Thomas College vs. Alma College

Comparable Facts

Compare Thomas College in Waterville, ME with Alma College in Alma, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Thomas College is larger than Alma College based on total student enrollment (1,635 students vs. 1,197 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Thomas College is located in Waterville, ME (Rural Fringe setting); Alma College is in Alma, MI (Distant Town setting).
• Thomas College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Alma College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Thomas College 20:1; Alma College 14:1.

Thomas College vs. Alma College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Thomas College or Alma College? 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 Thomas College than Alma College ($19,126 vs. $22,094).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Thomas College are 0.6% lower than at Alma College ($14,090 vs. $14,180).
• Alma College is 55.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Thomas College (about $17,728 more per year; $49,552.00 vs. $31,824.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 55.7% higher at Alma College than at Thomas College (about $17,728 more per year; $49,552.00 vs. $31,824.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Alma College than at Thomas College (100% vs. 98%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Alma College students is 47.5% larger than aid received by Thomas College students ($41,618 vs. $28,212).

Thomas College vs. Alma College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Thomas College or Alma College? 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 Alma College and Thomas College.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Thomas College - Test-free; Alma College - Test-free.
• Thomas College has a higher acceptance rate (96.3%) than Alma College (57%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.1% at Thomas College vs. 9.6% at Alma College.

Thomas College vs. Alma College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Thomas College and Alma College? 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 Thomas College's (45%).
• Graduates from Alma College earn a median of about $7,300 more per year than Thomas College graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,300 vs. $41,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Alma College and Thomas College graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Alma College and Thomas 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 Thomas College students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 67%)

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.