AQ vs. CCS

Deciding between Aquinas College and College for Creative Studies? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Aquinas College
College for Creative Studies

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • AQ Grand Rapids, MI
  • CCS Detroit, MI
  • Setting
  • AQ Midsize City
  • CCS Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • AQ 1,157
  • CCS 1,433
  • Type
  • AQ Private 4 Year
  • CCS Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AQ #753
  • CCS
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AQ Roman Catholic
  • CCS -
  • Status
  • AQ Non-profit
  • CCS Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AQ
  • CCS

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AQ $40,218
  • CCS $53,350
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AQ $40,218
  • CCS $53,350
  • Room & Board
  • AQ $11,680
  • CCS $15,272
  • Average Net Price
  • AQ $18,018
  • CCS $36,055
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AQ $33,535
  • CCS $30,108
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AQ 100%
  • CCS 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AQ 2,193
  • CCS 1,079
  • Admitted
  • AQ 1,971
  • CCS 992
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AQ 89.9%
  • CCS 91.9%
  • Enrolled
  • AQ 11.8%
  • CCS 24.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AQ 1030
  • CCS
  • Typical ACT score
  • AQ 23
  • CCS
  • Average High School GPA
  • AQ 3.52
  • CCS 3.19
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AQ A-
  • CCS B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • AQ Easy
  • CCS Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • AQ
  • CCS
  • ACT Range
  • AQ 20/26
  • CCS
  • SAT Range
  • AQ 910/1140
  • CCS
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AQ Test optional
  • CCS Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • AQ
  • CCS

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AQ 10:1
  • CCS 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AQ
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Biology (6%)
  • CCS
    • Visual and Performing Arts (87%)
    • Communications Technology (13%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • AQ 52%
  • CCS 57%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • AQ $40,000
  • CCS $46,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • AQ 60%
  • CCS 60%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • AQ $26,000
  • CCS $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • AQ $268
  • CCS $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AQ 47%
  • CCS 34%
  • % Women
  • AQ 53%
  • CCS 66%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AQ Very Low
  • CCS Medium
  • HBCU
  • AQ No
  • CCS No
  • % White
  • AQ 82%
  • CCS 58%
  • % Asian
  • AQ 1%
  • CCS 4%
  • % Black
  • AQ 3%
  • CCS 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • AQ 6%
  • CCS 4%
  • % Native American
  • AQ 0%
  • CCS 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AQ 0%
  • CCS 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AQ 3%
  • CCS 4%
  • % International
  • AQ 1%
  • CCS 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AQ 3%
  • CCS 11%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AQ 87%
  • CCS 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AQ 10%
  • CCS 19%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • AQ Yes
  • CCS Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • AQ No
  • CCS No
  • Meal Plan
  • AQ Yes
  • CCS Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • AQ Yes
  • CCS No
  • Daycare Facility
  • AQ No
  • CCS No

Comparable Facts

Compare Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, MI with College for Creative Studies in Detroit, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

College for Creative Studies is larger than AQ based on total student enrollment (1,433 students vs. 1,157 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Aquinas College is located in Grand Rapids, MI (Midsize City setting); College for Creative Studies is in Detroit, MI (Large City setting).
  • Aquinas College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. College for Creative Studies is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Aquinas College 10:1; College for Creative Studies 10:1.

AQ vs. CCS Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AQ or CCS? 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 CCS ($18,018 vs. $36,055).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Aquinas College are 23.5% lower than at College for Creative Studies ($11,680 vs. $15,272).
  • College for Creative Studies is 32.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than AQ (about $13,132 more per year; $53,350.00 vs. $40,218.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 32.7% higher at CCS than at Aquinas College (about $13,132 more per year; $53,350.00 vs. $40,218.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Aquinas College than at College for Creative Studies (100% vs. 98%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Aquinas College students is 11.4% larger than aid received by College for Creative Studies students ($33,535 vs. $30,108).

AQ vs. CCS Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AQ or CCS? 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 CCS and AQ.

  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Aquinas College 910/1140.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Aquinas College 20/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AQ - Test optional; CCS - Test-free.
  • Accepted freshman AQ students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at CCS (3.19).
  • CCS has a higher acceptance rate (91.9%) than AQ (89.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.8% at AQ vs. 24.9% at CCS.

AQ vs. CCS Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AQ and CCS? 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).

  • College for Creative Studies's six-year graduation rate (57%) is higher than Aquinas College's (52%).
  • Graduates from College for Creative Studies earn a median of about $6,100 more per year than AQ graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,100 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 CCS graduates ($26,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, AQ graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CCS graduates ($268 vs. $279).
  • More AQ graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CCS students, three years after graduation. (60% 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.