AQ vs. SHMS

Deciding between Aquinas College and Sacred Heart Major Seminary? 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

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • AQ Grand Rapids, MI
  • SHMS Detroit, MI
  • Setting
  • AQ Midsize City
  • SHMS Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • AQ 1,157
  • SHMS 351
  • Type
  • AQ Private 4 Year
  • SHMS Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AQ #753
  • SHMS
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AQ Roman Catholic
  • SHMS Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • AQ Non-profit
  • SHMS Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AQ
  • SHMS

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AQ $40,218
  • SHMS $24,120
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AQ $40,218
  • SHMS $24,120
  • Room & Board
  • AQ $11,680
  • SHMS $12,650
  • Average Net Price
  • AQ $18,018
  • SHMS $6,928
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AQ $33,535
  • SHMS $34,987
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AQ 100%
  • SHMS 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AQ 2,193
  • SHMS 2
  • Admitted
  • AQ 1,971
  • SHMS 2
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AQ 89.9%
  • SHMS 100%
  • Enrolled
  • AQ 11.8%
  • SHMS 100%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AQ 1030
  • SHMS
  • Typical ACT score
  • AQ 23
  • SHMS
  • Average High School GPA
  • AQ 3.52
  • SHMS 3.48
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AQ A-
  • SHMS B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • AQ Easy
  • SHMS Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • AQ
  • SHMS
  • ACT Range
  • AQ 20/26
  • SHMS
  • SAT Range
  • AQ 910/1140
  • SHMS
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AQ Test optional
  • SHMS Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • AQ
  • SHMS Aug 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AQ 10:1
  • SHMS 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AQ
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Biology (6%)
  • SHMS
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (64%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (20%)
    • Philosophy and Religious Studies (16%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • AQ 52%
  • SHMS -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • AQ $40,000
  • SHMS N/A
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • AQ 60%
  • SHMS -
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • AQ $26,000
  • SHMS N/A
  • Median Loan Payment
  • AQ $268
  • SHMS N/A

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AQ 47%
  • SHMS 69%
  • % Women
  • AQ 53%
  • SHMS 31%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AQ Very Low
  • SHMS High
  • HBCU
  • AQ No
  • SHMS No
  • % White
  • AQ 82%
  • SHMS 51%
  • % Asian
  • AQ 1%
  • SHMS 0%
  • % Black
  • AQ 3%
  • SHMS 1%
  • % Hispanic
  • AQ 6%
  • SHMS 19%
  • % Native American
  • AQ 0%
  • SHMS 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AQ 0%
  • SHMS 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AQ 3%
  • SHMS 0%
  • % International
  • AQ 1%
  • SHMS 9%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AQ 3%
  • SHMS 19%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AQ 87%
  • SHMS 100%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AQ 10%
  • SHMS 0%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, MI with Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Aquinas College is larger than SHMS based on total student enrollment (1,157 students vs. 351 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Aquinas College is located in Grand Rapids, MI (Midsize City setting); Sacred Heart Major Seminary is in Detroit, MI (Large City setting).
  • Aquinas College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Sacred Heart Major Seminary is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Aquinas College 10:1; Sacred Heart Major Seminary 7:1.

AQ vs. SHMS Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AQ or SHMS? 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 Sacred Heart Major Seminary than AQ ($6,928 vs. $18,018).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Aquinas College are 7.7% lower than at Sacred Heart Major Seminary ($11,680 vs. $12,650).
  • Aquinas College is 66.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than SHMS (about $16,098 more per year; $40,218.00 vs. $24,120.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 66.7% higher at AQ than at Sacred Heart Major Seminary (about $16,098 more per year; $40,218.00 vs. $24,120.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Aquinas College as at Sacred Heart Major Seminary (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Sacred Heart Major Seminary students is 4.3% larger than aid received by Aquinas College students ($34,987 vs. $33,535).

AQ vs. SHMS Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AQ or SHMS? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between SHMS and AQ.

  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Aquinas College 910/1140.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Aquinas College 20/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AQ - Test optional; SHMS - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SHMS Aug 15, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman AQ students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at SHMS (3.48).
  • SHMS has a higher acceptance rate (100%) than AQ (89.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.8% at AQ vs. 100% at SHMS.

AQ vs. SHMS Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AQ and SHMS? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Aquinas College's six-year graduation rate is 52%. Comparable graduation rate data is not available for SHMS.
  • Graduates from Aquinas College have median earnings of about $40,000 about ten years after starting college (College Scorecard). Comparable earnings data is not available for SHMS.

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.