AQ vs. RMC

Deciding between Aquinas College and Rocky Mountain College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Aquinas College
Rocky Mountain College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • AQ Grand Rapids, MI
  • RMC Billings, MT
  • Setting
  • AQ Midsize City
  • RMC Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • AQ 1,157
  • RMC 1,032
  • Type
  • AQ Private 4 Year
  • RMC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AQ #753
  • RMC #709
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AQ Roman Catholic
  • RMC United Church of Christ
  • Status
  • AQ Non-profit
  • RMC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AQ
  • RMC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AQ $40,218
  • RMC $35,582
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AQ $40,218
  • RMC $35,582
  • Room & Board
  • AQ $11,680
  • RMC $10,152
  • Average Net Price
  • AQ $18,018
  • RMC $20,791
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AQ $33,535
  • RMC $25,508
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AQ 100%
  • RMC 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AQ 2,193
  • RMC 1,405
  • Admitted
  • AQ 1,971
  • RMC 978
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AQ 89.9%
  • RMC 69.6%
  • Enrolled
  • AQ 11.8%
  • RMC 28.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AQ 1030
  • RMC 1010
  • Typical ACT score
  • AQ 23
  • RMC 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • AQ 3.52
  • RMC 3.42
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AQ A-
  • RMC B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • AQ Easy
  • RMC Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • AQ
  • RMC Low
  • ACT Range
  • AQ 20/26
  • RMC 18/24
  • SAT Range
  • AQ 910/1140
  • RMC 893/1133
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AQ Test optional
  • RMC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • AQ
  • RMC

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AQ 10:1
  • RMC 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AQ
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Biology (6%)
  • RMC
    • Business (17%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Transportation and Materials Moving (11%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • AQ 52%
  • RMC 50%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • AQ $40,000
  • RMC $46,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • AQ 60%
  • RMC 66%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • AQ $26,000
  • RMC $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • AQ $268
  • RMC $268

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AQ 47%
  • RMC 50%
  • % Women
  • AQ 53%
  • RMC 50%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AQ Very Low
  • RMC Low
  • HBCU
  • AQ No
  • RMC No
  • % White
  • AQ 82%
  • RMC 78%
  • % Asian
  • AQ 1%
  • RMC 1%
  • % Black
  • AQ 3%
  • RMC 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • AQ 6%
  • RMC 6%
  • % Native American
  • AQ 0%
  • RMC 2%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AQ 0%
  • RMC 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AQ 3%
  • RMC 4%
  • % International
  • AQ 1%
  • RMC 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AQ 3%
  • RMC 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AQ 87%
  • RMC 50%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AQ 10%
  • RMC 43%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • AQ Yes
  • RMC Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • AQ No
  • RMC No
  • Meal Plan
  • AQ Yes
  • RMC Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • AQ Yes
  • RMC No
  • Daycare Facility
  • AQ No
  • RMC Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, MI with Rocky Mountain College in Billings, MT on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Aquinas College is larger than RMC based on total student enrollment (1,157 students vs. 1,032 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Aquinas College is located in Grand Rapids, MI (Midsize City setting); Rocky Mountain College is in Billings, MT (Midsize City setting).
  • Aquinas College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rocky Mountain College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Aquinas College 10:1; Rocky Mountain College 14:1.

AQ vs. RMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AQ or RMC? 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 RMC ($18,018 vs. $20,791).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rocky Mountain College are 13.1% lower than at Aquinas College ($10,152 vs. $11,680).
  • Aquinas College is 13% more expensive for in-state tuition than RMC (about $4,636 more per year; $40,218.00 vs. $35,582.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 13% higher at AQ than at Rocky Mountain College (about $4,636 more per year; $40,218.00 vs. $35,582.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Aquinas College as at Rocky Mountain College (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Aquinas College students is 31.5% larger than aid received by Rocky Mountain College students ($33,535 vs. $25,508).

AQ vs. RMC Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Aquinas College (1030) is 20 points higher than at RMC (1010).
  • Incoming AQ students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 21 at RMC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Aquinas College 910/1140; Rocky Mountain College 893/1133.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Aquinas College 20/26; Rocky Mountain College 18/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AQ - Test optional; RMC - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman AQ students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at RMC (3.42).
  • AQ has a higher acceptance rate (89.9%) than RMC (69.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.8% at AQ vs. 28.6% at RMC.

AQ vs. RMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AQ and RMC? 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 Rocky Mountain College's (50%).
  • Graduates from Rocky Mountain College earn a median of about $6,800 more per year than AQ graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,800 vs. $40,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rocky Mountain College and AQ graduates have the same median loan debt ($26,000 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Rocky Mountain College and AQ graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($268 vs. $268).
  • More RMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AQ students, three years after graduation. (66% 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.