AQ vs. WMU

Should I go to Aquinas College or Western Michigan University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if AQ or WMU 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.

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Aquinas College vs. Western Michigan University comparison
Aquinas College Western Michigan University College 3 College 4
Aquinas College Western Michigan University
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Overview

AQ WMU
Location Grand Rapids, MI Kalamazoo, MI
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 1,265 17,000
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #819 #634
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website aquinas.edu wmich.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

AQ WMU
Tuition (In State) $36,480 $14,523
Tuition (Out of State) $36,480 $18,154
Room & Board $10,572 $11,102
Avg Net Price $18,605 $20,030
Avg Grant Aid $30,049 $6,813
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 93%

Admission

AQ WMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,116 20,501
Admitted 1,921 17,334
Acceptance Rate 90.8% 84.6%
Enrolled % 16% 15.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.52 3.5
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/27
SAT Range 1000/1180 990/1220
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 WMU
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Engineering (6%)

Outcomes

AQ WMU
Graduation Rate 52% 56%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,000 $48,900
Making Student Loan Payments 60% 54%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $26,633
Median Loan Payment $268 $275

Diversity

AQ WMU
% Men 43% 47%
% Women 57% 53%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 82% 72%
% Black 3% 12%
% Hispanic 6% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 1% 4%
% Unknown Race 3% 1%

Students

AQ WMU
% In-State 84% 79%
% Out-of-State 13% 19%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Western Michigan University is larger than than AQ based on total student enrollment (17,000 students vs. 1,265 students)

AQ vs. WMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AQ or WMU?

  • Aquinas College is 151.2% more expensive to attend than WMU for in-state tuition ($36,480.00 vs. $14,523.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 100.9% higher at AQ than Western Michigan University ($36,480.00 vs. $18,154.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Aquinas College than WMU ($18,605 vs. $20,030)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Aquinas College are 5% lower than costs at Western Michigan University ($10,572 vs. $11,102)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Aquinas College than Western Michigan University (100% vs. 93%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Aquinas College students is 341.1% larger than aid received Western Michigan University ($30,049 vs. $6,813)

AQ vs. WMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Aquinas College (1090) is 60 points higher than at WMU (1030)
  • Incoming AQ students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at WMU (22)
  • Accepted freshman AQ students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at WMU (3.5)
  • AQ has a higher acceptance rate (90.8%) than WMU (84.6%)

AQ vs. WMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, AQ or WMU? 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 WMU and AQ.

  • The graduation rate at WMU is higher than Aquinas College (56% vs. 52%)
  • Graduates from Western Michigan University earn on average $8,900 more per year than AQ graduates after ten years. ($48,900 vs. $40,000)
  • Aquinas College students graduate with a $633 lower median federal student loan debt than WMU graduates. ($26,000 vs. $26,633)
  • AQ graduates are paying $7 less per month on federal student loans than WMU graduates. ($268 vs. $275)
  • More AQ graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WMU students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 54%)

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