AQ vs. Carthage

Comparable Facts

Compare Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, MI with Carthage College in Kenosha, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Carthage College is larger than AQ based on total student enrollment (2,844 students vs. 1,157 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Aquinas College is located in Grand Rapids, MI (Midsize City setting); Carthage College is in Kenosha, WI (Midsize Suburban setting).
• Aquinas College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Carthage College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Aquinas College 10:1; Carthage College 14:1.

AQ vs. Carthage Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AQ or Carthage? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Aquinas College than Carthage ($18,018 vs. $27,066).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Aquinas College are 13.2% lower than at Carthage College ($11,680 vs. $13,450).
• Aquinas College is 3.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Carthage (about $1,468 more per year; $40,218.00 vs. $38,750.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.8% higher at AQ than at Carthage College (about $1,468 more per year; $40,218.00 vs. $38,750.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Aquinas College as at Carthage College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Aquinas College students is 41% larger than aid received by Carthage College students ($33,535 vs. $23,784).

AQ vs. Carthage Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AQ or Carthage? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Carthage and AQ.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Carthage College (1100) is 70 points higher than at AQ (1030).
• Incoming AQ students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 22 at Carthage).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Aquinas College 910/1140; Carthage College 1000/1205.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Aquinas College 20/26; Carthage College 19/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AQ - Test optional; Carthage - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman AQ students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at Carthage (3.36).
• AQ has a higher acceptance rate (89.9%) than Carthage (87.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.8% at AQ vs. 11.3% at Carthage.

AQ vs. Carthage Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AQ and Carthage? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Carthage College's six-year graduation rate (59%) is higher than Aquinas College's (52%).
• Graduates from Carthage College earn a median of about $8,800 more per year than AQ graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,800 vs. $40,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Aquinas College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Carthage graduates ($26,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, AQ graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Carthage graduates ($268 vs. $279).
• More Carthage graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AQ students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 60%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.