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About
Fidelity & ExcellenceThomas Aquinas College is unique among American colleges and universities, offering a faithfully Catholic education comprised entirely of the Great Books and classroom discussions.
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A Liberating Education
Truth MattersTruth, and nothing less, sets men free; and because truth is both natural and supernatural, the College’s curriculum aims at both natural and divine wisdom.
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A Catholic Life
Under the Light of FaithThe intellectual tradition and moral teachings of the Catholic Church infuse the whole life of Thomas Aquinas College, illuminating the curriculum and the community alike.
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Admission & Aid
Is TAC Right for You?Do you enjoy grappling with complex questions? Are you willing to engage in discussions about difficult concepts, with the truth as your ultimate goal?
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Students & Parents
Mind, Body & SpiritThere is always something to do at TAC — something worthwhile, something fulfilling, and something geared toward ever-greater spiritual and intellectual growth.
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Alumni & Careers
What Can You Do with a Liberal Education?Nothing speaks more to the versatility of the College’s academic program than the good that our alumni are doing throughout the Church and the world.
College Jumps 11 Spots to No. 30 on Kiplinger National List
Kiplinger, the business and personal-finance publisher, has ranked Thomas Aquinas College number 30 out of just 100 schools on its Best College Values list of liberal arts colleges for 2015, while also ranking the College number 8 on its list of the 25 Best College Values in the West/Southwest.
“All the schools in our rankings meet our definition of value — a quality education at an affordable price,” writes Sandra Block, senior associate editor for Kiplinger’s Personal Finance. “For quality, we measure admission rate, test scores of incoming freshmen, and student-to-faculty ratio,” while “on the financial side,” Kiplinger “factors in the schools’ generosity in offering financial aid.”
The College’s national ranking (30) marks a significant increase from 2014, when it placed number 41. A likely explanation for this jump is that, for the first time, Kiplinger now measures four-year graduation rates. “That change penalizes schools with a high percentage of students that graduate in five or six years, but it’s based on simple math,” says Ms. Block. “The faster your child graduates, the less money you’ll spend on his or her education.”
Nationwide, just 39.0 percent of American college students graduate in four years, compared to 73 percent of the students at Thomas Aquinas College. As a result, the total cost of education at a typical public or private college — even if its tuition rate is nominally lower than the College’s — is oftentimes higher, because students must pay for 2-4 additional semesters. (This delay also comes with the opportunity cost of missed time in the workforce after graduation.)
“Unlike other college rankings, ours are based entirely on measurable criteria, such as student-faculty ratios, admission rates, on-time graduation rate, sticker price and financial aid,” notes Kiplinger senior editor Jane Bennett Clark. “Neither our opinion nor anyone else’s affects the calculation.” As such, the Kiplinger list is a strict measure of a College’s performance relative to the actual cost of the education it offers.
“We are pleased to have been ranked so highly once again on the Kiplinger list,” says Thomas Aquinas College Director of Admissions Jon Daly. “The College has always maintained a policy that no student will be turned away on the basis of financial need, and it caps student debt at $18,000 over four years,” he adds. According to the California Student Aid Commission, Thomas Aquinas College alumni have a 0.0 percent default rate on their student loans — compared to a nationwide average default rate of 8.8 percent.
Another prominent college guide, The Princeton Review, named the College as one of only 10 schools nationwide on its Financial Aid Honor Roll for receiving its highest possible financial aid rating. “Thanks to our many generous benefactors, a Thomas Aquinas College education is affordable to all who are willing and able to undertake it,” says Mr. Daly. “For a Catholic liberal education that is as excellent as it is unique, we think this is a value that cannot be matched.”