St. Andrews University vs Thomas Aquinas College
St. Andrews University and Thomas Aquinas College, while both rooted in a strong commitment to liberal arts education, offer distinct experiences for students seeking a transformative undergraduate journey. St. Andrews, located in Laurinburg, North Carolina, boasts a diverse student body with an acceptance rate of 68%, while Thomas Aquinas, nestled in Santa Paula, California, maintains a highly selective admissions process with an acceptance rate of 33%. St. Andrews offers a wider range of academic programs, with popular majors including Business Administration, Psychology, and Biology, while Thomas Aquinas focuses on a core curriculum centered around the Great Books and Catholic intellectual tradition. Explore the detailed comparison table below to delve into further differences in student demographics, graduation rates, and other key aspects that will help you make an informed decision about your academic future.
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![]() St. Andrews University |
![]() Thomas Aquinas College |
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Overview |
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Location | Laurinburg, North Carolina | Santa Paula, California |
Campus setting | Town: Distant | Rural: Distant |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 60.0% | 89.0% |
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Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | Presbyterian | Catholic |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 12.3% | 83.1% |
Application fees | ||
SAT range | N/A | 1180 - 1370 |
ACT range | N/A | 25 - 30 |
Students submitting SAT score | 34.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 19.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 2,164 | 261 |
Total number of admissions given out | 266 | 217 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 261 | 131 |
Yield rate | 98.1% | 60.4% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $44,000 | $48,062 |
Average net price | $19,862 | $22,631 |
Tuition | $27,630 | $26,000 |
Room & board | $11,300 | $9,400 |
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
97.0%
Average amount $27,106 |
71.0%
Average amount $13,973 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
94.0%
Average amount $5,940 |
69.0%
Average amount $3,590 |
Students taking out private loans |
13.0%
Average amount $13,036 |
5.0%
Average amount $7,167 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
876
Men 45.9% Women 54.1% |
497
Men 49.7% Women 50.3% |
Graduate students |
35
Men 54.3% Women 45.7% |
N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Low
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Out-of-state students | 59.6% | N/A |
International students | 7.1% | 5.4% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Distant | Rural: Distant |
Dormitory capacity | 521 | 659 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | North Carolina South Carolina Georgia Florida Maryland | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 14:1 | 11:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 31.2% | 85.9% |
Dropout rate | 68.8% | 3.8% |
Transferred out | N/A | 9.0% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
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Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
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