AQ vs. AAC

Comparable Facts

Compare Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, MI with Art Academy of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Aquinas College is larger than AAC based on total student enrollment (1,157 students vs. 213 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Aquinas College is located in Grand Rapids, MI (Midsize City setting); Art Academy of Cincinnati is in Cincinnati, OH (Large City setting).
• Aquinas College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Art Academy of Cincinnati is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Aquinas College 10:1; Art Academy of Cincinnati 9:1.

AQ vs. AAC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AQ or AAC? 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 AAC ($18,018 vs. $33,491).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Art Academy of Cincinnati are 8.7% lower than at Aquinas College ($10,660 vs. $11,680).
• Art Academy of Cincinnati is 2.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than AQ (about $1,157 more per year; $41,375.00 vs. $40,218.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.9% higher at AAC than at Aquinas College (about $1,157 more per year; $41,375.00 vs. $40,218.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Aquinas College as at Art Academy of Cincinnati (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Aquinas College students is 72.3% larger than aid received by Art Academy of Cincinnati students ($33,535 vs. $19,460).

AQ vs. AAC Admissions comparison

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

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Aquinas College 910/1140.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Aquinas College 20/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AQ - Test optional; AAC - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: AAC Aug 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman AQ students have a 0.42 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at AAC (3.1).
• AQ has a higher acceptance rate (89.9%) than AAC (34.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.8% at AQ vs. 11.4% at AAC.

AQ vs. AAC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AQ and AAC? 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).

• Aquinas College's six-year graduation rate (52%) is higher than Art Academy of Cincinnati's (44%).
• Graduates from Aquinas College earn a median of about $9,600 more per year than AAC graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,000 vs. $30,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Aquinas College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than AAC graduates ($26,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, AQ graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AAC graduates ($268 vs. $279).
• More AQ graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AAC students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 55%)

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.