AQ vs. Keystone College

Comparable Facts

Compare Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, MI with Keystone College in La Plume, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Aquinas College is larger than Keystone College based on total student enrollment (1,157 students vs. 952 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Aquinas College is located in Grand Rapids, MI (Midsize City setting); Keystone College is in La Plume, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Aquinas College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Keystone College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Aquinas College 10:1; Keystone College 12:1.

AQ vs. Keystone College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AQ or Keystone College? 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 Keystone College ($18,018 vs. $21,952).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Aquinas College are 7.3% lower than at Keystone College ($11,680 vs. $12,600).
• Aquinas College is 119.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Keystone College (about $21,918 more per year; $40,218.00 vs. $18,300.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 119.8% higher at AQ than at Keystone College (about $21,918 more per year; $40,218.00 vs. $18,300.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Aquinas College than at Keystone College (100% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Aquinas College students is 231.4% larger than aid received by Keystone College students ($33,535 vs. $10,119).

AQ vs. Keystone College Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Aquinas College (1030) is 10 points higher than at Keystone College (1020).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Aquinas College 910/1140; Keystone College 910/1130.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Aquinas College 20/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AQ - Test optional; Keystone College - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman AQ students have a 0.52 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at Keystone College (3.0).
• AQ has a higher acceptance rate (89.9%) than Keystone College (84.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.8% at AQ vs. 10.8% at Keystone College.

AQ vs. Keystone College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AQ and Keystone College? 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 Keystone College's (39%).
• Graduates from Aquinas College earn a median of about $6,600 more per year than Keystone College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,000 vs. $33,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Keystone College and AQ graduates have the same median loan debt ($26,000 vs. $26,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Keystone College and AQ graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($268 vs. $268).
• More AQ graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Keystone College students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 57%)

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.