AQ vs. Parkside

Comparable Facts

Compare Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, MI with University of Wisconsin Parkside in Kenosha, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Wisconsin Parkside is larger than AQ based on total student enrollment (3,925 students vs. 1,157 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Aquinas College is located in Grand Rapids, MI (Midsize City setting); University of Wisconsin Parkside is in Kenosha, WI (Midsize Suburban setting).
• Aquinas College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Wisconsin Parkside is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Aquinas College 10:1; University of Wisconsin Parkside 20:1.

AQ vs. Parkside Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AQ or Parkside? 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 University of Wisconsin Parkside than AQ ($10,234 vs. $18,018).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin Parkside are 25.1% lower than at Aquinas College ($8,750 vs. $11,680).
• Aquinas College is 386.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Parkside (about $31,948 more per year; $40,218.00 vs. $8,270.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 130.8% higher at AQ than at University of Wisconsin Parkside (about $22,789 more per year; $40,218.00 vs. $17,429.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Aquinas College than at University of Wisconsin Parkside (100% vs. 56%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Aquinas College students is 341.4% larger than aid received by University of Wisconsin Parkside students ($33,535 vs. $7,598).

AQ vs. Parkside Admissions comparison

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

• Incoming AQ students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 20 at Parkside).
• 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; University of Wisconsin Parkside 17/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AQ - Test optional; Parkside - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman AQ students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at Parkside (3.31).
• AQ has a higher acceptance rate (89.9%) than Parkside (75.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.8% at AQ vs. 26.1% at Parkside.

AQ vs. Parkside Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AQ and Parkside? 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 University of Wisconsin Parkside's (28%).
• Graduates from University of Wisconsin Parkside earn a median of about $1,000 more per year than AQ graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,000 vs. $40,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Wisconsin Parkside graduates have a $3,035 lower median loan debt than AQ graduates ($22,965 vs. $26,000).
• Among borrowers, Parkside graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AQ graduates ($237 vs. $268).
• More AQ graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Parkside students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 54%)

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.