For access among nonprofit four-year institutions
For mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions
Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks St. Thomas Aquinas College #1277 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 13.7 percentile for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $3,251 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing St. Thomas Aquinas College in the 44.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks St. Thomas Aquinas College #897 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 39.4 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- St. Thomas Aquinas College's composite ranking reflects balanced performance across Azimuth's pillars of return, affordability, access, and mobility. Graduates earn about $3,251 less than similar students at comparable institutions, with median 4-year earnings of $60,309 placing the institution in the 45.6 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks St. Thomas Aquinas College #1277 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 13.7 percentile for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private master's university in Sparkill, New York, St. Thomas Aquinas College enrolls roughly 972 undergraduates. Retention is 73.4% and the six-year graduation rate is 54.0%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a regional institution. Where St. Thomas Aquinas College performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks St. Thomas Aquinas College #897 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 39.4 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $60,309, placing the institution in a competitive position for a master's-level institution. The institution's dominant program family is Business, which aligns with strong regional employer demand and contributes to the institution's solid earnings outcomes. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. St. Thomas Aquinas College enrolls 21.6% Pell-eligible students and 31.7% first-generation undergraduates, reflecting a student body with meaningful financial need. Azimuth ranks St. Thomas Aquinas College in the 3.7 percentile for access and the 48.3 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. For students seeking a private institution with solid career outcomes and a focus on Business fields, St. Thomas Aquinas College offers a pathway to meaningful long-term financial returns at a regional scale.
St. Thomas Aquinas College's published cost of attendance is $53,370, but need-based aid reshapes that figure across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $11,746; middle-income families pay around $24,110; and higher-income families pay approximately $27,333. Azimuth ranks St. Thomas Aquinas College #737 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 48.3 percentile 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. St. Thomas Aquinas College's aid structure combines need-based grants with federal and institutional financing options. The college participates in federal aid programs (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and offers institutional scholarships to qualifying students. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and the college works to bridge the gap between published cost and what families actually pay through a combination of grants and loans. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $23,198, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $32,425; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $60,309, median federal debt of $23,198 projects to a monthly payment of about $262 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
St. Thomas Aquinas College is a strong fit for students seeking a private liberal arts college experience in NY with a focus on Business and related fields. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $60,309, placing St. Thomas Aquinas College in the 45.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $3,251 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 44.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a meaningful share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 21.6% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 31.7% are first-generation — and delivers completion rates that place St. Thomas Aquinas College in the 52.7% percentile for Pell completion among nonprofit four-year institutions. Published cost of attendance is $27,333, and low-income families pay a net price of approximately $11,746 after need-based aid. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 93.0% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors Business and related fields. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find a supportive environment with strong outcomes.
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
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This is the St. Thomas Aquinas College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
St. Thomas Aquinas College's published cost of attendance is $53,370, but need-based aid reshapes that figure across income levels.
Low-income families pay approximately $11,746; middle-income families pay around $24,110; and higher-income families pay approximately $27,333. Azimuth ranks St.
Thomas Aquinas College #737 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 48.3 percentile 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.
St. Thomas Aquinas College's aid structure combines need-based grants with federal and institutional financing options.
The college participates in federal aid programs (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and offers institutional scholarships to qualifying students. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and the college works to bridge the gap between published cost and what families actually pay through a combination of grants and loans.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $23,198, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $32,425; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $60,309, median federal debt of $23,198 projects to a monthly payment of about $262 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of St. Thomas Aquinas College earn median 4-year earnings of $60,309, placing St.
Thomas Aquinas College in the 45.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $3,251 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing St.
Thomas Aquinas College in the 44.3 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks St.
Thomas Aquinas College #897 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 39.4 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects St.
Thomas Aquinas College's concentration in business and professional fields. Psychology, General is the largest program with 33 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $60,409, performing at 1.2x the national benchmark for the field.
The Kinesiology program graduates 32 students with median 4-year earnings of $45,373, also exceeding its benchmark at 0.8x. Criminal Justice and Social Sciences round out the top programs, with Criminal Justice graduating 23 students earning $57,707 at 1.0x benchmark performance.
This program mix — anchored in Business — drives consistent outcomes across the institution's graduate cohort.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Midway University Similar quality tier (#34950 ranked) | KY | 95% | $44,246 | #34950 | Compare |
St Bonaventure University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#34949 ranked) | NY | 82% | $57,214 | #34949 | Compare |
Maryville College Similar quality tier (#34948 ranked) | TN | 61% | $49,279 | #34948 | Compare |
Villa Maria College Similar quality tier in Northeast (#34953 ranked) | NY | 87% | $38,857 | #34953 | Compare |
Shaw University Similar quality tier (#34954 ranked) | NC | 80% | $34,409 | #34954 | Compare |
Accounting and Related Services
6 graduates
Biology, General
18 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
19 graduates
Psychology, General
33 graduates
Criminal Justice and Corrections
23 graduates
St. Thomas Aquinas College's program mix is anchored in Business, which reflects the institution's applied-professional focus.
Psychology, General is the largest program with 33 graduates, followed by Kinesiology with 32 graduates, Teacher Education, Criminal Justice with 23 graduates, and Social Sciences with 20 graduates. Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 272 students annually, several deliver solid four-year earnings outcomes.
The highest-earning programs at St. Thomas Aquinas College cluster in applied fields where graduates enter the workforce directly.
Business Administration leads with median earnings of $64,075 four years after enrollment across 19 graduates, followed by Psychology, General with $60,409 and 33 graduates. Criminal Justice graduates earn $57,707 with 23 graduates, and Communication and Media Studies delivers $57,112 across 16 graduates.
These programs reflect the institution's strength in business and professional fields where employer demand remains steady. The program portfolio at St.
Thomas Aquinas College is concentrated in applied-professional pathways where graduates move directly into the labor market. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how the institution's dominant program families align with regional and national labor-market demand.
As a private nonprofit college in the Hudson Valley region, St. Thomas Aquinas College positions its program mix to serve students seeking career-focused preparation in fields with clear employment pathways.
