Wartburg College vs. AQ

Comparable Facts

Compare Wartburg College in Waverly, IA with Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Wartburg College is larger than AQ based on total student enrollment (1,483 students vs. 1,157 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Wartburg College is located in Waverly, IA (Distant Town setting); Aquinas College is in Grand Rapids, MI (Midsize City setting).
• Wartburg College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Aquinas College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Wartburg College 13:1; Aquinas College 10:1.

Wartburg College vs. AQ Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wartburg College or AQ? 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 Aquinas College than Wartburg College ($18,018 vs. $24,031).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Aquinas College are 0.6% lower than at Wartburg College ($11,680 vs. $11,750).
• Aquinas College is 53.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wartburg College (about $13,968 more per year; $40,218.00 vs. $26,250.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 53.2% higher at AQ than at Wartburg College (about $13,968 more per year; $40,218.00 vs. $26,250.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Aquinas College than at Wartburg College (100% vs. 97%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Wartburg College students is 20.3% larger than aid received by Aquinas College students ($40,336 vs. $33,535).

Wartburg College vs. AQ Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Wartburg College or AQ? 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 AQ and Wartburg College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Wartburg College (1070) is 40 points higher than at AQ (1030).
• Incoming Wartburg College students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 23 at AQ).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wartburg College 930/1200; Aquinas College 910/1140.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wartburg College 21/27; Aquinas College 20/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wartburg College - Test optional; AQ - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman AQ students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at Wartburg College (3.48).
• AQ has a higher acceptance rate (89.9%) than Wartburg College (75.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.6% at Wartburg College vs. 11.8% at AQ.

Wartburg College vs. AQ Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wartburg College and AQ? 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).

• Wartburg College's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than Aquinas College's (52%).
• Graduates from Wartburg College earn a median of about $8,100 more per year than AQ graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,100 vs. $40,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Aquinas College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Wartburg College graduates ($26,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, AQ graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wartburg College graduates ($268 vs. $279).
• More Wartburg College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AQ students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 60%)

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.