Understanding Aquinas College Tuition and Costs

Choosing a college is a huge decision, and understanding the costs is a critical first step. This article provides a comprehensive overview of Aquinas College's tuition, fees, financial aid options, and other expenses to help you make an informed decision.

The Cost of Attendance: Sticker Price vs. Total Cost

Knowing what a school costs is Step #1 in managing college costs. The "Cost of Attendance" is the total amount of money the average student has to pay, WITHOUT any financial aid, to attend a particular school. Think of it as a school’s sticker price.Aquinas College's tuition is $41,992. Compared with the national average cost of tuition of $50,159, Aquinas College is cheaper. These figures include both tuition and fees, also referred to as the sticker price. Fees differ by institution and may fund library services, student gym facilities, student centers, technology resources and campus health centers.

However, the sticker price isn't the only factor to consider. As you’re comparing costs of different institutions, also consider the total cost and the net price. The total cost is the sticker price, plus the cost of food and housing, books and supplies, and transportation and personal expenses. At Aquinas College, the total cost is $55,262.

Here's a breakdown of other costs you might encounter:

Books and Supplies: \$1,166 per year
Personal Expenses: \$1,096 per year
Transportation: \$1,135 per year

Understanding Net Price

The Net Price is the total cost minus the total aid given. In other words, this is the price you have to pay to the school out of pocket. The average net price at Aquinas College is $19,890 per year. Your net price is a college’s cost of attendance minus the grants and scholarships you receive. The net price you pay for a particular college is specific to you because it’s based on your personal circumstances and the college’s financial aid policies.

Read also: Aquinas' Prayers Explained

To get the most accurate estimate of your net price, use the college’s Net Price calculator.

Financial Aid at Aquinas College

Financial aid can include grants, loans, scholarships and work-study jobs. Financial aid packages vary depending on your financial need. Most colleges determine financial need based on your FAFSA.

Key Financial Aid Statistics:

Students Receiving Financial Aid: 69.24%
Freshmen With Need and Received Financial Aid: 100%
Average Aid Package Awarded: \$38,725

Types of Financial Aid:

Need-Based Scholarships and Grants: Scholarships and grants don’t need to be paid back. The average need-based scholarship or grant awarded to first-year students at Aquinas College was $35,782.
Need-Based Loans: Loans must be paid back. The average need-based loan amount awarded is $3,163.
Non-Need-Based Aid: \$205,378
Need-Based Self-Help Aid: Includes federal loans and work-study. The average need-based self-help aid awarded to first-year students was $2,706.
Merit-Based Aid: Also called non-need-based aid, is awarded for a specific talent or academic achievement. The average non-need-based scholarship or grant awarded to first-year students at Aquinas College - excluding any athletic scholarships, if applicable - was $22,561.

Aquinas College met 84% of its students’ financial aid need.

Important Financial Aid Dates:

Application Due: Not available. The last day to apply for financial aid or turn in related paperwork.
Priority Application Due: Not available. Applications received prior to this date will be given the strongest consideration. Still apply for financial aid if you don’t make this due date.
Notification Date: Not available. When students receive a letter with the amount and types of aid the college is offering.
Response Due: Not available. The deadline for students to respond to the college’s aid offer.

Student Loan Debt at Aquinas College

How much student loan debt you accumulate can affect your financial life long after college ends. Ideally, your total student loan debt should fall below your anticipated starting salary once you graduate.

Median Federal Loan Debt: \$23,000
Median Monthly Federal Loan Payment: \$244 (assuming a 10-year repayment plan at 5.05% interest)
Students with Private Loans: 19%
Average Private Loan Debt: \$35,490
Average Total Indebtedness of 2024 Graduating Class: \$29,684
Graduating students who have borrowed (any loan type, 2024): 61%

Scholarships: Funding You Don't Have to Pay Back

Scholarships are a type of funding that you don’t need to pay back. Need-based scholarships take a student’s financial status into account. Merit-based scholarships are awarded to students for academic or athletic achievement. You might also qualify for a scholarship based on your community service involvement, unique hobbies or traits, your personal background, or a parent’s employer or military affiliation.

Some students receive enough in scholarship money to cover their tuition and living expenses.

Work-Study and Campus Jobs

Working while in school can help lessen the burden of your student loans. Schools offer work-study programs to those who qualify and campus jobs to students looking to earn money in their free time. Some institutions match students with work-study positions, while others require them apply to the positions, like they would for any other job.

Begin your job search by checking whether your college has in-person or online job boards.

Estimating Your Expected Family Contribution (EFC)

The US government has come up with a standardized way to calculate how much a typical family can afford to pay without help. As an example, a family that brings home $80,000 in income before taxes, with no assets and no other children in college, has an EFC of around $7,000. Colleges use this number as a guideline to decide how much aid to give you, but it's just a guideline.

Assessing the Value of an Aquinas College Education

To determine the value of Aquinas, we're going to rely on reputable ranking lists. Aquinas gets this verdict primarily on the school's reputation. On college ranking lists, it often ranks between #100 and 200, putting it roughly in the top 20% of schools. On value rankings lists, Aquinas doesn't often appear. This usually means that, compared to other schools of similar reputation, {[s.get_name}} has a higher net price and may offer less competitive financial aid.

Overall, we still believe Aquinas College (MI) is a good value school that is worth the cost. Since Aquinas has a fairly strong reputation, you'll have to submit a solid application to get in.

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