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Seattle U UW-Seattle PLU George Fox University Whitworth University Western Washington University Central Washington University Azusa Pacific University Washington State UWB University of Portland University of Puget Sound| Thomas Aquinas College | Seattle Pacific University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Thomas Aquinas College | SPU | ||
| Location | Santa Paula, CA | Seattle, WA | ||
| Setting | Distant Rural | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 539 | 2,659 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #246 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | Roman Catholic | Free Methodist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | thomasaquinas.edu | spu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Thomas Aquinas College | SPU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $28,700 | $37,965 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $28,700 | $37,965 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,700 | $15,498 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $23,039 | $26,155 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $16,961 | $28,070 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 66% | 98% |
Admission |
Thomas Aquinas College | SPU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 263 | 2,806 | ||
| Admitted | 207 | 2,556 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 78.7% | 91.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 69.1% | 14.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.8 | 3.53 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 25/33 | 20/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 1160/1330 | 1050/1320 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Required to be considered for admission | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jul 11, 2026 |
Academics |
Thomas Aquinas College | SPU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 10:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Thomas Aquinas College | SPU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 69% | 74% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $45,700 | $50,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 90% | 82% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $17,000 | $25,603 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $175 | $264 |
Diversity |
Thomas Aquinas College | SPU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 35% | 6% | ||
| % Women | 35% | 16% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 70% | 61% | ||
| % Black | 0% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 15% | 10% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 7% | 8% | ||
| % International | 3% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 1% |
Students |
Thomas Aquinas College | SPU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 32% | 71% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 63% | 26% | ||
Campus |
Thomas Aquinas College | SPU | ||
| 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
- Seattle Pacific University is larger than than Thomas Aquinas College based on total student enrollment (2,659 students vs. 539 students)
Thomas Aquinas College vs. SPU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Thomas Aquinas College or SPU?
- Seattle Pacific University is 32.3% more expensive to attend than Thomas Aquinas College for in-state tuition ($37,965.00 vs. $28,700.00)
- Out of state tuition is 32.3% higher at SPU than Thomas Aquinas College ($37,965.00 vs. $28,700.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Thomas Aquinas College than SPU ($23,039 vs. $26,155)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Thomas Aquinas College are 44.8% lower than costs at Seattle Pacific University ($10,700 vs. $15,498)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Seattle Pacific University than Thomas Aquinas College (98% vs. 66%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Seattle Pacific University students is 65.5% larger than aid received Thomas Aquinas College ($28,070 vs. $16,961)
Thomas Aquinas College vs. SPU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Thomas Aquinas College or SPU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SPU or Thomas Aquinas College .
- The average SAT score at Thomas Aquinas College (1280) is 135 points higher than at SPU (1145)
- Incoming Thomas Aquinas College students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at SPU (26)
- Accepted freshman Thomas Aquinas College students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at SPU (3.53)
- SPU has a higher acceptance rate (91.1%) than Thomas Aquinas College (78.7%)
Thomas Aquinas College vs. SPU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Thomas Aquinas College or SPU? 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 SPU and Thomas Aquinas College.
- The graduation rate at SPU is higher than Thomas Aquinas College (74% vs. 69%)
- Graduates from Seattle Pacific University earn on average $4,700 more per year than Thomas Aquinas College graduates after ten years. ($50,400 vs. $45,700)
- Thomas Aquinas College students graduate with a $8,603 lower median federal student loan debt than SPU graduates. ($17,000 vs. $25,603)
- Thomas Aquinas College graduates are paying $89 less per month on federal student loans than SPU graduates. ($175 vs. $264)
- More Thomas Aquinas College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SPU students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 82%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/