Aquinas College
Aquinas College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Aquinas College at a Glance
Aquinas College is a private Catholic liberal arts college in Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States. The Dominican Sisters of Grand Rapids formed it as the Novitiate Normal School in 1886. It has also been known as Sacred Heart College, Maywood College, and Catholic Junior College. The college has more than 2,000 undergraduate and graduate students and offers 61 majors, awarding bachelor's degrees and master's degrees.
1886
140 years old
$48M
$48 million as of 2021
1,265
1,169 undergrad · 96 grad
86
117 acres
Identity
Is Aquinas College Worth It?
Aquinas College offers moderate value at $16,626/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $49,584, which is 8% below average — meaning the financial payoff takes longer than typical. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.3 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 64% graduation rate means roughly 36% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
How Aquinas College compares to peer private nonprofit colleges of similar tier in MI
Ranked #10 of 128 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Saint Mary's University of Minnesota | 83 | $11,704 | $58,170 |
| #2 | Christian Brothers University | 81 | $9,854 | $57,478 |
| #3 | Trinity Washington University | 67 | $9,302 | $53,804 |
| #4 | Albion College | 61 | $14,301 | $58,799 |
| #5 | Goldey-Beacom College | 56 | $15,554 | $59,892 |
| #6 | Goshen College | 56 | $14,493 | $51,943 |
| #10 | Aquinas College | 48 | $16,626 | $49,584 |
Peer group: private nonprofit colleges within ±60% of Aquinas College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 5 in MI.
Best Programs at Aquinas College
The highest-earning program at Aquinas College is Business/Corporate Communications at $37,300/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is English Language and Literature, General at $23,000/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Business/Corporate Communications graduate from Aquinas College earns $37,300, while a English Language and Literature, General graduate earns $23,000. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Business/Corporate Communications graduates carry $25,000 in median debt vs. $26,000 for English Language and Literature, General.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $16,626/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business/Corporate Communications | $37,300 | $37,300 | $25,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $34,200 | $34,200 | $22,916 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $32,000 | $32,000 | $24,724 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $29,800 | $29,800 | $24,287 |
| Biology, General | $27,200 | $27,200 | $27,000 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $24,800 | $24,800 | $27,000 |
| Psychology, General | $23,400 | $23,400 | $27,000 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $23,000 | $23,000 | $26,000 |
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Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- private
- Location
- Grand Rapids, MI
- Student Body
- 1,083 students
- Admission Rate
- 90%
- Graduation Rate
- 64%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $16,626
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $49,584
- Median Student Debt
- $23,000