What Makes a Student a Good Fit for Alma?
We encourage students with a “B” average or higher in high school
and a composite score of 22 or higher on the ACT to apply to Alma
College. If a student has taken the SAT instead, we are looking for a
combined score of 1030 or higher. Because we consider each application
individually, however, students who may fall slightly short of these
criteria are welcome to apply as well.
We focus primarily on a student’s academic preparation in high school
and his or her standardized test scores. We expect applicants to have
obtained a solid and academically challenging curriculum, but we do not
have specific courses required for enrollment other than four English
courses and three math courses in high school. If a student meets the
high school requirements for graduation, we will consider them for
acceptance to Alma.
All of your students are no doubt talented in many areas. Maybe a
student excels in the classroom, is a leader in the school, dominates
athletically, displays passion for the fine arts or volunteers in the
community. We are looking for all kinds of students who can bring their
individual strengths to our campus community!
Admissions Deadlines
We recommend the following timeline for our prospective students during their senior year:
Early Fall: Apply to Alma College and visit campus
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Students can apply with a traditional paper application and a $25 application fee or online for free.
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Students must submit a completed application, a counselor recommendation form, an official high school transcript and their ACT/SAT scores.
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If a student falls below the GPA and ACT standards listed in the previous section, he or she is encouraged to send letters of recommendation and/or a personal essay. Suggested essay topics include challenges overcome by the student, what motivates the student, and anything else he or she feels will enhance the application.
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Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis. Students usually receive their decision a couple of weeks after the Admissions Office has received all materials.
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Students can set up visits to Alma’s campus at any time by calling 1-800-321-ALMA or filling out a Visit Request Form on Alma’s website. Students can participate in open houses, small group visits or individual programs.
Winter: File the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) by March 1.
Early Spring: Evaluate financial aid package
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In mid-March, Alma College’s Financial Aid Office sends award packages to students, listing the different scholarships, grants and loans for which students are eligible.
Students can make their final decision to attend Alma anywhere in
the process. A $200 commitment deposit will hold their place in
the incoming freshman class! Students should know, however, that an
earlier deposit will place them higher on preference lists for housing,
parking, and their Preterm course.
Scholarship Deadlines
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Merit-based scholarships are awarded at the time of acceptance and are based on a student’s GPA and ACT scores. There is no deadline for these awards. Student may increase their scholarship by retaking the ACT until March 1.
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Performance scholarships in vocal music, instrumental music, theatre, dance, the visual arts, and Scottish arts are awarded based on auditions or portfolios. Students must schedule these with the appropriate departments by March 1.
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Other scholarships such as the Religious Leadership Award and the Pre-Law Scholarships have their own deadlines. Please click the link to review them.
Other Important Deadlines
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Students should file the FAFSA by March 1.
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The deadline for prospective Alma students to retake the ACT in order improve an academic scholarship is March 1.
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National Deposit Day is May 1. By this time, all college-bound seniors should have made their final commitments to their intended colleges or universities.
