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Alma, MI · Grand Rapids, MI
| Alma College | Cornerstone University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $20,694/yr | $20,301/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $17,162/yr | $20,177/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $27,000 | $25,000 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $18,009/yr | $17,674/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $18,076/yr | $17,872/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $18,699/yr | $18,489/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $23,618/yr | $23,135/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $286/mo | $265/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $14,180/yr | $12,700/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $9,888/yr | $9,600/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $2,172/yr | $560/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $2,980/yr | $2,700/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $63,650/yr | $42,043/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $49,552/yr | $23,000/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $49,552/yr | $23,000/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 27% | 33% |
| Students taking federal loans | 57% | 52% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 57% | 78% |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 3,975 | 2,011 |
| Students accepted | 2,610 | 1,472 |
| Students who enrolled | 346 | 305 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 13% | 21% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Not considered | Required |
| Recommendation letters | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Class rank | Not considered | Not considered |
| College-prep program | Not considered | Not considered |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Not considered | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Not considered | Not considered |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 63% | 62% |
| Freshmen who come back | 85% | 78% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $54,742/yr | $47,314/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $36,251–$77,064 | $28,589–$66,987 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 64% | 66% |
| White students graduating | 67% | 62% |
| Black students graduating | 31% | 42% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 40% | 60% |
| Asian students graduating | 67% | 60% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $45,720/yr | $42,598/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 74% | 62% |
| Graduate on time | 57% | 56% |
| Pell students who graduate | 50% | 57% |
| First-gen students who finish | 50% | 39% |
| Low-income students who finish | 35% | 30% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $50,698/yr | $45,964/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Business, Management & Marketing 21% · Education 13% · Psychology 13% | Business, Management & Marketing 28% · Education 12% · Psychology 10% |
| Most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 21% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 28% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Education — 13% of degrees | Education — 12% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Psychology — 13% of degrees | Psychology — 10% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 9% of degrees | Health Professions — 9% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Social Sciences — 9% of degrees | Parks, Recreation & Fitness — 8% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $78,690/yr | Business Administration, Management and Operations — $66,737/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 14% | 6.4% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 1,148 | 1,298 |
| Students per professor | 14 : 1 | 15 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 38 | 341 |
| Average professor pay | $7,879/mo | $7,119/mo |
| Full-time professors | 62% | 100% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
| Median family income | $70,073 | $49,808 |
| Setting | Town (distant) | City (midsize) |
| Location | Alma, MI | Grand Rapids, MI |
| Region | Great Lakes | Great Lakes |
| Founded | 1886 | 1941 |
| Public or private | Private (nonprofit) | Private (nonprofit) |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 5.7% | 4.9% |
| Men | 47% | 41% |
| Women | 53% | 59% |
| White students | 77% | 70% |
| Black students | 6% | 6.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 3.6% | 6.2% |
| Asian students | 0.9% | 1.6% |
| Two or more races | 2.7% | 2.2% |
| Other / not reported | 3.8% | 8% |
| Special type | Religiously affiliated | Religiously affiliated |
| First-generation students | 24% | 35% |
| Part-time students | 1.7% | 21% |
| Students age 25+ | 1.5% | 14% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $14,519/yr | $4,718/yr |
| Endowment | $136.0M | $17.0M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 1,314 | 780 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $7,228/yr | No data reported |
| Meal plan charge | $5,900/yr | No data reported |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | 19 meals/week | 18 meals/week |
| Academic calendar | Four-one-four plan | Semester |
| Religious affiliation | Presbyterian Church (USA) | Interdenominational |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | No |
| ROTC | Yes — Army | No |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | No | Yes |
| Online classes | No | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | No | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | No | Yes |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | No | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | No | No |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division III with football | NAIA Division I |
| Football team | Yes | No |
| Varsity teams | 23 | 19 |
| Student athletes | 736 | 448 |
| Athletic scholarships | $0 | $1.7M |
| Athletics budget | $5.5M | $4.3M |
| Athletics revenue | $5.5M | $4.3M |
| Recruiting spend | $54,087 | $9,250 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.