AQ vs. CCAD

Comparable Facts

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

Aquinas College is larger than CCAD based on total student enrollment (1,157 students vs. 916 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

AQ vs. CCAD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AQ or CCAD? 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 CCAD ($18,018 vs. $31,801).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbus College of Art & Design are 2% lower than at Aquinas College ($11,450 vs. $11,680).
• Columbus College of Art & Design is 1.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than AQ (about $607 more per year; $40,825.00 vs. $40,218.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.5% higher at CCAD than at Aquinas College (about $607 more per year; $40,825.00 vs. $40,218.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Aquinas College as at Columbus College of Art & Design (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Aquinas College students is 45.8% larger than aid received by Columbus College of Art & Design students ($33,535 vs. $23,000).

AQ vs. CCAD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AQ or CCAD? 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 CCAD 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; CCAD - Test-free.
• AQ has a higher acceptance rate (89.9%) than CCAD (67.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.8% at AQ vs. 32.1% at CCAD.

AQ vs. CCAD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AQ and CCAD? 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).

• Columbus College of Art & Design's six-year graduation rate (64%) is higher than Aquinas College's (52%).
• Graduates from Aquinas College earn a median of about $1,900 more per year than CCAD graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,000 vs. $38,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Aquinas College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than CCAD graduates ($26,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, AQ graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CCAD graduates ($268 vs. $279).
• More CCAD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AQ students, three years after graduation. (63% 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.