Albion College vs. WMU

Should I go to Albion College or Western Michigan University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Albion College or WMU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Albion College vs. Western Michigan University comparison
Albion College Western Michigan University College 3 College 4
Albion College Western Michigan University
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Overview

Albion College WMU
Location Albion, MI Kalamazoo, MI
Setting Distant Town Small City
Enrollment 1,456 17,000
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #332 #634
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website albion.edu wmich.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Albion College WMU
Tuition (In State) $54,410 $14,523
Tuition (Out of State) $54,410 $18,154
Room & Board $12,470 $11,102
Avg Net Price $19,351 $20,030
Avg Grant Aid $47,406 $6,813
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 93%

Admission

Albion College WMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,827 20,501
Admitted 4,541 17,334
Acceptance Rate 66.5% 84.6%
Enrolled % 9.2% 15.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.48 3.5
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/27 19/27
SAT Range 930/1160 990/1220
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

Albion College WMU
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (19%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Physical Sciences (7%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Engineering (6%)

Outcomes

Albion College WMU
Graduation Rate 68% 56%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $55,600 $48,900
Making Student Loan Payments 75% 54%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,200 $26,633
Median Loan Payment $281 $275

Diversity

Albion College WMU
% Men 48% 47%
% Women 52% 53%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 77% 72%
% Black 6% 12%
% Hispanic 5% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 2% 4%
% Unknown Race 5% 1%

Students

Albion College WMU
% In-State 67% 79%
% Out-of-State 28% 19%

Campus

Albion College WMU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Western Michigan University is larger than than Albion College based on total student enrollment (17,000 students vs. 1,456 students)

Albion College vs. WMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Albion College or WMU?

  • Albion College is 274.6% more expensive to attend than WMU for in-state tuition ($54,410.00 vs. $14,523.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 199.7% higher at Albion College than Western Michigan University ($54,410.00 vs. $18,154.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Albion College than WMU ($19,351 vs. $20,030)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Michigan University are 12.3% lower than costs at Albion College ($11,102 vs. $12,470)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Albion College than Western Michigan University (100% vs. 93%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Albion College students is 595.8% larger than aid received Western Michigan University ($47,406 vs. $6,813)

Albion College vs. WMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Albion College or WMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WMU or Albion College .

  • The average SAT score at Albion College (1104) is 74 points higher than at WMU (1030)
  • Incoming Albion College students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at WMU (22)
  • Accepted freshman WMU students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Albion College (3.48)
  • WMU has a higher acceptance rate (84.6%) than Albion College (66.5%)

Albion College vs. WMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Albion College or WMU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between WMU and Albion College.

  • The graduation rate at Albion College is higher than Western Michigan University (68% vs. 56%)
  • Graduates from Albion College earn on average $6,700 more per year than WMU graduates after ten years. ($55,600 vs. $48,900)
  • Western Michigan University students graduate with a $567 lower median federal student loan debt than Albion College graduates. ($26,633 vs. $27,200)
  • WMU graduates are paying $6 less per month on federal student loans than Albion College graduates. ($275 vs. $281)
  • More Albion College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WMU students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 54%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/