Description: Alma College, founded in 1886 by Presbyterians, is a selective, residential, private liberal arts college devoted to the teaching and education of undergraduate students.
Type: Coed, 4-year liberal arts and sciences.
Location: Alma, Michigan, one hour north of the state capital of Lansing, in the center of the lower peninsula.
Accreditation: The Higher Learning Commission, (800) 621-7440; Member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.
Academic Year: Alma students follow a 4-4-1 calendar. All students take courses during two 14-week semesters followed by a one-month intensive Spring Term. The Spring Term allows students the opportunity to cross geographic, cultural or disciplinary boundaries to pursue individual academic interests. This is also an ideal time for students to consider a variety of opportunities to study off campus, in the U.S. or abroad.
Degrees Awarded: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Music.
National Recognition: Alma College students report levels of educational experiences and faculty interaction that exceed the national norms by significant amounts, according to the 2007 National Survey of Student Engagement. Alma College is one of 240 institutions nationwide selected for inclusion in the Colleges of Distinction Guidebook, published by Student Horizons. The Corporation for National and Community Service named Alma College to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll With Distinction for exemplary service efforts.
Students: The College enrolls 1,444 undergraduate students from 24 states and 15 foreign countries.
Student/Faculty Ratio: The student/faculty ratio at Alma is 13 students for every one faculty member. There are no teaching assistants. The combination of the College's low student/faculty ratio and overall enrollment means students are guaranteed an educational experience that is challenging and extremely personal.
Average Class Size: 19 students.
Freshman Profile:
Average ACT composite: 24
High school GPA: 3.48
29% were in the top 10% of their graduating class
Honor Societies: Alma College is among the 10 percent of all colleges and universities to hold membership in the nation's oldest and most prestigious undergraduate honors organizations, The Phi Beta Kappa Society. Alma is also one of only seven Michigan colleges and universities to hold membership in the Omicron Delta Kappa Society, the national leadership society that recognizes and encourages superior scholarship, leadership and exemplary character. The College also has 18 other national departmental honor societies.
Athletics: More than one-third of Alma students participate in intercollegiate athletics, joining the winning NCAA Division III tradition of the Alma College Scots. The College offers 9 men's and 9 women's varsity athletic programs.
Campus Size: 125 acres plus 200-acre ecological tract.
Placement Rate: Historically 91% of students find employment or enter graduate or professional schools within six months of graduation. Over the past five years, Alma has a 90% placement rate in medical school (as compared to national average of 46.6%) and 87% placement rate in law school.
A Distinctive Scottish Heritage: In more than 120 years since its founding, Alma has stayed true to its roots by keeping its Scottish heritage alive. Today, Alma features a marching band clad in Kilts, a Scottish dance troupe, and even its own official tartan! Each year, the College hosts the Alma Highland Festival and Games which feature traditional Scottish games and revelry — you might even catch a glimpse of the College president in a kilt and blazer! With a location in the very center of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, Alma College connects students with a world of ideas and opportunities, from publishing original research to studying abroad in one of more than a dozen countries.
