BaccalaureatePrivate (nonprofit)

Thomas Aquinas College

Santa Paula, California·Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above·Far West·thomasaquinas.edu

Thomas Aquinas College's acceptance rate is 83.1% (2024). Its six-year graduation rate is 84% and its four-year rate is 83% (2024). Tuition and fees are $30,200 (2024). Fall enrollment is 566 students, and 571 enrolled over the full 12-month year (2024). Source: IPEDS.

Acceptance
83.1%
+10.5pp vs Baccalaureate
6-yr graduation
84%
+38.0pp vs Baccalaureate
Total enrollment
566
peer median 566
Avg net price
$26,196
+$4.4k vs Baccalaureate
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AboutAdmissionsOutcomesProgram outcomesAccreditationCostFederal aidLoan defaultsAcademic programsEnrollment trendsCampus safetyFacultyPeersDocumentsAlumni

About

Thomas Aquinas College is a private Catholic liberal arts college located in California and Massachusetts, founded in 1971. The college has a student body of over 500 and focuses on an integrated curriculum based on the Great Books and Socratic discussions.

Admissions & acceptance rate

First-time freshman admissions: how selective the college is, and how many admitted students choose to enroll.

IPEDS
Applied
272
272 candidates competed
Admitted
226
83.1% acceptance rate
Enrolled
153
67.7% yield

Graduation rate & outcomes

Completion, retention, and the equity gap between Pell and non-Pell students.

IPEDS
Overall completion
84%
4-year graduation
83%
6-year graduation (bachelor’s)
84%+38.0pp vs Baccalaureate
Full-time retention
92%

Pell equity

1.0pp gap
Pell recipients
85%23 of 27
Non-Pell (all)
84%79 of 94
Subsidized loan, no Pell
84%36 of 43
No Federal Aid
84%43 of 51

Pell and non-Pell students graduate at nearly identical rates, a notably small equity gap.

Source: IPEDS Graduation Rates (GR) — Pell/SSL cohort, 2024 cohort.

Program outcomes

Federal Program Performance Data: how each program's graduate earnings and debt measure up under Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment.

FVT/GE

Of 1 Title IV programs, 1 pass the federal Gainful Employment test and 0 fail.

Total programs
1
Passing
1
100.0% of portfolio
Failing (GE)
0
0.0% of portfolio
Fail rate
0.0%
-0.6pp vs 0.6% national

Pass / fail distribution

1programs
  • Passing1 · 100.0%
  • No Data0 · 0.0%
  • Failing0 · 0.0%

Severity spectrum

Critical
0
Severe
0
Recoverable
0
At Risk
0
Watch
0
Safe
1
No data
0

Tiers band programs by how far graduate earnings sit above or below the benchmark, from Critical (below −15%) through Safe (above +25%). No data means earnings were privacy-suppressed.

Earnings premium gap

Graduate earnings versus the federal benchmark, worst gaps first.

1
Liberal Arts and Sciences General Studies and Humanities
Bachelor Degree · Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities
+43.4%
$49,898 vs $34,808

Debt vs earnings

Median completer debt against median graduate earnings, highest burden first.

1
Liberal Arts and Sciences General Studies and Humanities
Bachelor Degree · Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities
36%
$18,000 debt · $49,898 earn

Accreditation status & history

Who accredits the institution, current standing, and any past actions.

DAPIP
AccreditedInstitutional accreditor

American Academy for Liberal Education

Accredited since 2002Next review Dec 2012
AccreditedInstitutional accreditor

WASC Senior College and University Commission

Accredited since 1980Next review Feb 2026
PreaccreditedInstitutional accreditor

WASC Senior College and University Commission

Accredited since 1976Next review Oct 2017

Action history · 3

  1. Feb 2018Renewal of Accreditation
    WASC Senior College and University Commission
  2. Feb 2018Renewal of Accreditation
    WASC Senior College and University Commission
  3. Jan 2014Grant Substantive Change: Final Branch Approval
    WASC Senior College and University Commission

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education

Tuition & cost

What families actually pay, broken down by family income.

College Scorecard

Net price by family income

Aid exceeds costFamily pays
$0–30k$19,761
$30–48k$21,236
$48–75k$20,118
$75–110k$23,185
$110k+$29,757

Negative values mean aid exceeds the published cost of attendance for that income band.

Avg net price (private)
$26,196
+$4,443vs Baccalaureate median $21,754
Federal loans
67.0%
Tuition and fees
$30,200

Federal aid volume & trends

Pell grants and federal Direct Loan volume disbursed to students, and how they've trended.

Federal Student Aid

In AY 2024–25, 202 students received $996K in Pell grants, alongside $2.2M in federal Direct Loans.

Pell recipients
202
AY 2024–25
Pell disbursed
$996K
$996,449 total
Direct Loans
$2.2M
452 loan awards

Pell recipients · 5-year trend

0k
’20
0k
’21
0k
’22
0k
’23
0k
’24

Loan volume by type · AY 2024–25

Subsidized$1.2M
278 loan awards
Unsubsidized · UG$619K
154 loan awards
Parent PLUS$368K
20 loan awards

Loan awards count each loan type a student holds, not unique borrowers; one student may carry several (e.g. subsidized and unsubsidized), so the per-type figures are the reliable detail.

