Thomas Aquinas College
Santa Paula, California · Private Nonprofit · 83.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 54/100 · Below Average Value
Thomas Aquinas College scores 54 (Below Average Value) on the CampusROI scale, a result that reflects a structural mismatch between the school's $26,196 net price and its $30,300 median 6-year earnings -- producing an 11.9-year payback period. The college offers a single curriculum: a Great Books-based Liberal Arts and Sciences program enrolling 102 graduates per Scorecard cohort. That program earns a C+ grade with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.538. The 84.3% completion rate is a genuine strength and the best sub-score in the profile. At year four the same graduates report $49,898, indicating earnings growth, and 10-year median earnings reach $55,619 -- suggesting the liberal arts foundation eventually translates to mid-career earnings, but the near-term financial picture is weak. The repayment rate is imputed (Scorecard did not provide sufficient cohort data for 1-year or 3-year repayment figures); the available 5-year repayment rate of 92.8% is encouraging but should be interpreted cautiously. The school enrolls 566 students in Santa Paula, California.
Thomas Aquinas College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $30,200/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $30,200/yr |
| Average net price | $26,196/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $104,784 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $55,619 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $30,300 |
| Median debt at graduation | $18,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $191 |
| Estimated payback period | 11.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 84.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 566 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Thomas Aquinas College is $30,200/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $26,196/year, or roughly $104,784 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $19,761/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $29,757/year.
The median graduate leaves with $18,000 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $191 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $55,619 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.59 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $19,761 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $21,236 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $20,118 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $23,185 |
| $110,001+ | $29,757 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $19,761 per year at Thomas Aquinas College -- $79,044 over four years if completed. Against $30,300 median 6-year earnings, the payback period exceeds a decade. The aid discount relative to sticker tuition is meaningful, but the net price remains high relative to the earnings the program produces. Low-income students considering TAC should have a clear plan for post-graduation employment or graduate school funding.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $20,118 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $23,185 -- costs that produce roughly the same 11-12 year payback math as the school average. The Liberal Arts degree's career pathways -- teaching, nonprofit work, law school, government -- are diverse but rarely high-earning immediately. Middle-income families should model the earnings trajectory honestly rather than relying on the 10-year median alone.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000 or more pay $29,757 per year at TAC -- close to sticker. Four-year all-in cost approaches $119,000. For high-income families who value the Great Books model and plan to fund graduate education separately, this is a deliberate choice with understood trade-offs. For families expecting the undergraduate degree to produce strong near-term financial returns, the numbers do not support that expectation.
Earnings by Major
Top 1 most popular majors at Thomas Aquinas College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $49,898 | C+ |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Liberal Arts and Sciences is the only program Thomas Aquinas College offers, with 102 graduates in the Scorecard cohort. Year-one earnings of $33,432 and year-four earnings of $49,898 produce a C+ ROI grade with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.538. Median debt of $18,000 is moderate but significant against $33k starting earnings. The 10-year institutional median of $55,619 suggests the credential supports mid-career growth. Students who intend to pursue graduate or professional school after TAC should factor in additional training costs; the Scorecard earnings picture captures those in the workforce, not those still in graduate programs.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | N/A | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | N/A | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 92.8% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 87.8% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 83.1% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 580-670 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 640-730 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 28-33 |
| Enrollment | 566 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 26.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,628 |
At 83.1% admission, Thomas Aquinas College accepts the large majority of applicants. The selective-seeming SAT/ACT ranges (ACT 28-33) reflect the self-selection of applicants attracted to an integrated Great Books curriculum, not admission gatekeeping. The school's single-program model means every admitted student follows the same course of study; the admission process screens for intellectual fit rather than disciplinary concentration.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Scorecard peers include Bryan College (Dayton) and Northwest University, institutions with similar small enrollments and faith-integrated missions. Thomas Aquinas College's 54 ROI score is at the lower end of the below-average tier, primarily because the single Liberal Arts program produces modest near-term earnings relative to net price. Among liberal arts colleges nationally, TAC occupies an unusual niche: a single-track Socratic curriculum with no majors, no electives, and a distinctive intellectual identity. The completion rate (84.3%) is better than most schools in this peer tier, but earnings do not compensate for the cost structure.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Aquinas College (this school) | 54 | $26,196 | $55,619 |
| Azusa Pacific University | 71 | $22,212 | $66,677 |
| Northwest University | 60 | $22,288 | $54,914 |
| Art Center College of Design | 56 | $48,661 | $71,958 |
| Bryan College-Dayton | 54 | $20,614 | $54,434 |
| Pillar College | 47 | $8,470 | $45,577 |
Who Thrives Here
Thomas Aquinas College admits 83.1% of applicants and enrolls 566 students -- one of the smallest campuses in the country. SAT mid-ranges are 580-670 Math and 640-730 Reading; ACT composite 28-33, skewing toward strong verbal and humanities aptitude, consistent with the Great Books curriculum. Pell grant rate of 26.7% indicates a meaningful share of lower-income students. Students who choose TAC are self-selecting for a specific intellectual formation, not a vocational or professional credential. The financial trade-off is real: near-term earnings are below the national median, and the payback period exceeds a decade at average net price.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The financial case for Thomas Aquinas College is mixed. At $26,196 per year net cost, graduates earn a median of $55,619 ten years after entry - a payback period of 11.9 years. That's below the average return for four-year institutions, and prospective students should carefully consider whether the investment aligns with their financial goals.
Key strengths include a 84.3% graduation rate. However, the data also shows weak earnings relative to cost.
Median debt of $18,000 against $55,619 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.