CNA Notes Record Enrollment at Thomas Aquinas College

Thomas Aquinas College continues to defy declining college enrollment trends, with a record number of freshmen and total students this academic year. In an October 11 article featured in Angelus, the National Catholic Register, and on its own website, the Catholic News Agency features the College among a list of faithfully Catholic colleges that have seen significant increases in enrollment over the past few years.

According to author Kate Quiñones, overall college enrollment in the United States has declined by approximately 12 percent since 2010, with enrollment at private four-year schools decreasing by 54 percent between 2010 and 2021. Thomas Aquinas College, on the other hand, has seen its enrollment numbers rise, especially since opening its New England campus in 2019.

Five years later, at its 2024 Convocation ceremonies, the College welcomed its largest Freshman Class to date, achieving a record combined enrollment of 566 students. While the California campus hovers around its 400-student maximum capacity, the New England campus has seen a 13 percent increase in its student body since last year. At 194 students, it is nearly halfway to capacity with no sign of slowing down.

“These numbers are very much in keeping with the overall trend: California has been at maximum capacity for years, and the number of students on our New England campus has nearly quadrupled since launching in 2019, in keeping with our campus growth plan,” says Chris Weinkopf, executive director of college relations. “It’s clear there is a great demand for the authentically Catholic, academically rigorous education that the College offers, and we are pleased to be able to offer this opportunity to a greater number of students and their families every year.”