Aquinas Institute of Theology

About Aquinas Institute of Theology

Founded in 1925 as a Dominican house of studies in River Forest, Illinois, Aquinas developed into a graduate theological institution and later established itself in St. Louis. Its present identity is explicitly Catholic and Dominican, with study, prayer, community, and preaching serving as organizing principles. The school educates both lay and religious students and is sponsored within the Dominican tradition. Aquinas is a specialized institution rather than a broad research university. The Association of Theological Schools reported 107 students, or 70.6 full-time-equivalent students, and eight full-time faculty members for Fall 2025. Those figures indicate a small graduate environment, although prospective students should not infer a particular class size from them. ATS lists the institution as accredited in good standing and approves its Master of Divinity, Master of Arts, Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies, Master of Arts in Practical Theology, and Doctor of Ministry degrees, including comprehensive distance-education approval. The school remained visibly active for the 2026–2027 cycle: its official site published 2026–2027 tuition, Fall 2026 calendar activity, current application information, and a 2026 Doctor of Ministry cohort. Aquinas also maintains partnerships with Saint Louis University that expand access to academic and student services. The resulting experience is best suited to students intentionally seeking graduate theological, ministerial, or preaching formation within a Catholic Dominican setting, not those looking for a conventional undergraduate campus or a wide selection of secular disciplines.

Admissions requirements vary by program. For the Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Theology, and Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies, the official application page lists an accredited bachelor's degree and a 3.0 cumulative GPA, along with an application, fee, transcripts, personal statement, reflection paper, interview, three references, and résumé or curriculum vitae. Aquinas says applications are reviewed holistically and that the listed GPA is not used as an absolute cutoff. A theology major is not required, although students lacking expected prior theology or philosophy study may need additional coursework. For Fall entry to the three core master's programs, the currently published schedule lists January 28 for Aquinas Scholars consideration, March 15 as the scholarship deadline, and August 1 as the final deadline. Other degrees and certificates have different schedules. The Doctor of Ministry requires an MDiv or evaluated equivalent, three years of preaching experience, and program-specific materials; the published April 20, 2026 deadline applied to the 2026 cohort and should not be reused for a later cohort without confirmation. Completed applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with the school stating that decisions typically arrive within two weeks. International and other non-native English-speaking applicants face additional requirements. For master's, certificate, and non-degree study, Aquinas lists minimum scores of 88 on the TOEFL, including at least 22 in every section, or 7.0 on the academic IELTS, subject to its stated waiver rules. Applicants educated outside the United States need a credential evaluation. Those requiring F-1 status must submit the international supplement and financial documentation before Aquinas can issue an I-20. International applicants must also secure their own housing.

Aquinas offers graduate degrees in theology and ministry. Its principal residential programs are the Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Theology, and Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies. Additional options listed by the institution include a Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies focused on Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, a Master of Arts in Practical Theology specializing in Health Care Mission, and dual-degree arrangements with Saint Louis University. Graduate certificates are also available, but certificates are distinct from master's or doctoral degrees. The programs are differentiated by purpose. The Master of Arts in Theology emphasizes engagement with Catholic theological tradition and preparation for teaching, writing, research, or service. The pastoral-studies and divinity curricula connect theology with ministerial practice; the institution's published outcomes identify supervised ministry among the assessed work in pastoral formation. Aquinas describes its broader academic model as integrating study, pastoral preparation, practical field education, ministry mentoring, and spiritual formation. The Doctor of Ministry in Preaching is a 30-credit online-hybrid professional doctorate intended for experienced preachers in active ministry. Students progress as a cohort through online coursework, attend a one-week St. Louis intensive each semester during the scheduled coursework period, and complete a ministry-based thesis project. The published format allows four to six years for completion. With an adviser's permission, master's students may take electives at Saint Louis University and several area seminaries. This can broaden course choice, but applicants should verify which outside courses fit their particular curriculum and residency requirements before relying on cross-registration.

