Thomas Aquinas College vs Villanova University

When it comes to higher education, Thomas Aquinas College and Villanova University stand out as two distinct institutions with unique offerings. Thomas Aquinas College, a private Catholic liberal arts college in California, boasts a highly selective admissions process with an acceptance rate of only 38%. Its focus on the Great Books and classical education attracts students seeking a rigorous academic experience rooted in the Western intellectual tradition. In contrast, Villanova University, a private Catholic research university in Pennsylvania, offers a broader range of academic programs, including popular majors like business, engineering, and nursing. With an acceptance rate of 66%, Villanova attracts a diverse student body from various backgrounds. While both institutions share a commitment to academic excellence, their distinct characteristics cater to different student preferences and aspirations. Explore the comparison table below to delve deeper into the differences between these two esteemed institutions and find the best fit for your educational journey.

	Thomas Aquinas College	Villanova University
Overview
Location	Santa Paula, California	Villanova, Pennsylvania
Campus setting	Rural: Distant	Suburb: Large
College type	4 year	4 year
Control/business model	Private (Non Profit)	Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system	Semester	Semester
Degrees offered	Undergraduate	Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate	89.0%	96.0%
Common app member	No	Yes
Religious affiliation	Catholic	Catholic

Admission
Acceptance rate	83.1%	25.2%
Application fees		Undergraduate: $80 Graduate: $50
SAT range	1180 - 1370	1350 - 1490
ACT range	25 - 30	31 - 34
Students submitting SAT score	34.0%	28.0%
Students submitting ACT score	19.0%	17.0%
Total number of applicants	261	24,410
Total number of admissions given out	217	6,162
Admitted students who chose to enroll	131	1,772
Yield rate	60.4%	28.8%
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)	Not required	Required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	$48,062	$77,806
Average net price	$22,631	$33,123
Tuition	$26,000	$58,290
Room & board	$9,400	Room/dormitory: $8,236 Meal plan: $7,150
Available payment plans	Tuition payment plan	Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	71.0% Average amount $13,973	52.0% Average amount $43,106
Students receiving federal student loan	69.0% Average amount $3,590	34.0% Average amount $5,267
Students taking out private loans	5.0% Average amount $7,167	7.0% Average amount $29,933

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	497 Men 49.7% Women 50.3%	7,032 Men 45.6% Women 54.4%
Graduate students	N/A	3,838 Men 46.6% Women 53.4%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Low	Low
Out-of-state students	N/A	80.7%
International students	5.4%	3.6%
Campus local/setting	Rural: Distant	Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity	659	5,400
First year students are required to live on campus?	No	No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	N/A	New Jersey Pennsylvania New York Connecticut Maryland

Academics
Popular study areas	Liberal Arts	Business Engineering Health Professions Legal Profession Public Administration and Social Service
Students to faculty ratio	11:1	11:1
Institutional accreditation	Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission	Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Outcome
Graduation rate	85.9%	91.3%
Dropout rate	3.8%	1.5%
Transferred out	9.0%	7.2%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $31,750 Year 2: $30,047 Year 3: $34,459	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $114,668 Year 2: $165,766 Year 3: $171,511 Taxation (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $124,137 Year 2: $100,740 Year 3: $121,765 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $106,590 Year 2: $109,095 Year 3: $118,365 Business/Managerial Economics (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $70,687 Year 2: $90,856 Year 3: $106,587 Real Estate (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $70,782 Year 2: $71,351 Year 3: $91,484 Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $72,757 Year 2: $73,579 Year 3: $88,419 Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $84,583 Year 2: $80,218 Year 3: $88,254 Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $71,297 Year 2: $71,947 Year 3: $86,990 Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $73,492 Year 2: $72,214 Year 3: $85,108 Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $71,115 Year 2: $74,576 Year 3: $84,596

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