Menlo vs. Alma College

Comparable Facts

Compare Menlo College in Atherton, CA with Alma College in Alma, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Alma College is larger than Menlo based on total student enrollment (1,197 students vs. 810 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Menlo College is located in Atherton, CA (Large Suburban setting); Alma College is in Alma, MI (Distant Town setting).
• Menlo College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Alma College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Menlo College 14:1; Alma College 14:1.

Menlo vs. Alma College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Menlo 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 Menlo ($22,094 vs. $32,563).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Alma College are 22.2% lower than at Menlo College ($14,180 vs. $18,236).
• Menlo College is 8.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Alma College (about $4,078 more per year; $53,630.00 vs. $49,552.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.2% higher at Menlo than at Alma College (about $4,078 more per year; $53,630.00 vs. $49,552.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Menlo College as at Alma College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Alma College students is 6.2% larger than aid received by Menlo College students ($41,618 vs. $39,174).

Menlo vs. Alma College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Menlo 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 Menlo.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Menlo - Test-free; Alma College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Menlo Apr 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Alma College students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Menlo (3.3).
• Menlo has a higher acceptance rate (68.5%) than Alma College (57%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 5.3% at Menlo vs. 9.6% at Alma College.

Menlo vs. Alma College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Menlo 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 Menlo College's (34%).
• Graduates from Menlo College earn a median of about $5,600 more per year than Alma College graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,900 vs. $48,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Menlo College graduates have a $5,938 lower median loan debt than Alma College graduates ($21,062 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Menlo graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Alma College graduates ($217 vs. $279).
• More Alma College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Menlo students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 55%)

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.