Thomas Aquinas College is a private nonprofit institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Santa Paula, California. It enrolls 566 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.
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
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
68/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes91
Value25
Affordability30
Selectivity59
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 83.1%, Thomas Aquinas College is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
83.1%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1220 – 1400
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
28 – 33
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyRequiredSAT or ACT scores must be submitted with the application.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Thomas Aquinas College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↓
0.2 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Thomas 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 $26,196 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$26,196
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
27%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
67%
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
$30,200
Room & Board (on-campus)
$11,200
Room & Board (off-campus)
$22,086
Books & Supplies
$76
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,444
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,930
Total Cost of Attendance
$43,426
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
$19,761
$30,001 – $48,000
$21,236
$48,001 – $75,000
$20,118
$75,001 – $110,000
$23,185
Over $110,000
$29,757
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.
$4,25010%percentile
$12,75025%percentile
$18,000Medianpercentile
$18,00075%percentile
$20,25090%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 $18,000
—
No Pell $18,000
—
Female students $18,000
—
Male students $18,000
—
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,375, less than completers ($18,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
79% of full-time students who enrolled at Thomas Aquinas College graduate within six years, and 92% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
79%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
92%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Thomas Aquinas College earn a median of $55,619 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$55,619
Earning > $25K
69%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
What this means:
Moderate return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$2.1 of median earnings 10 years out. Compare carefully against your funding plan.
Who Studies Here
Thomas Aquinas College is home to 566 students, a small, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
566
Part-Time
0%
First-Generation
—
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 63.8%361
Hispanic 19.6%111
International 6.7%38
Other 5.0%28
Asian 1.8%10
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Thomas Aquinas College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Rural: DistantSanta Paula, California
Housing
Strongly residential667 beds for 566 students
Adult Learners
2%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Thomas Aquinas College offers
a focused set of programs:
1 distinct programs across
1 major.
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 Thomas Aquinas College is 10:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
10:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$125M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$83,715
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
50 instructional faculty across 1 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
No Rank
50
100%
$83,715
Pros & Cons of Thomas Aquinas College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Thomas Aquinas College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Strong six-year graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Most students take on federal loans
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Narrow program catalog compared to mid-sized peers
Best for:
Based on the data, Thomas 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 Thomas Aquinas College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Thomas Aquinas College.
Is Thomas Aquinas College hard to get into?
Thomas Aquinas College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 83.1%.
What is the acceptance rate at Thomas Aquinas College?
Thomas Aquinas College has an acceptance rate of 83.1%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Thomas Aquinas College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Thomas Aquinas College scored between 1220 and 1400 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 Thomas Aquinas College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Thomas Aquinas College scored between 28 and 33 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Thomas Aquinas College cost?
The average net price after aid at Thomas Aquinas College is $26,196 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Thomas Aquinas College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $55,619 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $26,196 per year. That's roughly 2.1x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Thomas Aquinas College known for?
Thomas Aquinas College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Thomas Aquinas College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Thomas Aquinas College are $55,619, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Thomas Aquinas College accredited?
Yes. Thomas Aquinas College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.
How many students attend Thomas Aquinas College?
Thomas Aquinas College enrolls 566 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Thomas Aquinas College?
Thomas Aquinas College graduates 79% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Thomas Aquinas College a public or private college?
Thomas Aquinas College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Thomas Aquinas College located?
Thomas Aquinas College is located in Santa Paula, California.
What programs does Thomas Aquinas College offer?
Thomas Aquinas College offers 1 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Thomas Aquinas College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Thomas Aquinas College is 10:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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