Aquinas College
#9 Best Business Colleges in MichiganBottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 19.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $19.5 over 20 years. Ranked #9 in Best Business Colleges in Michigan.
Every $1 spent returns $19.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,228,496.
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What The Data Says
A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
Earnings 22% above the national college median.
Every $1 invested returns $19.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Aquinas College Matters
Aquinas College is a private liberal arts college in Grand Rapids, MI and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Liberal Arts College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate · Arts & Sciences
- Enrollment
- 1,083
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- 30
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Education, Health Professions, Biology & Biomedical
Why students choose Aquinas College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 90% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 910–1140. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $16,626 a year after grants and scholarships — 3% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $49,584 ten years after enrolling — 22% above the typical college, against $23,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.6% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 95% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.67 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Aquinas College is a great fit for students looking for a supportive environment with a focus on personal growth. With an acceptance rate of 90%, it welcomes a diverse range of students. Those studying here often dive into programs like Business and Marketing, Education, Health Professions, Biology, and Psychology, which align well with both career aspirations and personal interests.
After graduation, students can expect to earn around $49,584 within a decade. This figure gives a solid indication of the potential return on investment for their education. The affordability of Aquinas College is also noteworthy, with a net price of $16,626 after aid. This makes it accessible for many, especially considering that 24% of students receive Pell Grants, which can alleviate financial burdens.
When it comes to financial outcomes, graduates leave with a median debt of $23,000, which is manageable for many in today's job market. Students who thrive here tend to be those who appreciate a close-knit community and are eager to engage in their studies. The college experience at Aquinas can be a launching pad for meaningful careers, particularly in fields that are in demand.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Aquinas College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Aquinas College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Aquinas College, located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 90% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,025. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 64%.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Aquinas College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
When weighing the true cost of attending Aquinas College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $40,218 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $16,626 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,725 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $23,000.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Aquinas College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Aquinas College earn a median of $49,584, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
How Aquinas Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Aquinas College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Aquinas College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $16,626/year ($66,504 total). Graduates earn $49,584 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,295,000 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,228,496 (19.5× your investment). The median debt is $23,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 64% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Aquinas College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Aquinas College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 0.58%, a more modest figure. Access is narrower — only about 3.4% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 17.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $94,800, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Aquinas College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Aquinas College's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Aquinas College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
Aquinas College, located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 90% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,025. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 64%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Aquinas College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending Aquinas College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $40,218 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $16,626 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,725 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $23,000.
Is Aquinas College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +
Ten years out, alumni of Aquinas College earn a median of $49,584, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.
Does Aquinas College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes +
Aquinas College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 0.58%, a more modest figure. Access is narrower — only about 3.4% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 17.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $94,800, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Aquinas College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks +
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Aquinas College, with an economic connectedness score of 1.67 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Aquinas College.
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Aquinas College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Aquinas College, with an economic connectedness score of 1.67 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note