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About
Fidelity & ExcellenceThomas Aquinas College is unique among American colleges and universities, offering a faithfully Catholic education comprised entirely of the Great Books and classroom discussions.
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A Liberating Education
Truth MattersTruth, and nothing less, sets men free; and because truth is both natural and supernatural, the College’s curriculum aims at both natural and divine wisdom.
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A Catholic Life
Under the Light of FaithThe intellectual tradition and moral teachings of the Catholic Church infuse the whole life of Thomas Aquinas College, illuminating the curriculum and the community alike.
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Admission & Aid
Is TAC Right for You?Do you enjoy grappling with complex questions? Are you willing to engage in discussions about difficult concepts, with the truth as your ultimate goal?
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Students & Parents
Mind, Body & SpiritThere is always something to do at TAC — something worthwhile, something fulfilling, and something geared toward ever-greater spiritual and intellectual growth.
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Alumni & Careers
What Can You Do with a Liberal Education?Nothing speaks more to the versatility of the College’s academic program than the good that our alumni are doing throughout the Church and the world.
Thomas Aquinas College one of “Best Colleges” in New USA Today Rankings
September 14, 2015
10,000 Ojai Road
Santa Paula CA 93060
Contact: Anne Forsyth, Director of College Relations
(805) 525-4417
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thomas Aquinas College one of “Best Colleges” in New USA Today Rankings
SANTA PAULA, CA—September 14—USA Today, in collaboration with the statistics website College Factual, has named Thomas Aquinas College one of the Best Nationwide Colleges, according to a new ranking of colleges. The results were published in USA Today and online at USA Today College.
Thomas Aquinas College was ranked No. 12 of 1,223 schools on the list of Best Colleges for the Money nationwide. Commenting on this ranking, USA Today and College Factual say, “Thomas Aquinas College's emphasis on high quality education, combined with its overall low net price, delivers students a great value for the money.” The 4-year, Catholic college also ranked No. 20 out of 82 schools on the list of Best California Colleges. Overall, Thomas Aquinas College ranked in the top 15% of the institutions reviewed by USA Today and College Factual.
The rankings also highlight the 0.0% student loan default rate among Thomas Aquinas College alumni (the national average is 13.7%), and an average total debt after four years that is less than half the national average of nearly $35,000. The college has a policy of capping the amount students borrow at $18,000 in an effort to make repayment more manageable for its alumni.
USA Today and College Factual also cite the school’s student-faculty ratio of 11:1 (compared to the national average of 15:1), and the school’s high retention rate of 84% (compared to the national average of 77%).
Jon Daly, Director of Admissions, commented on the new rankings, saying, “It is heartening to see the College recognized on a national level both for keeping costs low and for providing an outstanding education.”
Says Thomas Aquinas College president Michael F. McLean, “We are happy to see these new rankings offered by USA Today, and it is interesting to see how well they compare with others of their kind. I believe these rankings are further evidence that prospective students and their parents can be confident that Thomas Aquinas College provides an excellent academic program at a very affordable price.”
Visit the College Factual website to view a database of colleges and their rankings, both by state and nationally, and to explore in depth the many factors that contribute to the rankings. Further information can be found at USA Today College.
About Thomas Aquinas College
Thomas Aquinas College has developed a solid reputation for academic excellence in the United States and abroad. At Thomas Aquinas College, there are no majors, no minors, or electives because all students acquire a broad and fully integrated liberal education. The College offers one 4-year, classical curriculum that spans the major arts and sciences. Instead of reading textbooks, students read the original works of the greatest thinkers in Western civilization — the Great Books — in all the major disciplines: mathematics, natural science, literature, philosophy, and theology. Rather than listening to lectures, they engage in rigorous Socratic discussions about these works in classes of 15-18 students. The academic life of the college is conducted under the light of the Catholic faith and flourishes within a close-knit community, supported by a vibrant spiritual life. Genuinely committed to upholding civic virtue and leading lives dedicated to the good of others, Thomas Aquinas College graduates enter a wide array of fields where they are a powerful force for good in the Church and in the culture. Well-versed in rational discourse, they become leaders in education, law, medicine, journalism, public policy, military service, and business. In addition, a steady 10% of alumni go on to the priesthood or religious life.