Admit rate has ranged 56%–76% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Adrian College is a small, Methodist-affiliated liberal arts college in Michigan that punches above its weight with an unusually broad curriculum (92 majors) for its size and a scrappy, hands-on approach to student life. While its 73% acceptance rate makes it accessible, its 44% four-year graduation rate suggests students need to bring their own motivation to thrive here. The school leans heavily into affordability, with nearly all students receiving aid, and has carved out a niche as a 'Best Value' regional college with strong pre-professional programs.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
TOEFL (non-native English)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
1,604
In-state tuition
$41,684
Out-of-state tuition
$41,684
Location
Adrian, MI
Acceptance Rate
73%
4-Year Graduation Rate
44%
6-Year Graduation Rate
56%
Student Gender Balance
56.7% male, 43.3% female
Freshman Retention Rate
64%
Test Scores (Middle 50%)
ACT 18-26, SAT 920-1170
Alumni Median Earnings (1yr)
$36,427
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$55,504
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.2×
Median debt at graduation
$27,000
Graduation rate
48%
First-year retention
65%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
62%
Pell (lower-income) share
48%
First-generation share
31%
Endowment / student
$35,274
Financial health
2.7 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Marketing$42,188
Business Administration, Management and Operations$42,123
Criminal Justice and Corrections$38,289
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas$37,671
Biology, General$37,208
Social Work$32,382
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
3
Per 1,000 students
1.87
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
93
Summer high
81°F
Winter low
23°F
Annual rain
35.8"
Annual snow
29.3"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Low
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
59
Scholarly works
784
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
1.0%
Bottom → top quintile
16%
From bottom quintile
6%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Adrian College?
Adrian College's acceptance rate is approximately 73% (Adrian, MI), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Adrian College?
Admitted students at Adrian College typically score 873–1140 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Adrian College cost?
At Adrian College, the average net price (after aid) is about $25,368 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Adrian College?
Adrian College enrolls approximately 1,604 undergraduate students.
Where is Adrian College located?
Adrian College is located in Adrian, MI.
Admissions
Adrian College is moderately selective, admitting 73% of applicants—though only about a quarter of those admitted actually enroll. Test scores for admitted students typically fall in the ACT 18-26 range (middle 50%) or SAT 920-1170, with the college accepting both standardized tests and alternative credentials like Advanced Placement credits. The gender balance skews male (56.7% vs 43.3% female), and the admissions process appears holistic rather than numbers-driven.
With 92 majors and 60 minors/certificates—an unusually expansive menu for a college of its size—Adrian emphasizes hands-on learning through its signature 'Institute’ model that bundles majors with experiential components. While U.S. News lauds it as the '#1 Up-and-Coming College in the Midwest,' the 64% freshman retention rate hints at academic fit challenges. The curriculum blends traditional liberal arts with pre-professional programs, though specific popular majors aren’t publicly reported. Small class sizes and Methodist affiliation shape a teaching-focused environment.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$30,554
Communication and Media Studies$30,228
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
The 1,673 undergraduates (2024) inhabit a tight-knit campus where the Caine Student Center serves as the social hub. Housing prioritizes 'attractive, comfortable, clean, safe environments,' per campus materials, while Niche reviews praise the 'beautiful' grounds and 'huge diversity' of backgrounds. Beyond academics, the college heavily promotes co-curricular involvement—its Student Life department explicitly aims to extend learning beyond classrooms through clubs, wellness initiatives, and community-building. Greek life exists but doesn’t dominate; the vibe leans more toward communal than raucous.
Adrian’s 44% four-year graduation rate lags behind national averages, though its six-year rate improves to 56%. Early-career earnings are modest—alumni median income is $36,427 one year post-graduation—but the college touts its 'Best Value' ranking from U.S. News, which factors in social mobility metrics. The outcomes picture suggests Adrian serves many First-generation (first-gen)A student who would be the first in their immediate family to earn a four-year college degree. Many colleges consider this in context. and working-class students who may take longer to graduate but benefit from the college’s career-prep focus and affordability.
Adrian aggressively markets affordability: 99% of full-time students receive aid, with average packages totaling $32,041 (grants averaging $20,486). The Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. after aid hovers around $22,053–$24,870 annually—a relative bargain for private college, though still steep for many Michigan families. Money Magazine has recognized its value proposition, and the college offers a transparent net price calculator to estimate costs. This focus on cost aligns with its student demographic—many likely need significant aid to attend.
Adrian College defies easy categorization: It’s a Methodist school that feels more pragmatic than pious, a liberal arts college with vocational leanings, and a modestly selective institution that graduates fewer than half its students in four years—yet delivers surprising value. Its superpower is flexibility: an enormous academic menu for a small college, generous aid packaging, and programs like hockey and esports that attract niche constituencies. Best for students who want close mentorship and hands-on learning but don’t need the prestige (or pressure) of elite liberal arts colleges.
Adrian College logo · sourceVisit Campus | Adrian College | Liberal Arts College in MI · sourceAdrian College in top rankings of U.S. News & World Report | Liberal Arts College in MI · sourceAdrian College | Liberal Arts College in MI · source
