AQ vs. Oakland

Comparable Facts

Compare Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, MI with Oakland University in Rochester Hills, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Oakland University is larger than AQ based on total student enrollment (15,768 students vs. 1,157 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Aquinas College is located in Grand Rapids, MI (Midsize City setting); Oakland University is in Rochester Hills, MI (Large Suburban setting).
• Aquinas College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Oakland University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Aquinas College 10:1; Oakland University 17:1.

AQ vs. Oakland Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AQ or Oakland? 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 Oakland University than AQ ($12,208 vs. $18,018).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Oakland University are 6.4% lower than at Aquinas College ($10,932 vs. $11,680).
• Aquinas College is 163.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Oakland (about $24,956 more per year; $40,218.00 vs. $15,262.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 73.4% higher at AQ than at Oakland University (about $17,030 more per year; $40,218.00 vs. $23,188.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Aquinas College than at Oakland University (100% vs. 94%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Aquinas College students is 158.2% larger than aid received by Oakland University students ($33,535 vs. $12,988).

AQ vs. Oakland Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Oakland University (1130) is 100 points higher than at AQ (1030).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Aquinas College 910/1140; Oakland University 1030/1230.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Aquinas College 20/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AQ - Test optional; Oakland - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman AQ students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at Oakland (3.51).
• AQ has a higher acceptance rate (89.9%) than Oakland (87.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.8% at AQ vs. 14.7% at Oakland.

AQ vs. Oakland Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AQ and Oakland? 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 Oakland University's (40%).
• Graduates from Oakland University earn a median of about $6,700 more per year than AQ graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,700 vs. $40,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Oakland University graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than AQ graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,000).
• Among borrowers, Oakland graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AQ graduates ($258 vs. $268).
• More AQ graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Oakland students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 51%)

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.