AQ vs. MBC

Comparable Facts

Compare Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, MI with Mary Baldwin University in Staunton, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Mary Baldwin University is larger than AQ based on total student enrollment (1,772 students vs. 1,157 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Aquinas College is located in Grand Rapids, MI (Midsize City setting); Mary Baldwin University is in Staunton, VA (Distant Town setting).
• Aquinas College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Mary Baldwin University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Aquinas College 10:1; Mary Baldwin University 15:1.

AQ vs. MBC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AQ or MBC? 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 Mary Baldwin University than AQ ($17,810 vs. $18,018).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mary Baldwin University are 2.3% lower than at Aquinas College ($11,411 vs. $11,680).
• Aquinas College is 17.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than MBC (about $6,066 more per year; $40,218.00 vs. $34,152.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 17.8% higher at AQ than at Mary Baldwin University (about $6,066 more per year; $40,218.00 vs. $34,152.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Aquinas College than at Mary Baldwin University (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Aquinas College students is 19.2% larger than aid received by Mary Baldwin University students ($33,535 vs. $28,135).

AQ vs. MBC Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Aquinas College (1030) is the same as at MBC (1030).
• Incoming AQ students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 21 at MBC).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Aquinas College 910/1140; Mary Baldwin University 940/1120.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Aquinas College 20/26; Mary Baldwin University 18/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AQ - Test optional; MBC - Not reported.
• Accepted freshman MBC students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at AQ (3.52).

AQ vs. MBC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AQ and MBC? 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).

• Aquinas College's six-year graduation rate (52%) is higher than Mary Baldwin University's (49%).
• Graduates from Aquinas College earn a median of about $1,600 more per year than MBC graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,000 vs. $38,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Aquinas College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than MBC graduates ($26,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, AQ graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MBC graduates ($268 vs. $279).
• More AQ graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MBC students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 53%)

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.