Alma College vs. Paul Smith's College

Comparable Facts

Compare Alma College in Alma, MI with Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science in Paul Smiths, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Alma College is larger than Paul Smith's College based on total student enrollment (1,197 students vs. 948 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Alma College is located in Alma, MI (Distant Town setting); Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science is in Paul Smiths, NY (Distant Rural setting).
• Alma College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Alma College 14:1; Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science 12:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Alma College are 0.4% lower than at Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science ($14,180 vs. $14,236).
• Out-of-state tuition is 50.1% higher at Alma College than at Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science (about $16,543 more per year; $49,552 vs. $33,009).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Alma College as at Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Alma College students is 81.2% larger than aid received by Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science students ($41,618 vs. $22,973).

Admissions details

• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both Alma College and Paul Smith's College.
• Enrolled first-year students at Alma College average a 3.5 high school GPA, 0.7 higher than at Paul Smith's College (2.8).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.6% at Alma College vs. 18.8% at Paul Smith's College.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Alma College graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Paul Smith's College graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Alma College graduates ($258 vs. $279).
• More Alma College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Paul Smith's College students, three years after graduation (77% vs. 70%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.