UC Riverside vs. Thomas Aquinas College

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Riverside in Riverside, 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 Riverside is larger than Thomas Aquinas College based on total student enrollment (26,384 students vs. 566 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Riverside is located in Riverside, CA (Large City setting); Thomas Aquinas College is in Santa Paula, CA (Distant Rural setting).
• University of California Riverside 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 Riverside 22:1; Thomas Aquinas College 11:1.

UC Riverside vs. Thomas Aquinas College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Riverside 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 Riverside than Thomas Aquinas College ($14,562 vs. $24,820).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Thomas Aquinas College are 45.9% lower than at University of California Riverside ($11,200 vs. $20,691).
• Thomas Aquinas College is 93.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC Riverside (about $14,594 more per year; $30,200.00 vs. $15,606.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 64.9% higher at UC Riverside than at Thomas Aquinas College (about $19,606 more per year; $49,806.00 vs. $30,200.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Riverside than at Thomas Aquinas College (76% vs. 73%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Riverside students is 30.9% larger than aid received by Thomas Aquinas College students ($24,355 vs. $18,606).

UC Riverside vs. Thomas Aquinas College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UC Riverside 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 Riverside.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Thomas Aquinas College (1310) is 130 points higher than at UC Riverside (1180).
• Incoming Thomas Aquinas College students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 26 at UC Riverside).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Riverside 1080/1280; Thomas Aquinas College 1220/1400.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Riverside 22/31; Thomas Aquinas College 28/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Riverside - Test-free; Thomas Aquinas College - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Riverside Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UC Riverside students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at Thomas Aquinas College (3.8).
• Thomas Aquinas College has a higher acceptance rate (83.1%) than UC Riverside (76.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.2% at UC Riverside vs. 67.7% at Thomas Aquinas College.

UC Riverside vs. Thomas Aquinas College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Riverside 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).

• Thomas Aquinas College's six-year graduation rate (69%) is higher than University of California Riverside's (67%).
• Graduates from University of California Riverside earn a median of about $6,500 more per year than Thomas Aquinas College graduates about ten years after starting college ($52,200 vs. $45,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Thomas Aquinas College graduates have a $2,109 lower median loan debt than UC Riverside graduates ($17,000 vs. $19,109).
• Among borrowers, Thomas Aquinas College graduates have an estimated $22 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UC Riverside graduates ($175 vs. $197).
• More Thomas Aquinas College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Riverside students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 65%)

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.