Key Highlights

• Catholic Dominican graduate school founded in 1925
• Accredited in good standing by the Association of Theological Schools
• ATS reported 107 students and eight full-time faculty members for Fall 2025
• Specialized in theology, ministry, pastoral formation, and preaching

Student Life & Environment

Student life reflects Aquinas's identity as a small graduate theological school. The Aquinas Chapel hosts communal worship, while a separate Blessed Sacrament Chapel supports individual prayer and spiritual direction. The official spirituality page states that faculty, staff, and students gather for a weekly Tuesday Eucharist, with additional prayer opportunities available through nearby religious communities. Participation sits within a Catholic Dominican environment that also welcomes lay and religious students. A Student Life Council plans activities spanning liturgy, recreation, academic support, and professional development. Examples published by the school include retreats, seasonal religious observances, study days, sporting outings, and résumé or networking activities. These are graduate-community activities rather than the extensive club, residence-hall, and athletics system of a comprehensive university. Aquinas students can use several resources through its relationship with neighboring Saint Louis University. The institution lists access to library collections, writing support, counseling, health services, recreation facilities, disability-related support, and career assistance. Aquinas also maintains its own chapel, quiet-study library, and commons. It does not offer general on-campus housing. For 2026–2027, a separate Dominican residential initiative, the Praedicare Lay Community, was announced for up to five eligible full-time lay students in the three core master's programs; applicants should treat that as a limited program requiring separate interest and eligibility, not guaranteed student housing.

Location & Surroundings

Aquinas is located at 23 South Spring Avenue in Midtown St. Louis, immediately adjacent to Saint Louis University. The setting places students near a large Jesuit university while Aquinas remains a separate, specialized theological institution. This proximity is practically important because several academic and student services are provided through the relationship with SLU. Midtown is near the Central West End, Grand Center Arts District, and Forest Park. The school's location page identifies nearby food, grocery, entertainment, arts, and cultural destinations. Aquinas itself does not operate intercollegiate athletics, though professional sports and major cultural venues are available elsewhere in the city. Housing requires advance planning. Aquinas states that it does not provide general on-campus housing and directs students toward rental options in nearby walkable neighborhoods. International students are expressly responsible for securing their own housing. A small 2026–2027 residential community for up to five qualifying lay master's students is located roughly a mile and a half from Aquinas, so it should not be interpreted as a conventional residence hall or a broadly available housing guarantee.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For 2026–2027, Aquinas publishes regular tuition of $925 per credit hour and doctoral tuition of $950 per credit hour. The student service fee is $350 per semester, while payment plans carry a $50 semester fee. Other charges can apply for applications, transfer credit, continuation, graduation, late registration, or program-specific requirements. Students must also budget for books, living expenses, transportation, and housing; Aquinas does not publish a single universal living-cost figure on its tuition page. Financial support includes merit- and need-based institutional awards, board grants, and federal aid for eligible students. The Aquinas Scholars Program offers full-tuition scholarships to selected full-time students in the Master of Arts in Theology, Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies, and Master of Divinity programs. Partial merit- and need-based scholarships are also described. The financial-aid page lists January 28 as the Fall priority deadline and August 1 as the Fall final deadline for need-based aid, with October 15 and December 1 serving the corresponding Spring deadlines. Students should confirm award terms, annual availability, and borrowing eligibility directly with the school. Career preparation is oriented toward ministry, theology, education, and service rather than a broad corporate recruiting market. Aquinas identifies alumni work in areas such as chaplaincy, parish and youth ministry, theological education, academic administration, nonprofit leadership, and social-justice organizations. Through Saint Louis University resources, current students can obtain résumé and interviewing assistance for employment, ministry placements, Clinical Pastoral Education, or further study. The available sources do not provide current placement rates, earnings, or employer-level outcomes, so applicants should ask the institution for program-specific graduate results and consider likely compensation alongside total borrowing.