UC Davis vs. Thomas Aquinas College

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Davis in Davis, CA with Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Davis is larger than Thomas Aquinas College based on total student enrollment (40,065 students vs. 566 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Davis is located in Davis, CA (Small Suburban setting); Thomas Aquinas College is in Santa Paula, CA (Distant Rural setting).
• University of California Davis is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Thomas Aquinas College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Davis 22:1; Thomas Aquinas College 11:1.

UC Davis vs. Thomas Aquinas College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Davis or Thomas Aquinas College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of California Davis than Thomas Aquinas College ($17,270 vs. $24,820).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Thomas Aquinas College are 42.3% lower than at University of California Davis ($11,200 vs. $19,426).
• Thomas Aquinas College is 80% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC Davis (about $13,426 more per year; $30,200.00 vs. $16,774.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 68.8% higher at UC Davis than at Thomas Aquinas College (about $20,774 more per year; $50,974.00 vs. $30,200.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Thomas Aquinas College than at University of California Davis (73% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Davis students is 32.2% larger than aid received by Thomas Aquinas College students ($24,591 vs. $18,606).

UC Davis vs. Thomas Aquinas College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UC Davis or Thomas Aquinas College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Thomas Aquinas College and UC Davis.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Thomas Aquinas College (1310) is 30 points higher than at UC Davis (1280).
• Incoming Thomas Aquinas College students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 29 at UC Davis).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Davis 1160/1400; Thomas Aquinas College 1220/1400.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Davis 25/33; Thomas Aquinas College 28/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Davis - Test-free; Thomas Aquinas College - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Davis Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UC Davis students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Thomas Aquinas College (3.8).
• Thomas Aquinas College has a higher acceptance rate (83.1%) than UC Davis (41.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.4% at UC Davis vs. 67.7% at Thomas Aquinas College.

UC Davis vs. Thomas Aquinas College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Davis and Thomas Aquinas College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• University of California Davis's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than Thomas Aquinas College's (69%).
• Graduates from University of California Davis earn a median of about $19,500 more per year than Thomas Aquinas College graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,200 vs. $45,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Davis graduates have a $2,324 lower median loan debt than Thomas Aquinas College graduates ($14,676 vs. $17,000).
• Among borrowers, UC Davis graduates have an estimated $24 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Thomas Aquinas College graduates ($151 vs. $175).
• More Thomas Aquinas College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Davis 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.