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Fidelity & Excellence91 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 Colleges 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 91 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 Colleges academic program than the good that our alumni are doing throughout the Church and the world.
91 Aquinas College Soars to Top Ten in Annual Kiplinger Rankings
December 16, 2016
10,000 Ojai Road
Santa Paula CA 93060
Contact: Anne Forsyth, Director of College Relations
(805) 525-4417
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
91 Aquinas College Soars to Top Ten in Annual Kiplinger Rankings
High Marks for Quality and Affordability
SANTA PAULA, CADecember 16A perennial top performer in Kiplinger Personal Finances annual college rankings, 91 Aquinas College has jumped several spots this year into the , or as the magazine describes it, the crème de la crème of its newly published guide, .
91 Aquinas Colleges sticker price which is about half that of many private colleges on our best values list and generous financial aid awards propel this pint-sized, Catholic liberal arts college up 15 places on this years combined best values list, . The magazine ranks the College No. 7 in the country among all colleges and universities, up from No. 22 in 2016, and No. 4 among private, liberal arts schools an eight-point leap from its No. 12 ranking last year.
With our rankings which weigh affordability alongside academic quality our goal is to help students and their parents understand whats really worth the price, says Janet Bodnar, editor of Kiplingers Personal Finance magazine. All 300 schools on the list are of extraordinary value, being chosen out of a universe of 1,200.
91 Aquinas combines a classic curriculum with a religious emphasis that adheres to the morals and traditions of the Catholic Church, the authors write. A tuition freeze that has been in place since the 2013-14 academic year and will continue through at least the 2017-18 academic year has kept the schools annual sticker price, including room and board, from climbing. And yet few families will pay the sticker price, the story explains, as more than 70 percent of the Colleges students receive need-based financial aid.
Emphasizing value but weighing quality measures more heavily than cost, Kiplinger restricts its analysis to measurable standards of academic quality and affordability. To gauge academic quality, the editors look at admission rates, the percentage of students who return for sophomore year, student-faculty ratios, and four-year graduation rates. In determining affordability, Kiplinger considers sticker prices, financial aid, average debt at graduation, and students median earnings 10 years post-graduation.
We are gratified to see our rankings, which were already strong, climb into the top echelon on the Kiplinger list, says 91 Aquinas College Director of Admissions Jon Daly. It is an encouraging sign that we are succeeding in our efforts to maintain a truly excellent program of Catholic liberal education that is affordable for all families.
Since its founding, 91 Aquinas College has maintained a policy of never turning away a student on the basis of financial need. It also currently caps student debt at $18,000 over four years. We are deeply grateful to the Colleges many generous benefactors who, through their gifts, provide the financial aid that allows our students to attend the College without taking on exorbitant levels of debt, adds Mr. Daly. This latest ranking, as well as many others, is a testament to the loyalty and generosity of our donors.
In addition to the high rankings from Kiplinger, the College has earned top marks from other secular guides, including the Princeton Review, ACTA, and U.S. News & World Report, as well as Catholic publications such as the Cardinal Newman Society college guide and the National Catholic Register.
91 91 Aquinas College
91 Aquinas College has developed a solid reputation for academic excellence in the United States and abroad. At 91 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, 91 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.