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SPU UW-Seattle Seattle U Whitworth University Gonzaga Saint Martin's University University of Puget Sound Pacific Whitman College Western Washington University University of Portland Washington State| Thomas Aquinas College | Pacific Lutheran University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Thomas Aquinas College | PLU | ||
| Location | Santa Paula, CA | Tacoma, WA | ||
| Setting | Distant Rural | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 516 | 2,633 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #311 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | Roman Catholic | Evangelical Lutheran Church | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | thomasaquinas.edu | plu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Thomas Aquinas College | PLU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $27,000 | $49,472 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $27,000 | $49,472 | ||
| Room & Board | $9,900 | $11,826 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $24,217 | $24,825 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $14,211 | $36,435 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 57% | 99% |
Admission |
Thomas Aquinas College | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 262 | 3,334 | ||
| Admitted | 222 | 2,964 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 84.7% | 88.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 62.6% | 17.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.8 | 3.71 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 27/32 | 27/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1220/1410 | 1253/1423 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Required to be considered for admission | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 15, 2025 |
Academics |
Thomas Aquinas College | PLU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Thomas Aquinas College | PLU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 69% | 66% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $45,700 | $52,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 90% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $17,000 | $25,800 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $175 | $266 |
Diversity |
Thomas Aquinas College | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 48% | 36% | ||
| % Women | 52% | 64% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 70% | 68% | ||
| % Black | 0% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 15% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 7% | 7% | ||
| % International | 3% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 1% |
Students |
Thomas Aquinas College | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 32% | 74% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 63% | 22% | ||
Campus |
Thomas Aquinas College | PLU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Pacific Lutheran University is larger than than Thomas Aquinas College based on total student enrollment (2,633 students vs. 516 students)
Thomas Aquinas College vs. PLU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Thomas Aquinas College or PLU?
- Pacific Lutheran University is 83.2% more expensive to attend than Thomas Aquinas College for in-state tuition ($49,472.00 vs. $27,000.00)
- Out of state tuition is 83.2% higher at PLU than Thomas Aquinas College ($49,472.00 vs. $27,000.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Thomas Aquinas College than PLU ($24,217 vs. $24,825)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Thomas Aquinas College are 19.5% lower than costs at Pacific Lutheran University ($9,900 vs. $11,826)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Pacific Lutheran University than Thomas Aquinas College (99% vs. 57%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific Lutheran University students is 156.4% larger than aid received Thomas Aquinas College ($36,435 vs. $14,211)
Thomas Aquinas College vs. PLU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Thomas Aquinas College or PLU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between PLU or Thomas Aquinas College .
- The average SAT score at Thomas Aquinas College (1280) is 163 points higher than at PLU (1117)
- Incoming Thomas Aquinas College students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at PLU (25)
- Accepted freshman Thomas Aquinas College students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at PLU (3.71)
- PLU has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than Thomas Aquinas College (84.7%)
Thomas Aquinas College vs. PLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Thomas Aquinas College or PLU? 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 PLU and Thomas Aquinas College.
- The graduation rate at Thomas Aquinas College is higher than Pacific Lutheran University (69% vs. 66%)
- Graduates from Pacific Lutheran University earn on average $6,600 more per year than Thomas Aquinas College graduates after ten years. ($52,300 vs. $45,700)
- Thomas Aquinas College students graduate with a $8,800 lower median federal student loan debt than PLU graduates. ($17,000 vs. $25,800)
- Thomas Aquinas College graduates are paying $91 less per month on federal student loans than PLU graduates. ($175 vs. $266)
- More Thomas Aquinas College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PLU students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 74%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/