Thomas Aquinas College vs Saint Anselm College
Thomas Aquinas College and Saint Anselm College, both rooted in Catholic tradition, offer distinct educational experiences. Thomas Aquinas, a private liberal arts college in California, boasts a highly selective admissions process with an acceptance rate of 38%, while Saint Anselm, a private liberal arts college in New Hampshire, maintains a broader admissions policy with an acceptance rate of 75%. While both institutions emphasize the humanities, Thomas Aquinas focuses solely on a classical liberal arts curriculum, whereas Saint Anselm offers a wider range of undergraduate programs, including popular majors like business, nursing, and education. Saint Anselm's larger student body reflects its more diverse demographics, while Thomas Aquinas fosters a close-knit community with a predominantly white student population. With graduation rates of 90% and 83% respectively, both colleges demonstrate a strong commitment to student success. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover further distinctions and determine which college best aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Saint Anselm College |
![]() Thomas Aquinas College |
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Overview |
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Location | Manchester, New Hampshire | Santa Paula, California |
Campus setting | Suburb: Midsize | 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 | 89.0% | 89.0% |
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Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | Catholic | Catholic |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 77.6% | 83.1% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$65
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SAT range | 1140 - 1320 | 1180 - 1370 |
ACT range | 26 - 28 | 25 - 30 |
Students submitting SAT score | 16.0% | 34.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 1.0% | 19.0% |
Total number of applicants | 4,007 | 261 |
Total number of admissions given out | 3,109 | 217 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 480 | 131 |
Yield rate | 15.4% | 60.4% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | 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 | $61,450 | $48,062 |
Average net price | $34,450 | $22,631 |
Tuition | $42,550 | $26,000 |
Room & board | $15,500 | $9,400 |
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
100.0%
Average amount $27,449 |
71.0%
Average amount $13,973 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
71.0%
Average amount $5,334 |
69.0%
Average amount $3,590 |
Students taking out private loans |
16.0%
Average amount $16,934 |
5.0%
Average amount $7,167 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
1,954
Men 38.9% Women 61.1% |
497
Men 49.7% Women 50.3% |
Graduate students |
23
Men 39.1% Women 60.9% |
N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Very Low
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Low
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Out-of-state students | N/A | N/A |
International students | 0.5% | 5.4% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Midsize | Rural: Distant |
Dormitory capacity | 1,958 | 659 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 11:1 | 11:1 |
Institutional accreditation | New England Commission on Higher Education | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 77.5% | 85.9% |
Dropout rate | 22.5% | 3.8% |
Transferred out | N/A | 9.0% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business/Commerce, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Criminology (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
History (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
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