“Michigan's Dominican Catholic liberal arts college — 139 years of forming graduates with intellectual rigor, faith, and service.”
Aquinas College is a private Catholic liberal arts college founded in 1886 by the Dominican Sisters of Grand Rapids, located on a 107-acre campus on the east side of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Affiliated with the Dominican Order, Aquinas combines its 139-year heritage of Catholic intellectual tradition with a contemporary liberal arts and pre-professional curriculum. With approximately 1,019 undergraduates and an 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio, Aquinas offers a personally engaged academic experience grounded in Dominican values of study, prayer, community, and service. The college is ranked #79 nationally for Top Performers on Social Mobility (Liberal Arts Colleges) by US News in 2026. Aquinas's curriculum spans the natural sciences, humanities, social sciences, business, and education, with strong programs in business, biology, education, communication, and the arts. The college's signature commitment to integrating faith with daily life — through chapel services, service projects, and ethical discussions in classes — shapes the academic culture. Students benefit from a 13:1 student-faculty ratio, small classes, and a campus environment where 97% of 2024 graduates are employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation. International students must demonstrate English proficiency through TOEFL (79 iBT minimum), IELTS (6.5), or alternatives. Campus life at Aquinas centers on the Saints community and the Dominican Catholic identity. The Saints compete in NAIA athletics through the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference. Students live on campus in residence halls and apartments, with extensive opportunities for service learning, Catholic spiritual life, and engagement with the broader Grand Rapids community. Grand Rapids — Michigan's second-largest metro and a major hub for healthcare, business, design, and craft brewing — provides exceptional internship and career access. With its combination of Dominican Catholic tradition, strong career outcomes, and Grand Rapids location, Aquinas offers a distinctive Michigan small-college experience.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
National Universities
US News 2026
Social Mobility — Liberal Arts Colleges
US News 2026
Test Optional — You can submit scores if they help your case, but they're not required.
Official SourceEarly Action
Non-binding; priority scholarship review
Regular Decision
Rolling admissions for fall semester
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Tuition & Fees (All Students)
$41,991
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
Strong programs in biology, chemistry, and pre-health pathways with active undergraduate research.
Practical business education including a distinctive Sustainable Business major rooted in Catholic social teaching.
Programs in literature, history, philosophy, theology, and modern languages grounded in the Dominican intellectual tradition.
Programs in psychology, sociology, political science, and communication studies.
Teacher preparation and visual/performing arts programs with K-12 licensure pathways.
4 years
Distinctive program integrating Catholic social teaching with sustainable business practices — Aquinas was an early pioneer of this interdisciplinary approach.
4 years
Aquinas's most popular major with strong placement in Grand Rapids-area employers including healthcare systems, manufacturing, and design firms.
4 years
Comprehensive teacher preparation program with strong placement in Catholic and public schools across Michigan.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $40,218
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
