Thomas Aquinas College vs. CSUMB

Should I go to Thomas Aquinas College or California State University Monterey Bay? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Thomas Aquinas College or CSUMB 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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Thomas Aquinas College vs. California State University Monterey Bay comparison
Thomas Aquinas College California State University Monterey Bay College 3 College 4
Thomas Aquinas College California State University Monterey Bay
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Overview

Thomas Aquinas College CSUMB
Location Santa Paula, CA Seaside, CA
Setting Distant Rural Rural Fringe
Enrollment 539 6,742
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #835
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website thomasaquinas.edu csumb.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Thomas Aquinas College CSUMB
Tuition (In State) $28,700 $5,742
Tuition (Out of State) $28,700 $17,622
Room & Board $10,700 $16,413
Avg Net Price $23,039 $15,222
Avg Grant Aid $16,961 $10,480
% Receiving Grant Aid 66% 73%

Admission

Thomas Aquinas College CSUMB
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 263 11,769
Admitted 207 11,160
Acceptance Rate 78.7% 94.8%
Enrolled % 69.1% 8.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.8 3.45
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 25/33 17/23
SAT Range 1160/1330 960/1160
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Thomas Aquinas College CSUMB
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (100%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (22%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)

Outcomes

Thomas Aquinas College CSUMB
Graduation Rate 69% 38%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $45,700 $45,300
Making Student Loan Payments 90% 66%
Median Student Loan Debt $17,000 $14,000
Median Loan Payment $175 $144

Diversity

Thomas Aquinas College CSUMB
% Men 35% 3%
% Women 35% 9%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 70% 31%
% Black 0% 6%
% Hispanic 15% 43%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 7%
% International 3% 2%
% Unknown Race 3% 5%

Students

Thomas Aquinas College CSUMB
% In-State 32% 93%
% Out-of-State 63% 5%

Campus

Thomas Aquinas College CSUMB
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • California State University Monterey Bay is larger than than Thomas Aquinas College based on total student enrollment (6,742 students vs. 539 students)

Thomas Aquinas College vs. CSUMB Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Thomas Aquinas College or CSUMB?

  • Thomas Aquinas College is 399.8% more expensive to attend than CSUMB for in-state tuition ($28,700.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 62.9% higher at Thomas Aquinas College than California State University Monterey Bay ($28,700.00 vs. $17,622.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California State University Monterey Bay than Thomas Aquinas College ($15,222 vs. $23,039)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Thomas Aquinas College are 53.4% lower than costs at California State University Monterey Bay ($10,700 vs. $16,413)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at California State University Monterey Bay than Thomas Aquinas College (73% vs. 66%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Thomas Aquinas College students is 61.8% larger than aid received California State University Monterey Bay ($16,961 vs. $10,480)

Thomas Aquinas College vs. CSUMB Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Thomas Aquinas College students have a 0.35 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at CSUMB (3.45)
  • CSUMB has a higher acceptance rate (94.8%) than Thomas Aquinas College (78.7%)

Thomas Aquinas College vs. CSUMB Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Thomas Aquinas College or CSUMB? 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 CSUMB and Thomas Aquinas College.

  • The graduation rate at Thomas Aquinas College is higher than California State University Monterey Bay (69% vs. 38%)
  • Graduates from Thomas Aquinas College earn on average $400 more per year than CSUMB graduates after ten years. ($45,700 vs. $45,300)
  • California State University Monterey Bay students graduate with a $3,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Thomas Aquinas College graduates. ($14,000 vs. $17,000)
  • CSUMB graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than Thomas Aquinas College graduates. ($144 vs. $175)
  • More Thomas Aquinas College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSUMB students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 66%)

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