Admit rate has ranged 62%–69% over the last 5 years. 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.
Alma College is a small, selective liberal arts school in Michigan where students thrive in a tight-knit community with a strong emphasis on leadership and hands-on learning. Known for its 4-4-1 academic calendar (including a unique May term for immersive study), Alma offers a personalized education with standout programs in business, psychology, and health sciences. The college punches above its weight in post-grad outcomes, adding nearly $29,000 in value to graduates' salaries.
Admission requirements
Test-blind — scores not considered
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Letters of recommendation
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
1,148
In-state tuition
$49,552
Out-of-state tuition
$49,552
Location
Alma, MI
Top Majors
Business, Psychology, Health Sciences
Notable Fact
4-4-1 academic calendar with immersive May Term
Acceptance Rate
57-65%
4-Year Grad Rate
63%
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$54,742
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.6×
Median debt at graduation
$27,000
Graduation rate
63%
First-year retention
85%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
74%
Pell (lower-income) share
47%
First-generation share
24%
Endowment / student
$118,436
Financial health
3.0 / 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.
Business Administration, Management and Operations$38,289
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$37,748
English Language and Literature, General$29,685
Psychology, General$28,236
Biology, General$25,596
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.
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
9
Per 1,000 students
7.84
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
91
Summer high
82°F
Winter low
20°F
Annual rain
34"
Annual snow
33.9"
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
55
Scholarly works
1,496
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
1.2%
Bottom → top quintile
23%
From bottom quintile
5%
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 Alma College?
Alma College's acceptance rate is approximately 57% (Alma, MI), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
How much does Alma College cost?
At Alma College, the average net price (after aid) is about $20,694 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Alma College?
Alma College enrolls approximately 1,148 undergraduate students.
Where is Alma College located?
Alma College is located in Alma, MI.
Admissions
Alma College is selective but accessible, with Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. ranging from 57% to 65% depending on the source. The middle 50% of admitted students score between 1000–1188 on the SAT or 27 on the ACT, though test scores are optional for applicants with a 2.75+ high school GPA. About 1,197 undergraduates enroll annually, creating an intimate campus vibe. Notably, Alma's acceptance rate is 19 percentage points higher than the national average for liberal arts colleges.
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.
Alma runs on a distinctive 4-4-1 calendar: two 14-week semesters plus an intensive May Term for study abroad, internships, or deep dives into niche topics. The most popular majors reflect a blend of pre-professional and liberal arts focus:
Business Administration (most awarded degree)
Psychology
Health/Exercise Physiology
Biology
Chemistry
Professors are known to expect rigorous work—66% of students report high academic demands. The college emphasizes undergraduate research, with STEM students often presenting at national conferences.
With just 1,159 undergraduates (52.5% women, 47.5% men), Alma fosters a highly engaged community. Over 80% of students live on campus, bonding over traditions like the annual Highland Festival and Scottish heritage events (a nod to the college's namesake). Greek life is present but not dominant, with a mix of sororities, fraternities, and 50+ clubs ranging from choir to esports. The Instagram feed showcases snowy campus sledding, research symposiums, and a palpable school spirit at NCAA DIII Scots games.
Alma delivers strong ROI for a small liberal arts college:
63% 4-year graduation rate (above average for similar institutions)
$45,720 median salary at 6 years post-graduation
$54,742 median salary at 10 years (notably higher for nursing grads)
The Wall Street Journal ranked Alma among top colleges for salary impact, calculating that an Alma degree adds $29,000 in lifetime earnings versus peers. About 70% of alumni secure jobs or grad school placements within a year.
At $68,884 total sticker price, Alma is pricey but generous with aid:
92% of students receive financial assistance
Average aid package: $44,012
Merit scholarships range from $28,000–$36,000/year
After aid, the average net price drops to $22,094. The college emphasizes transparent pricing, offering a detailed Net Price Calculator to estimate costs based on family income.
Alma College is a hidden gem for students who want big opportunities at a small school. Its 4-4-1 calendar allows for ambitious May Term projects—think studying theater in London or conducting ecology fieldwork in Michigan forests. The Scottish heritage adds quirky charm (kilt-wearing at graduation isn’t uncommon), while the career outcomes defy liberal arts stereotypes, especially in health sciences and business. For those seeking a tight community with professors who know their names—and a degree that pays off—Alma delivers.
Alma College logo · sourceFacilities and Service Management | Alma College · sourceAlma College | College of Distinction · sourcewhyalmawednesday💭 Nestled in a charming town 🏡 with stunning architecture 🏛️, vibrant green spaces 🌿, and modern facilities that fuel learning 📚 and creativity 🎨, Alma College is the kind of place · source
