Alma College vs. Cornish College of the Arts

Comparable Facts

Compare Alma College in Alma, MI with Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, WA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Alma College is larger than Cornish College of the Arts based on total student enrollment (1,197 students vs. 505 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Alma College is located in Alma, MI (Distant Town setting); Cornish College of the Arts is in Seattle, WA (Large City setting).
• Alma College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Cornish College of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Alma College 14:1; Cornish College of the Arts 6:1.

Alma College vs. Cornish College of the Arts Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Alma College or Cornish College of the Arts? 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 Cornish College of the Arts ($22,094 vs. $41,758).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Alma College are 11.5% lower than at Cornish College of the Arts ($14,180 vs. $16,030).
• Alma College is 18.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cornish College of the Arts (about $7,868 more per year; $49,552.00 vs. $41,684.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 18.9% higher at Alma College than at Cornish College of the Arts (about $7,868 more per year; $49,552.00 vs. $41,684.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Alma College as at Cornish College of the Arts (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Alma College students is 124.8% larger than aid received by Cornish College of the Arts students ($41,618 vs. $18,515).

Alma College vs. Cornish College of the Arts Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Alma College or Cornish College of the Arts? 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 Cornish College of the Arts and Alma College.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Alma College - Test-free; Cornish College of the Arts - Test-free.
• Cornish College of the Arts has a higher acceptance rate (62.2%) than Alma College (57%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.6% at Alma College vs. 19.3% at Cornish College of the Arts.

Alma College vs. Cornish College of the Arts Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Alma College and Cornish College of the Arts? 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 Cornish College of the Arts's (45%).
• Graduates from Alma College earn a median of about $16,600 more per year than Cornish College of the Arts graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,300 vs. $31,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cornish College of the Arts and Alma College graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Cornish College of the Arts and Alma College graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
• More Alma College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cornish College of the Arts students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 63%)

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.