Head-to-head comparison
Adrian College vs Alma College: which has better ROI?
Option A Adrian, MI
Adrian College
- Net price / year
- $25,368
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,504
- Payback
- 14.2 yrs
Option B Alma, MI
Alma College
- Net price / year
- $20,694
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,742
- Payback
- 13 yrs
Alma College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $82,776 in 13 years versus 14.2 years at Adrian College, on median earnings of $54,742 vs $55,504 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Adrian College | Alma College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $25,368 | $20,694 |
| Total net cost | $101,472 | $82,776 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $55,504 | $54,742 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 14.2 yrs | 13 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $41,408 | $44,864 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Adrian College or Alma College?
Alma College, at $20,694 a year after aid versus $25,368 — a gap of $4,674 a year, or $18,696 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Adrian College or Alma College graduates earn more?
Adrian College graduates report a median $55,504 ten years after entry, $762 more than the $54,742 at Alma College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Adrian College or Alma College?
Completers at both borrow a median $27,000, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
63% of students finish at Alma College, against 48% at Adrian College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.