaniel College as at Alma College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Alma College students is 2.2% larger than aid received by McDaniel College students ($41,618 vs. $40,721).

McDaniel College vs. Alma College Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: McDaniel College - Test-free; Alma College - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman McDaniel College students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.64) than students at Alma College (3.5).
• McDaniel College has a higher acceptance rate (77.9%) than Alma College (57%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.7% at McDaniel College vs. 9.6% at Alma College.

McDaniel College vs. Alma College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for McDaniel 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).

• McDaniel College's six-year graduation rate (74%) is higher than Alma College's (67%).
• Graduates from McDaniel College earn a median of about $5,100 more per year than Alma College graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,400 vs. $48,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Alma College and McDaniel College graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Alma College and McDaniel College graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
• More McDaniel College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Alma College students, three years after graduation. (81% 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.