UCLA vs. Thomas Aquinas College

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Los Angeles in Los Angeles, 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 Los Angeles is larger than Thomas Aquinas College based on total student enrollment (47,335 students vs. 566 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); Thomas Aquinas College is in Santa Paula, CA (Distant Rural setting).
• University of California Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles 20:1; Thomas Aquinas College 11:1.

UCLA vs. Thomas Aquinas College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCLA 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 Los Angeles than Thomas Aquinas College ($14,512 vs. $24,820).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Thomas Aquinas College are 39% lower than at University of California Los Angeles ($11,200 vs. $18,369).
• Thomas Aquinas College is 98.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCLA (about $14,997 more per year; $30,200.00 vs. $15,203.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 63.6% higher at UCLA than at Thomas Aquinas College (about $19,203 more per year; $49,403.00 vs. $30,200.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Thomas Aquinas College than at University of California Los Angeles (73% vs. 49%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Los Angeles students is 37.7% larger than aid received by Thomas Aquinas College students ($25,627 vs. $18,606).

UCLA vs. Thomas Aquinas College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCLA 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 UCLA.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Los Angeles (1420) is 110 points higher than at Thomas Aquinas College (1310).
• Incoming UCLA students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at Thomas Aquinas College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Los Angeles 1300/1530; Thomas Aquinas College 1220/1400.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Los Angeles 29/35; Thomas Aquinas College 28/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCLA - Test-free; Thomas Aquinas College - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: UCLA Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UCLA students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at Thomas Aquinas College (3.8).
• Thomas Aquinas College has a higher acceptance rate (83.1%) than UCLA (9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 50.4% at UCLA vs. 67.7% at Thomas Aquinas College.

UCLA vs. Thomas Aquinas College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCLA 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 Los Angeles's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than Thomas Aquinas College's (69%).
• Graduates from University of California Los Angeles earn a median of about $25,000 more per year than Thomas Aquinas College graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,700 vs. $45,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Los Angeles graduates have a $700 lower median loan debt than Thomas Aquinas College graduates ($16,300 vs. $17,000).
• Among borrowers, UCLA graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Thomas Aquinas College graduates ($168 vs. $175).
• More Thomas Aquinas College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCLA students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 78%)

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.