Albion College

What Albion College does

Albion College is a private, residential liberal arts institution founded in 1835 in Albion, Michigan, serving approximately 1,400-1,500 undergraduate students across more than 100 areas of study organized into 22 academic departments. Its academic model is faculty-intensive, with a 12:1 student-faculty ratio, an undergraduate research program (FURSCA), honors program structure, and a formal experiential learning guarantee supported by six career-focused centers. In April 2025 the college received Carnegie Opportunity College and University (OCU) designation, becoming Michigan's only liberal arts college with that classification, and is repositioning its curriculum and advising around documented post-graduation outcomes.

The college's business model is a heavily discounted tuition model layered on top of contribution, grant, and auxiliary revenue streams. Published pricing implies a gross annual tuition base of roughly $68.2M against disclosed 2018-19 net tuition revenue of $18.9M, reflecting average institutional grant aid of approximately $52,128 per student. Under President Wayne Webster, the institution adopted a "flat is the new growth" operating philosophy, executing workforce reductions exceeding 15% and prioritizing net tuition revenue optimization, while pursuing diversified inflows such as a $600,000 Sherman Fairchild STEM grant, $403,423 in AmeriCorps funding for 2026-2027, and international student recruitment. Governance was refreshed with a Board of Trustees leadership transition in July 2026, signaling continued strategic repositioning around the OCU career-outcomes mandate rather than growth-led expansion.

Name

Albion College

Legal name

Albion College

Website

https://albion.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1835

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Albion College is a private residential liberal arts college in Michigan, founded 1835, serving approximately 1,400-1,500 undergraduates across 22 departments with a 12:1 faculty ratio, Carnegie OCU designation, and a tuition-and-contribution revenue model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education (Liberal Arts)

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

General Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAA), Selective/Highly Selective Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAJ)

Keywords

• Liberal arts education
• Undergraduate programs
• Experiential learning
• Residential college
• Higher education

Headquarters

HQ city

Albion

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Albion College generates primary revenue from tuition. In 2018-19, the sticker price was $68.2 million with a net tuition revenue of $18.9 million due to high discount rates from scholarships and financial aid. The college has shifted strategy to prioritize net tuition revenue over headcount enrollment.
2. AmeriCorps Grants: Albion College receives AmeriCorps funding ($403,423 for 2026-2027) which supports community engagement programs including Tech Savvy Seniors and student service positions.
3. Contributions and Grants: The college relies on alumni donations, foundation grants, and institutional advancement activities. The college received a $600,000 Sherman Fairchild Foundation grant for STEM equipment and $65,000 Native American Heritage Fund grant.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Albion College is a private residential liberal arts college that delivers four-year undergraduate education across more than 100 areas of study, supplemented by six career-focused Centers and Institutes and programs guaranteeing hands-on experiential learning (internships, research, community engagement, global study). Core offerings include academic majors/minors, honors and undergraduate research programs, community service via AmeriCorps, teacher development, business, public policy, sustainability, and pre-medicine institutes, alongside student support services such as career advising, mental health care, and textbook rental.

