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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 Ranked Highly by U.S. News for Academics and Value
May 3, 2017
10,000 Ojai Road
Santa Paula CA 93060
Contact: Anne Forsyth, Director of College Relations
(805) 525-4417
Hi-Res photos
Only Catholic National Liberal Arts School in
Top 40 for “Least Debt”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
SANTA PAULA, CA—September 12—In the newly released 2018 edition of its Best Colleges guide, U.S. News & World Report places Thomas Aquinas College in the top third of the top tier of all American liberal arts colleges, one of only two Catholic colleges to rank so highly. The guide also praises the college’s financial aid program, listing the school as No. 30 among the Top 60 national liberal arts colleges on its Best Values list and No. 5 among national liberal arts colleges for “Least Debt” at graduation, the only Catholic national liberal arts school in the United States to make that list.
In discussing their rankings, U.S. News explains that they are based on 15 factors “related to academic excellence, such as graduation rates and faculty resources.” The magazine’s rating formula “puts an emphasis on outcomes,” with “measures of graduation and retention being the most heavily weighted factors.”
Moreover, in naming colleges to its “Best Values” list, U.S. News considers “only universities and colleges that finished in the top half of their ranking categories, because “the best values are found among colleges that are above average academically.”
The guide additionally ranks Thomas Aquinas College first in the country for the highest proportion of classes under 20 students (100 percent) and the lowest proportion of classes with more than 50 students (0 percent).
Says Thomas Aquinas College Director of Admissions Jon Daly, “Rankings tell part of the story, and we are certainly pleased with these from U.S. News. They point not only to the strength of our academic program — in terms of quality and class size — but also, importantly, to the reasonable tuition, room & board costs, and the generosity of our need-based financial aid program. This is important to both students and parents who need to be sure the investment they make in a college education is worthwhile. We are pleased to see that our college compares so favorably on these point in the U.S. News rankings.”
Thomas Aquinas College has received high marks in the newest editions of all the top annual college guides, both Catholic and secular, including The Princeton Review, WhatWillTheyLearn.com, Kiplinger, and the National Catholic Register.
“Taken together with this report form U.S. News, these reviews offer parents and prospective students a fairly good idea of the strength of our unique program,” says Mr. Daly. “But a visit to the campus is strongly recommended to observe classes firsthand and to experience the joy our students take in pursuing their studies in and outside of class.”
Adds President Michael F. McLean, “This year’s review from U.S. News, and the many others that rank Thomas Aquinas College highly, are strong indicators that an institution of higher learning can provide an excellent academic program at a competitive price while being fully faithful to the teachings of the Catholic Church.”
About Thomas Aquinas College
A four-year, co-educational institution, Thomas Aquinas College has developed over the past 46 years a solid reputation for academic excellence in the United States and abroad and is highly ranked by organizations such as The Princeton Review, U. S. News, and Kiplinger. At Thomas Aquinas College all students acquire a broad and fully integrated liberal education. The College offers one, four-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. 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. Graduates consistently excel in the many world-class institutions at which they pursue graduate degrees in fields such as law, medicine, business, theology and education. They have distinguished themselves serving as lawyers, doctors, business owners, priests, military service men and women, educators, journalists and college presidents. For additional information, visit www.thomasaquinas.edu.