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ALMA COLLEGE

614 West Superior Street, Alma, MI 48801-1599

Admissions: 800-321-2562 • Financial Aid: 800-321-2562

Email: admissions@alma.edu • Website: http://www.alma.edu

From the College

“Alma College, a four-year liberal arts college in the middle of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, offers a personalized education that engages students in transformative learning experiences. Founded in 1886 and affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Alma is committed to a quality undergraduate education and the development of responsible leaders through its Center for Responsible Leadership. Academic excellence and a deep regard for students as individuals are fundamental to its educational residential programs. Its small size enables many opportunities for one-on-one collaboration with faculty. Students also participate in research, community service and study abroad activities.”

Campus Setting

Alma College, founded in 1886, is a selective, private liberal arts college that highlights personalized education, social responsibility and extraordinary achievements. Alma’s undergraduates thrive on challenging academic program in a supportive, small-college environment emphasizing active, collaborative learning and close student-faculty interaction. Its 125-acre campus is within walking distance of downtown Alma, 40 miles from Saginaw, in the middle of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. Alma maintains a close relationship with the Presbyterian Church but also offers an environment that welcomes students of all religious backgrounds. A four-year private institution, Alma College has an enrollment of 1,444 students. In addition to a large, well-stocked library, the campus facilities include: planetarium • science center • center for exercise and health science. Alma College provides on-campus housing with 27 units that can accommodate 1,237 students. Housing options: coed dorms • women’s dorms • sorority housing • fraternity housing. Recreation and sports facilities include: baseball, soccer and softball fields • basketball and volleyball courts • football, track and swimming pool stadium • tennis and recreation center.

Student Life and Activities

With 87 percent of students living on campus, there are plenty of social activities. Popular gathering spots include Stone Recreation Center and Tyler-VanDusen Campus Center. Favorite campus events include Homecoming, All Nighter, Songfest and Honors Day. Alma College has 75 official student organizations. The most popular are: Ambassadors • Union Board • Student Congress • Students Offering Service • College Democrats • College Republicans • Amnesty International • Big Brothers/Big Sisters • Model UN • Pride. For those interested in sports, there are intramural teams such as: basketball • dodgeball • softball • volleyball. Alma College is a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (Division III).

Academics and Learning Environment

For the B student, the learning environment of a college is just as important as the quality of its academic program. Alma College has 85 full-time and 49 part-time faculty members, offering a student-to-faculty ratio of 13:1. The most common course size is 10 to 19 students. Alma College offers 30 majors with the most popular being business administration, biology and exercise/health science and least popular being religious studies, computer science and philosophy. The school has a general core requirement. Cooperative education is not offered. All first-year students must maintain a 2.0 GPA or higher to avoid academic probation, and a minimum overall GPA of 2.0 is required to graduate. Other special academic programs that would appeal to a B student: self-designed majors • pass/fail grading option • independent study • double majors • dual degrees • honors program • Phi Beta Kappa • internships.

B Student Support and Success

Alma College’s Academic Effectiveness Program is designed for students who are struggling academically. A counselor works with each student to figure out the source of the problem and then develop a plan of action. The Center for Student Development also offers “Learning Lunches” each term on the topics of time management methods, note taking, classroom strategies, study skills, test taking strategies, test anxiety, preparing for employment and graduate school and pursuing internship options.

Alma College provides a variety of support programs including dedicated guidance for: academic • career • personal • minority students • non-traditional students • family planning • religious. Recognizing that some students may need extra preparation, Alma College offers remedial and refresher courses in: reading • writing • math • study skills. The average freshman year GPA is 2.8, and 78 percent of freshmen students return for their sophomore year. Among students who enter the work force, approximately 42 percent enter a field related to their major within six months of graduation. Companies that most frequently hire graduates from Alma College include: AmeriCorps • Deloitte & Touche • Dow Corning • Ernst & Young • Hewitt Associates.

Support for Students with Learning Disabilities

Students with learning disabilities may take advantage of specific support programs offered by Alma College. If necessary, the college will grant additional time to students with learning disabilities to complete their degree. Students with learning disabilities will find the following programs at Alma College extremely useful: tutors • learning center • testing accommodations • untimed tests • extended time for tests • take-home exam • oral tests • exam on tape or computer • readers • note-taking services • reading machines • tape recorders • early syllabus • priority registration • waiver of foreign language degree requirement. Individual or small group tutorials are also available in: time management • organizational skills • learning strategies • specific subject areas • writing labs • math labs • study skills. An advisor/advocate from the Academic and Career Planning is available to students and this person also sits on the admissions committee.

Highlights

Alma College

Alma (Pop. 10,000)

Location: Small town

Four-year private

Founded: 1886

Website: http://www.alma.edu

Students

Total enrollment: 1,444

Undergrads: 1,444

Freshmen: Not reported

Part-time students: 5%

From out-of-state: 6%

From public schools: 91%

Male/Female: 44%/56%

Live on-campus: 87%

In fraternities: 25%

In sororities: 27%

Off-campus employment rating: Good

Caucasian: 91%

African American: 2%

Hispanic: 3%

Asian or Pacific Islander: 2%

Native American: 1%

International: 0%

Academics

Calendar: 4-4-1 system

Student/faculty ratio: 13:1

Class size 9 or fewer: 17%

Class size 10-29: 66%

Class size 30-49: 14%

Class size 50-99: 3%

Class size 100 or more: -

Returning freshmen: 78%

Six-year graduation rate: 63%

Most Popular Majors

Business administration

Biology

Exercise/health science

How to Get Admitted

For admissions decisions, non-academic factors considered: interview • extracurricular activities • special talents, interests, abilities • character/personal qualities • volunteer work • work experience • state of residency • alumni relationship. A high school diploma is required, although a GED is also accepted for admissions consideration. SAT or ACT test scores are required of all applicants. SAT Subject Test scores are not required. According to the admissions office: Minimum composite ACT score of 22 (combined SAT score of 1030) and rank in top half of secondary school class required; minimum 3.0 GPA recommended. Academic units recommended: 2 Foreign Language.

How to Pay for College

To apply for financial aid, students should submit the following: Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Alma College participates in the Federal Work Study program. Need-based aid programs include: scholarships and grants • general need-based awards • Federal Pell grants • state scholarships and grants • college-based scholarships and grants. Non-need-based aid programs include: scholarships and grants • state scholarships and grants • creative arts and performance awards • special characteristics awards.

Highlights

Admissions

Applicants: 1,822

Accepted: 1,334

Acceptance rate: 73.2%

Average GPA: 3.5

ACT range: 21-27

SAT Math range: 483-668

SAT Reading range: 470-708

SAT Writing range: 503-710

Top 10% of class: 30%

Top 25% of class: 57%

Top 50% of class: 87%

Deadlines

Early Action: No

Early Decision: No

Regular Action: Rolling admissions

Common Application: Accepted

Financial Aid

In-state tuition: $27,340

Out-of-state tuition: $27,340

Room: Varies

Board: Varies

Books: $722

Freshmen receiving need-based aid: 85%

Undergrads rec. need-based aid: 81%

Avg. % of need met by financial aid: 84%

Avg. aid package (freshmen): $24,671

Avg. aid package (undergrads): $23,085

Freshmen receiving merit-based aid: 15%

Undergrads rec. merit-based aid: 19%

Avg. debt upon graduation: $31,476

Prominent Alumni

Louis G. Ferrand, head legal advisor for Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS); Karen Magnuson, editor and vice president of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.

School Spirit

Mascot: Scots

Colors: Maroon and cream