Product overview

Albion College is a private liberal arts institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of academic programs and experiential learning opportunities. The core academic structure includes over 100 areas of study across 22 departments (59 majors, 51 minors). The institution operates six career-focused Centers and Institutes (Center for Sustainability and the Environment, James L. Curtis Institute for Social Change, Fritz Shurmur Center for Teacher Development, Gerald R. Ford Institute for Public Policy and Service, Carl A. Gerstacker Institute for Business and Management, and Lisa and James Wilson Institute for Medicine) that provide hands-on, real-world learning experiences connected to career preparation. Supporting programs include the Prentiss M. Brown Honors Program, FURSCA undergraduate research initiative, AmeriCorps community service program, Brit Books textbook rental service, Career and Internship Center, Summer Bridge Program, First-Year Experience, and Center for International Education. The institution emphasizes experiential learning as a hallmark of the Albion experience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Academic Programs (Majors, Minors, Concentrations) Comprehensive portfolio of undergraduate academic programs spanning sciences, social sciences, humanities, fine and performing arts, business, education, and policy across 22 departments. Students select from 59 majors and 51 minors (over 100 areas of study) with no waiting lists for majors. Intended for prospective and current undergraduate students seeking a four-year liberal arts degree.
• Center for Sustainability and the Environment A career-focused center providing hands-on learning opportunities in environmental sustainability, sustainable agriculture through the student farm, and environmental education for students pursuing careers in environmental fields.
• James L. Curtis Institute for Social Change An institute focused on social change, providing students with experiential learning opportunities and community engagement in areas of social justice and civic responsibility.
• Fritz Shurmur Center for Teacher Development A center for teacher development offering the Maemester program (immersive three-week classroom teaching experiences in Marshall Public Schools), classroom experience in Marshall Public Schools through fieldwork, and preparation for careers in education.
• Gerald R. Ford Institute for Leadership in Public Policy and Service An institute focused on public policy and service, offering programs including the Sleight Leadership Program, Holocaust Studies Service Learning Project, and partnerships with civic organizations for experiential learning in public service.
• Carl A. Gerstacker Institute for Business and Management An institute focused on business and management education, providing professional development, networking resources, and experiential learning for students pursuing careers in business. Supports student startups like Intern-O.
• Lisa and James Wilson Institute for Medicine An institute focused on medicine and health careers, providing preparation for students pursuing medical, pre-health, pre-dental, pre-veterinary, and related health professional pathways through mentorship and experiential opportunities.
• Prentiss M. Brown Honors Program An honors program offering interdisciplinary coursework across science, humanities, fine arts, and social sciences with challenging experiences culminating in a senior thesis. Graduates have won NSF research awards, Udall Foundation awards, and Fulbright fellowships.
• Foundation for Undergraduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity (FURSCA) A program that pairs students with faculty mentors to develop and carry out hands-on, original research projects. FURSCA offers funding for summer and semester research projects across all disciplines and supports entrepreneurship programs like Intern-O.
• Albion College AmeriCorps A community service program that places students in service roles across the city, including mentoring youth, running Tech Savvy Seniors (featured in AARP Magazine), managing the Student Farm, and operating Albion Community Gardens.
• Albion College Community Collaborative (AC3) A collaborative program where student consulting teams assist local nonprofits and businesses in Albion and beyond, providing experiential learning opportunities while serving the community.
• Career and Internship Center A career services office that guides students in personal and career development, offering free services including internships, jobs, resume support, interview preparation, graduate school guidance, and access to the Handshake platform.
• First-Year Experience (FYE) A program providing academic and social support for students transitioning from high school to college, including peer mentorship, seminars, and learning strategies sessions to help students feel they belong right away.
• Summer Bridge Program A bridge program where students move to campus four weeks prior to fall semester to earn college credit, become familiar with college life, build academic skills, and forge connections with departments on campus.
• Center for International Education (CIE) An office facilitating study abroad opportunities, including semesters or summers in locations like Japan, Italy, Australia, India, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., or Chicago, as well as language immersion programs.
• Brit Books Program A textbook rental program through Barnes & Noble that lowers the cost of materials and ensures students have all required course materials on or before the first day of class. Books are conveniently packaged and provided on a rental basis at $76 per enrolled unit.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% of graduates employed or in graduate school within six months
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Marshall Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeep ties with Marshall Public Schools where Albion Education Department students gain regular classroom experience through fieldwork. The Maemester program sends Albion students into K-12 classrooms for immersive three-week teaching experiences with mentor teachers in Marshall Public Schools.
• Summer Science Program (SSP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlbion is one of only 13 host campuses nationwide for the prestigious Summer Science Program. Founded in 1959, SSP is the nation's longest-running pre-college science program. High school seniors conduct graduate-level research in astrophysics (calculating near-Earth asteroid orbits) and bacterial genomics (sequencing antibiotic-resistant bacteria genes).
• City of AlbioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeep community partnership with the city of Albion. AC3 (Albion College Community Collaborative) student consulting teams assist local nonprofits and businesses. Gerald R. Ford Institute partners with City Hall on civic projects. College provides neighborhood revitalization, food supplies support, and student service opportunities.
• Albion College Foundation for Undergraduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity (FURSCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternal foundation funding undergraduate research and creative activity. Provides faculty-mentored research opportunities and summer funding for student projects. FURSCA supports student entrepreneurship programs like Intern-O startup.
• Detroit Metro AirportminorOthersAlbion College provides transportation services to and from Detroit Metro Airport for students.
• Amtrak (Albion Train Station)minorOthersAlbion College provides transportation services to and from the Albion Train Station (Amtrak service) for student arrivals and departures.
• Carl A. Gerstacker Institute for Business and ManagementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCareer-focused institute providing business education, mentorship, and networking for students in economics, management, and entrepreneurship. Supports student startups like Intern-O.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Lawrence University: Private residential liberal arts college and conservatory of music in Appleton, Wisconsin. Comparable small Midwest liberal arts institution with a similar faculty-intensive academic model.
• Hope College: Private liberal arts college in Holland, Michigan. Comparable peer due to similar enrollment scale, Michigan geography, residential liberal arts model, and broad undergraduate program mix.
• Knox College: Private residential liberal arts college in Galesburg, Illinois. Comparable small Midwest liberal arts institution with similar enrollment profile and tuition-discount economics.
• Kalamazoo College: Private residential liberal arts college in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Highly comparable peer given similar size, Michigan location, liberal arts focus, and emphasis on experiential learning (the K-Plan).
• Hillsdale College: Private liberal arts college in Hillsdale, Michigan. Closest peer in geography and sector, with similar residential liberal arts model, though Hillsdale has a larger national profile and conservative identity.
• Denison University: Private residential liberal arts college in Granville, Ohio. Comparable peer in size, residential liberal arts model, and midwestern location.
• Earlham College: Private liberal arts college in Richmond, Indiana. Comparable small residential liberal arts college with similar enrollment size, demographic profile, and tuition economics.
• Olivet College: Small private liberal arts college in Olivet, Michigan. Strongly comparable peer given similar enrollment size, Michigan location, and tuition-discount-driven economics.
• Beloit College: Small private liberal arts college in Beloit, Wisconsin. Comparable peer in enrollment scale, residential liberal arts model, and small-town Midwest location with similar access-focused student demographics.

Broad incumbents

• Kenyon College: Private residential liberal arts college in Gambier, Ohio. Comparable residential liberal arts model with stronger selectivity and endowment, often used as a reference point in liberal arts admissions comparisons.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/albioncollege
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCu8aj0PrKqBRxqvhjTLaSkg
• Facebookfacebook.com/108006495886638
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/albion-college
• Instagraminstagram.com/albioncollege
• TikToktiktok.com/@albioncollege

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Albion College