Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Aquinas College #1237 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $7,714 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Aquinas College in the 27.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Aquinas College #1096 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Aquinas College #1237 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private baccalaureate college in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Aquinas College enrolls roughly 1,083 undergraduates. Retention stands at 78.3% and the six-year graduation rate is 65.4%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a residential liberal arts institution. Where Aquinas College performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Aquinas College #1096 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $7,714 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Aquinas College in the 27.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance reflects the institution's concentration in Business, a field that consistently delivers strong early-career outcomes and sustained earnings growth. Access and affordability round out the composite. Aquinas College enrolls 23.9% Pell-eligible students and 21.9% first-generation undergraduates, positioning it in the 5.9 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. Affordability sits in the 64.4 percentile, reflecting the tuition structure and financial aid landscape typical of private liberal arts colleges. For families weighing long-term value, the combination of strong earnings outcomes and solid completion rates positions Aquinas College as a reliable choice for students seeking a career-focused undergraduate education in a smaller, residential setting.
Aquinas College's published cost of attendance is $51,652. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $10,725, middle-income families pay around $13,594, and higher-income families pay approximately $21,093. Azimuth ranks Aquinas College #508 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Aquinas College participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA and CSS Profile. The affordability rank reflects both the headline sticker price and the debt load graduates carry: median federal student loan debt at graduation is $23,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $24,361; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures. For the typical graduate at Aquinas College's median four-year earnings of $51,578, median federal debt of $23,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $260 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Aquinas College is a strong fit for students interested in business and related fields who want a private liberal arts college experience in Grand Rapids, MI. Its program mix leans heavily toward Business, which accounts for 22% of degrees. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $51,578, placing Aquinas College in the 11.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $7,714 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 27.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 23.9% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 21.9% are first-generation — and delivers completion rates that place Aquinas College in the 55.3% percentile for Pell completion among nonprofit four-year institutions. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 89.9% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors business-oriented fields over STEM or health sciences. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find a strong earnings trajectory in MI's regional labor market.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Aquinas College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Accounting and Related Services
15 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
45 graduates
Sustainability Studies
6 graduates
Political Science and Government
9 graduates
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
24 graduates
Aquinas College's program mix is anchored in business and professional fields, reflecting the institution's applied, career-focused identity. Business Administration is the largest program with 45 graduates, followed by Psychology, General, Teacher Education, Kinesiology, and General Studies.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 329 students annually, several deliver strong four-year earnings outcomes aligned with regional employer demand. The earnings pattern reflects Business as the dominant concentration.
Accounting leads with median earnings of $76,274 four years after enrollment and graduates 15 students annually. Business Administration graduates earn $74,404, while Kinesiology delivers $51,806 and Communication and Media Studies earns $48,075.
These programs cluster in applied professional fields where graduates enter the workforce directly and earnings reflect immediate labor-market outcomes in accounting, finance, management, and related disciplines. The program portfolio emphasizes direct-to-workforce pathways where four-year earnings signal sustainable career entry rather than graduate-school-dependent trajectories.
Business Administration and related business-track programs represent the institution's core economic signature, with cohort scale and earnings outcomes that support employer recruitment and alumni network density in the Grand Rapids region and beyond. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these applied-professional fields align with labor-market demand in the Midwest.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mars Hill University Similar quality tier (#34405 ranked) | NC | 68% | $44,781 | #34405 | Compare |
Evangel University Similar quality tier in Midwest (#33893 ranked) | MO | 49% | $46,573 | #33893 | Compare |
Ave Maria University Similar quality tier (#33892 ranked) | FL | 41% | $49,520 | #33892 | Compare |
Kentucky Wesleyan College Similar quality tier (#33891 ranked) | KY | 72% | $46,747 | #33891 | Compare |
Eastern Mennonite University Similar quality tier (#34410 ranked) | VA | 100% | $54,869 | #34410 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Aquinas College's published cost of attendance is $51,652. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $10,725, middle-income families pay around $13,594, and higher-income families pay approximately $21,093.
Azimuth ranks Aquinas College #508 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Aquinas College participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA and CSS Profile.
The affordability rank reflects both the headline sticker price and the debt load graduates carry: median federal student loan debt at graduation is $23,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $24,361; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures. For the typical graduate at Aquinas College's median four-year earnings of $51,578, median federal debt of $23,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $260 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including [Parent PLUS planning](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Aquinas College earn median 4-year earnings of $51,578, placing Aquinas College in the 11.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $7,714 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Aquinas College in the 27.1 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Aquinas College #1096 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Aquinas College's concentration in business and professional fields.
Business Administration is the largest program with 45 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $74,404, performing at 1.1x the national benchmark for the field. The Psychology, General program graduates 42 students with median 4-year earnings of $45,698, also exceeding its benchmark at 0.9x.
Kinesiology and General Studies round out the top programs, with Kinesiology enrolling 24 graduates earning $51,806 and General Studies enrolling 15 graduates earning $46,148. This program-level strength in business and applied professional fields drives Aquinas College's solid long-term financial outcomes for graduates.