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education

Student loan default rate

The share of student borrowers who default on federal loans within three years, against the national benchmark.

Cohort Default Rate

Of 82 borrowers who entered repayment, 0 (0.0%) defaulted within three years — below the 2.3% national rate.

Default rate
0.0%
-2.3pp vs 2.3% national
Borrowers in repayment
82
Defaulted
0
Measurement window
3 years
Federal CDR standard

Default rate vs national, by cohort

2016
0.0%
2017
1.2%
2018
0.9%
2019
0.0%
2020*
0.0%
This institutionNational rate

* Cohorts 2020 and later read near 0% because the federal COVID-19 payment pause (CARES Act) suspended defaults nationwide. These years reflect a national policy, not institutional performance; the 2019 cohort is the last measured under normal repayment.

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education

Academic programs at Thomas Aquinas College

Top program areas ranked by completions.

IPEDS
Distinct CIP programs1
UndergraduateOffered

Top program families by completions

119 total completions
01Liberal Arts
119100.0%

Enrollment trends & demographics

Fall headcount, 12-month unduplicated enrollment, and student body composition.

IPEDS
Fall total
566
12-mo unduplicated
571
Undergraduate
571
Graduate
0

Gender split

Men
50%285
Women
50%286

Race / ethnicity composition

White
63.8%
Hispanic
19.6%
Non-resident
6.7%
Two or more
5.0%
Unknown
3.2%
Asian
1.8%

Campus safety & crime statistics

Reported on-campus crimes over the last three years, including violence and hate crimes.

Clery Act
Criminal offenses · per 1,000 students
3.71
2 offenses · 539 students

3-year trend

0.002 yrs ago1.941 yr ago3.71Latest
Offenses · 3-yr
3
Last three years
VAWA · 3-yr
1
DV, dating, stalking
Hate crimes · 3-yr
0
Res-hall fires · 3-yr
0

Criminal offenses by type

Fondling
1
Aggravated assault
1

By location

2total
  • On campus2

Includes 1 in residence halls (a subset of on-campus, not added to the total).

VAWA offenses

0
Domestic violence
0
Dating violence
1
Stalking
1 total under the Violence Against Women Act.

Hate crimes by bias

No hate crimes reported.

Arrests vs disciplinary referrals

CategoryArrestsReferrals
Weapons00
Drugs00
Liquor00

Residence-hall fires

No residence-hall fires reported.

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education

Student-faculty ratio

Student-to-faculty ratio and instructional staff counts.

IPEDS
Student-to-faculty
11.0:1
Instructional staff (full-time equivalent)
50

Thomas Aquinas College vs Peer comparison

The peer institutions Thomas Aquinas College selected for federal comparison reporting.

IPEDS
6-yr gradRetentionSelectivityEnrollmentAffordabilityYield
This institutionPeer median

A larger shape on any axis means this institution outperforms its peers on that dimension. For acceptance rate and net price, lower raw values are inverted so "more selective" and "more affordable" appear larger.

Carnegie
SubjectThomas Aquinas College
84%83.1%566$26,196Baccalaureate
Allen University
13%72.5%610$10,972Baccalaureate
American Jewish University
44%96.0%424$38,997Baccalaureate
Beacon College
58%43.5%531$53,517Baccalaureate
Bethel College-North Newton
37%93.5%509$32,917Baccalaureate
Bryn Athyn College of the New Church
65%82.9%255$20,586Baccalaureate
College of the Atlantic
68%70.2%358$25,184Baccalaureate
Lyon College
47%62.8%659$19,616Baccalaureate
Magdalen College
53%44.4%—$15,922Baccalaureate
McPherson College
34%76.8%878$26,441Baccalaureate
Randolph College
46%93.7%816$15,921Baccalaureate
Rust College
12%48.7%467$12,587Baccalaureate
St. Andrews University
27%64.8%676$32,513Baccalaureate
St. John's College
71%55.2%583$45,597Baccalaureate
Talladega College
31%85.4%760$15,560Baccalaureate
Thomas More College of Liberal Arts
63%89.6%97$18,489Baccalaureate
Trinity International University-Florida
———$5,455Baccalaureate
Wells College
41%69.6%—$22,921Baccalaureate
Wesleyan College
45%59.1%531$12,724Baccalaureate
Westmont College
70%77.0%1,310$29,053Baccalaureate
Peer group median46%72.5%566$21,754

Institutions like Thomas Aquinas College

Explore the federal data for institutions in Thomas Aquinas College's comparison group.

