UCI vs. Thomas Aquinas College

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Irvine in Irvine, 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 Irvine is larger than Thomas Aquinas College based on total student enrollment (37,297 students vs. 566 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Irvine is located in Irvine, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Thomas Aquinas College is in Santa Paula, CA (Distant Rural setting).
• University of California Irvine 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 Irvine 19:1; Thomas Aquinas College 11:1.

UCI vs. Thomas Aquinas College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCI 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 Irvine than Thomas Aquinas College ($15,889 vs. $24,820).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Thomas Aquinas College are 41% lower than at University of California Irvine ($11,200 vs. $18,991).
• Thomas Aquinas College is 92.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCI (about $14,478 more per year; $30,200.00 vs. $15,722.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 65.3% higher at UCI than at Thomas Aquinas College (about $19,722 more per year; $49,922.00 vs. $30,200.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Thomas Aquinas College than at University of California Irvine (73% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Irvine students is 24.2% larger than aid received by Thomas Aquinas College students ($23,110 vs. $18,606).

UCI vs. Thomas Aquinas College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCI 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 UCI.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Irvine (1330) is 20 points higher than at Thomas Aquinas College (1310).
• Incoming Thomas Aquinas College students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 29 at UCI).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Irvine 1230/1430; Thomas Aquinas College 1220/1400.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Irvine 26/33; Thomas Aquinas College 28/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCI - Test-free; Thomas Aquinas College - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: UCI Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Thomas Aquinas College students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at UCI (3.75).
• Thomas Aquinas College has a higher acceptance rate (83.1%) than UCI (28.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.2% at UCI vs. 67.7% at Thomas Aquinas College.

UCI vs. Thomas Aquinas College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCI 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 Irvine's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Thomas Aquinas College's (69%).
• Graduates from University of California Irvine earn a median of about $16,100 more per year than Thomas Aquinas College graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,800 vs. $45,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Thomas Aquinas College and UCI graduates have the same median loan debt ($17,000 vs. $17,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Thomas Aquinas College and UCI graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($175 vs. $175).
• More Thomas Aquinas College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCI students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 76%)

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.