UCSC vs. Thomas Aquinas College

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, 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 Santa Cruz is larger than Thomas Aquinas College based on total student enrollment (19,938 students vs. 566 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

UCSC vs. Thomas Aquinas College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSC 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 Santa Cruz than Thomas Aquinas College ($18,059 vs. $24,820).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Thomas Aquinas College are 43.9% lower than at University of California Santa Cruz ($11,200 vs. $19,948).
• Thomas Aquinas College is 88.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCSC (about $14,195 more per year; $30,200.00 vs. $16,005.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 66.2% higher at UCSC than at Thomas Aquinas College (about $20,005 more per year; $50,205.00 vs. $30,200.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Thomas Aquinas College than at University of California Santa Cruz (73% vs. 57%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students is 22.4% larger than aid received by Thomas Aquinas College students ($22,774 vs. $18,606).

UCSC vs. Thomas Aquinas College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCSC 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 UCSC.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Thomas Aquinas College (1310) is 50 points higher than at UCSC (1260).
• Incoming Thomas Aquinas College students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 29 at UCSC).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 1160/1360; Thomas Aquinas College 1220/1400.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 25/33; Thomas Aquinas College 28/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSC - Test-free; Thomas Aquinas College - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: UCSC Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Thomas Aquinas College students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at UCSC (3.63).
• Thomas Aquinas College has a higher acceptance rate (83.1%) than UCSC (65.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.3% at UCSC vs. 67.7% at Thomas Aquinas College.

UCSC vs. Thomas Aquinas College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSC 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 Santa Cruz's six-year graduation rate (73%) is higher than Thomas Aquinas College's (69%).
• Graduates from University of California Santa Cruz earn a median of about $4,700 more per year than Thomas Aquinas College graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,400 vs. $45,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Thomas Aquinas College graduates have a $2,959 lower median loan debt than UCSC graduates ($17,000 vs. $19,959).
• Among borrowers, Thomas Aquinas College graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCSC graduates ($175 vs. $206).
• More Thomas Aquinas College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCSC students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 74%)

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.