AQ vs. SAU

Should I go to Aquinas College or Spring Arbor University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if AQ or SAU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

Add a college to compare up to four schools
Aquinas College vs. Spring Arbor University comparison
Aquinas College Spring Arbor University College 3 College 4
Aquinas College
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

AQ SAU
Location Grand Rapids, MI Spring Arbor, MI
Setting Midsize City Small Suburban
Enrollment 1,295 2,390
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #716 #553
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic Free Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website aquinas.edu arbor.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

AQ SAU
Tuition (In State) $37,720 $31,940
Tuition (Out of State) $37,720 $31,940
Room & Board $10,994 $10,960
Avg Net Price $19,890 $21,720
Avg Grant Aid $29,042 $21,522
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

AQ SAU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,291 3,145
Admitted 1,628 1,174
Acceptance Rate 71.1% 37.3%
Enrolled % 18.2% 17.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.52 3.61
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Easy
Applicant Competition Low High
ACT Range 20/25 17/25
SAT Range 990/1210 935/1165
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

AQ SAU
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Business (31%)
  • Work and Family Studies (14%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Human Services (9%)

Outcomes

AQ SAU
Graduation Rate 52% 56%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,000 $42,600
Making Student Loan Payments 60% 58%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $24,043
Median Loan Payment $268 $248

Diversity

AQ SAU
% Men 2% 7%
% Women 4% 48%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 82% 77%
% Black 3% 10%
% Hispanic 6% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 3% 5%

Students

AQ SAU
% In-State 84% 82%
% Out-of-State 13% 15%

Campus

AQ SAU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Spring Arbor University is larger than than AQ based on total student enrollment (2,390 students vs. 1,295 students)

AQ vs. SAU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AQ or SAU?

  • Aquinas College is 18.1% more expensive to attend than SAU for in-state tuition ($37,720.00 vs. $31,940.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 18.1% higher at AQ than Spring Arbor University ($37,720.00 vs. $31,940.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Aquinas College than SAU ($19,890 vs. $21,720)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Spring Arbor University are 0.3% lower than costs at Aquinas College ($10,960 vs. $10,994)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Aquinas College as Spring Arbor University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Aquinas College students is 34.9% larger than aid received Spring Arbor University ($29,042 vs. $21,522)

AQ vs. SAU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AQ or SAU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SAU or AQ .

  • The average SAT score at Aquinas College (1090) is 17 points higher than at SAU (1073)
  • Incoming AQ students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at SAU (23)
  • Accepted freshman SAU students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at AQ (3.52)
  • AQ has a higher acceptance rate (71.1%) than SAU (37.3%)

AQ vs. SAU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, AQ or SAU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between SAU and AQ.

  • The graduation rate at SAU is higher than Aquinas College (56% vs. 52%)
  • Graduates from Spring Arbor University earn on average $2,600 more per year than AQ graduates after ten years. ($42,600 vs. $40,000)
  • Spring Arbor University students graduate with a $1,957 lower median federal student loan debt than AQ graduates. ($24,043 vs. $26,000)
  • SAU graduates are paying $20 less per month on federal student loans than AQ graduates. ($248 vs. $268)
  • More AQ graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SAU students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 58%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/