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CollegeROIData

Alabama State University vs Alma College

Side-by-side college ROI comparison from College Scorecard data

Reviewed by CollegeROIData Editorial Team · Updated

Verdict

Alabama State University has a 100.0% graduation rate compared to Alma College at 100.0%. Average median debt: Alabama State University at $33,359 vs Alma College at $27,135. Average first-year post-graduation earnings: $58,850 vs $55,900.

MetricAlabama State UniversityAlma College
Graduation Rate100.0%100.0%
School TypePublicPrivate
StateAlMi
Avg Median Debt
Average median debt across all tracked majors
$33,359$27,135*
Avg 1yr Earnings
Average first-year earnings across all tracked majors
$58,850*$55,900
Majors Tracked2020
Best ROI MajorComputer Science (92/100)Computer Science (95/100)*
Best Major Debt$28,642$22,950*
Best Major 1yr Earnings$95,000$95,000

Alabama State University has a 100.0% graduation rate compared to Alma College at 100.0%. Average median debt: Alabama State University at $33,359 vs Alma College at $27,135. Average first-year post-graduation earnings: $58,850 vs $55,900.

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Completion rates run close at the two schools: 100.0% versus 100.0%. When graduation probability is comparable across both options, the decision comes down to cost and post-graduation earnings rather than degree-completion risk.

The schools sit within a moderate debt range of each other: $27,135 versus $33,359. Read those alongside the earnings figures — debt by itself is misleading, what matters is the debt-to-first-year-earnings ratio, which captures the real burden of repayment relative to the income the degree produces.

Median first-year earnings are roughly comparable between the schools — $55,900 and $58,850. With earnings close, the financial comparison turns mostly on the cost side: total debt at graduation is the lever, since the earnings denominator essentially nets out.

Alabama State University sits in Al and Alma College in Mi. The geographic spread matters for cost (in-state vs. out-of-state tuition typically diverges sharply at public schools) and for post-graduation labor market (most schools place students primarily into regional employers). Cross-state comparisons should account for the residency-cost differential at any public option and the labor-market trajectory each campus connects students to.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, 2026.