America's Best Colleges for B Students. Tamra B. Orr
Avg. aid package (undergrads): $24,672
Avg. debt upon graduation: $33,467
Prominent Alumni
Joel Moskowitz, CEO of Ceradyne; Robert Klein, actor; William Schuster, NFL Referee.
School Spirit
Mascot: Saxons
Colors: Purple and gold
Song: Hail to Thee Alfred
Insight
Sue Goetschius, director of communications, says Alfred University has always been an institution “championing the underserved.” Alfred was the first co-educational institution in New York State and among the first to enroll students regardless of ethnicity or religion. A large percentage of students today continue to be economically disadvantaged; more than 90 percent receive institutional financial aid, which is one reason why both U.S. News & World Report and the Fiske Guide to Colleges 2010 rate Alfred as being a good value. Another population the university has traditionally served is those whose high school records might not be the strongest, but who the admissions officers believe have the potential to do well. Goetschius explains, “Often, when I speak with our alumni, I hear the recurring theme, ‘Alfred took a chance on me.’”
How to Pay for College
To apply for financial aid, students should submit the following: Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) · institution’s own financial aid forms · state aid form · Non-custodian (Divorced/Separated) Parent’s Statement · Business/Farm Supplement. Alfred University 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 · private scholarships and grants. Non-need-based aid programs include: scholarships and grants · state scholarships and grants · creative arts and performance awards · leadership scholarships/grants.
ALMA COLLEGE
614 West Superior Street, Alma, MI 48801-1599
Admissions: 800-321-2562 · Financial Aid: 800-321-2562
Email: [email protected] · Website: http://www.alma.edu
From the College
“A residential college located in the middle of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, Alma College offers a personalized education with multiple paths and experiences leading to success. You may create new knowledge through academic research, expand your horizons through a global experience, supplement your academic work with service to others or internships or pursue artistic or athletic opportunities.
“A deep regard for students as individuals is fundamental to an Alma education, with small classes and many opportunities for one-on-one collaboration with dedicated faculty. Alma College recently put its strong student-centered philosophy front and center with the new Alma Commitment, offering a four-year graduation promise and a pledge that each interested student can participate in an experiential learning opportunity, such as an internship, research fellowship or study abroad, backed by $2,500 in Alma Venture funding from the college.”
Campus Setting
Founded in 1886, Alma College 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 1,385 students. Alma College provides on-campus housing with 28 units that can accommodate 1,385 students. Housing options: coed dorms · women’s dorms · sorority housing · fraternity housing. The campus facilities include: planetarium · science center · center for exercise and health science. 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 88 percent of students living on campus, there are always plentiful 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 78 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. Intramural teams include: basketball · dodgeball · softball · volleyball. Alma College is a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (Division III).
Academics and Learning Environment
Alma College has 96 full-time and 71 part-time faculty members, offering a student-to-faculty ratio of 12:1. The most common course size is 10 to 19 students. Alma College offers 39 majors with the most popular being business administration, biology and integrative physiology/health studies and least popular being physics, anthropology 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.
ALMA COLLEGE
Highlights
Alma College
Alma, MI (Pop. 9,281)
Location: Small town
Four-year private
Founded: 1886
Website: http://www.alma.edu
Students
Total enrollment: 1,385
Undergrads: 1,385
Freshmen: 385
Part-time students: 4%
From out-of-state: 10%
From public schools: 92%
Male/Female: 43%/57%
Live on-campus: 88%
In fraternities: 24%
In sororities: 25%
Off-campus employment rating: Good
Caucasian: 82%
African American: 4%
Hispanic: 4%
Asian: 1%
Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0%
Native American: 0%
Mixed (2+ ethnicities): 2%
International: 2%
Academics
Calendar: 4-4-1 system
Student/faculty ratio: 12:1
Class size 9 or fewer: 23%
Class size 10-29: 68%
Class size 30-49: 9%
Class