Aquinas College is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It enrolls 1,083 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
66/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes56
Value61
Affordability47
Selectivity24
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 89.9%, Aquinas College is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
89.9%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
910 – 1140
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
20 – 26
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Aquinas College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
1.8 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Aquinas College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $16,626 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$16,626
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
24%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
69%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$40,218
Room & Board (on-campus)
$11,680
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,282
Books & Supplies
$1,133
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,231
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,090
Total Cost of Attendance
$51,652
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$10,725
$30,001 – $48,000
$11,222
$48,001 – $75,000
$13,594
$75,001 – $110,000
$15,468
Over $110,000
$21,093
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,00010%percentile
$8,00025%percentile
$23,000Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$35,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $19,856
↓ $3,144
No Pell $14,000
↓ $9,000
Dependent students $17,812
↓ $5,188
Independent students $19,000
↓ $4,000
Female students $19,500
↓ $3,500
Male students $14,985
↓ $8,015
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,563, less than completers ($23,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
57% of full-time students who enrolled at Aquinas College graduate within six years, and 76% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
57%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
76%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Aquinas College earn a median of $49,584 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$49,584
Earning > $25K
77%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$39,100
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$48,100
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$33,700
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$40,400
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$47,200
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $9,000, about 19% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
What this means:
Moderate return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$3.0 of median earnings 10 years out. Compare carefully against your funding plan.
Who Studies Here
Aquinas College is home to 1,083 students, a small, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
1,083
Part-Time
7%
First-Generation
22%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 73.6%797
Hispanic 9.3%101
Other 5.7%62
International 4.4%48
Black 2.7%29
Asian 1.6%17
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Aquinas College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CityGrand Rapids, Michigan
Housing
Mostly residential698 beds on campus
Adult Learners
5%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Aquinas College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
44 distinct programs across
22 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Aquinas College is 11:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
11:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$87M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$60,081
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
78 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
22
28%
$67,156
Associate Professors
32
41%
$59,308
Assistant Professors
22
28%
$55,218
Instructors
2
3%
$48,106
Pros & Cons of Aquinas College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Aquinas College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Modest first-year retention
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Most students take on federal loans
Best for:
Based on the data, Aquinas College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Aquinas College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Aquinas College.
Is Aquinas College hard to get into?
Aquinas College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 89.9%.
What is the acceptance rate at Aquinas College?
Aquinas College has an acceptance rate of 89.9%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Aquinas College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Aquinas College scored between 910 and 1140 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Aquinas College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Aquinas College scored between 20 and 26 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Aquinas College cost?
The average net price after aid at Aquinas College is $16,626 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Aquinas College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $49,584 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $16,626 per year. That's roughly 3.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Aquinas College known for?
Aquinas College is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Teacher Education (K-12), Kinesiology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Aquinas College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Aquinas College are $49,584, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Aquinas College accredited?
Yes. Aquinas College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Aquinas College?
Aquinas College enrolls 1,083 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Aquinas College?
Aquinas College graduates 57% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Aquinas College a public or private college?
Aquinas College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Aquinas College located?
Aquinas College is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
What programs does Aquinas College offer?
Aquinas College offers 44 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Teacher Education (K-12), Kinesiology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Aquinas College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Aquinas College is 11:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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