IPEDS
  • BaccalaureateSouth Carolina

    Allen University

    Grad rate
    13%
    Admit rate
    72.5%
    Enrollment
    610
    Net price
    $10,972
  • BaccalaureateCalifornia

    American Jewish University

    Grad rate
    44%
    Admit rate
    96.0%
    Enrollment
    424
    Net price
    $38,997
  • BaccalaureateFlorida

    Beacon College

    Grad rate
    58%
    Admit rate
    43.5%
    Enrollment
    531
    Net price
    $53,517
  • BaccalaureateKansas

    Bethel College-North Newton

    Grad rate
    37%
    Admit rate
    93.5%
    Enrollment
    509
    Net price
    $32,917
  • BaccalaureatePennsylvania

    Bryn Athyn College of the New Church

    Grad rate
    65%
    Admit rate
    82.9%
    Enrollment
    255
    Net price
    $20,586
  • BaccalaureateMaine

    College of the Atlantic

    Grad rate
    68%
    Admit rate
    70.2%
    Enrollment
    358
    Net price
    $25,184
  • BaccalaureateArkansas

    Lyon College

    Grad rate
    47%
    Admit rate
    62.8%
    Enrollment
    659
    Net price
    $19,616
  • BaccalaureateNew Hampshire

    Magdalen College

    Grad rate
    53%
    Admit rate
    44.4%
    Enrollment
    —
    Net price
    $15,922
  • BaccalaureateKansas

    McPherson College

    Grad rate
    34%
    Admit rate
    76.8%
    Enrollment
    878
    Net price
    $26,441
  • BaccalaureateVirginia

    Randolph College

    Grad rate
    46%
    Admit rate
    93.7%
    Enrollment
    816
    Net price
    $15,921
  • BaccalaureateMississippi

    Rust College

    Grad rate
    12%
    Admit rate
    48.7%
    Enrollment
    467
    Net price
    $12,587
  • BaccalaureateNorth Carolina

    St. Andrews University

    Grad rate
    27%
    Admit rate
    64.8%
    Enrollment
    676
    Net price
    $32,513
  • BaccalaureateMaryland

    St. John's College

    Grad rate
    71%
    Admit rate
    55.2%
    Enrollment
    583
    Net price
    $45,597
  • BaccalaureateAlabama

    Talladega College

    Grad rate
    31%
    Admit rate
    85.4%
    Enrollment
    760
    Net price
    $15,560
  • BaccalaureateNew Hampshire

    Thomas More College of Liberal Arts

    Grad rate
    63%
    Admit rate
    89.6%
    Enrollment
    97
    Net price
    $18,489
  • BaccalaureateFlorida

    Trinity International University-Florida

    Grad rate
    —
    Admit rate
    —
    Enrollment
    —
    Net price
    $5,455
  • BaccalaureateNew York

    Wells College

    Grad rate
    41%
    Admit rate
    69.6%
    Enrollment
    —
    Net price
    $22,921
  • BaccalaureateGeorgia

    Wesleyan College

    Grad rate
    45%
    Admit rate
    59.1%
    Enrollment
    531
    Net price
    $12,724
  • BaccalaureateCalifornia

    Westmont College

    Grad rate
    70%
    Admit rate
    77.0%
    Enrollment
    1,310
    Net price
    $29,053

Reports & documents (1)

Dashboards, factbooks, data dictionaries, and other reference material published by the IR office.

Notable alumni of Thomas Aquinas College (6)

A curated list of alumni recognized for notable achievements across industries.

  • John Berg
    Religion
  • Andrzej Komorowski
  • Peter Kwasniewski
  • Mary Neumayr
  • Paul J. O'Reilly
  • Pia de Solenni

Frequently asked questions about Thomas Aquinas College

Quick answers to the questions most often asked about Thomas Aquinas College.

What is the acceptance rate at Thomas Aquinas College?

Thomas Aquinas College's acceptance rate is 83.1% (226 admitted from 272 applicants), based on the latest IPEDS.

What is the graduation rate at Thomas Aquinas College?

Thomas Aquinas College's six-year graduation rate is 84% and its four-year rate is 83%, per 2024 IPEDS data.

How many students attend Thomas Aquinas College?

Thomas Aquinas College reports a total enrollment of 566 students per the latest IPEDS.

What is the average net price at Thomas Aquinas College?

The average net price at Thomas Aquinas College is $26,196 per the latest College Scorecard. Net price is the published cost of attendance minus grant aid.

What is the yield rate at Thomas Aquinas College?

Thomas Aquinas College's yield rate is 67.7%, the share of admitted students who enrolled, per the latest IPEDS.

Where is Thomas Aquinas College located?

Thomas Aquinas College is located in Santa Paula, California 93060.

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
U.S. Department of Education
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.
U.S. Department of Education
DAPIP accreditationContinuously refreshed
Accreditation status for institutions and programs, reported by recognized accrediting agencies.
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education
Federal Pell Grant & loan volumeAY 2025–26 (through Q3), through March 31, 2026
Pell Grant and Direct Loan recipient counts, award amounts, and disbursement volume by institution and award year.
U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid
Cohort Default RatesFY 2022 official rates
Institution-level federal student loan default rates, measuring borrowers who default within three years of entering repayment.
U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid
Equity in Athletics (EADA)Academic year 2024–25
Athletics participation, coaching, revenues, and expenses by sport and gender for Title IV institutions.
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education
Campus Safety & SecurityData through reporting year 2024
Criminal offenses, arrests, disciplinary actions, VAWA offenses, and fire statistics reported by campus under the Clery Act.
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education
Last reviewed July 2026All data sources & release dates →

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