Aquinas College

About Aquinas College

Aquinas College traces its institutional origin to the Novitiate Normal School established by Dominican Sisters in 1886. The school evolved through several names and forms, received authority from Michigan to grant degrees in 1923, became coeducational in 1931, and began operating as a four-year college in 1940. Its current identity combines a liberal-arts college model with a Catholic and Dominican mission centered on prayer, study, service, and community. Students of different religions are welcomed, but applicants should understand that Catholic heritage is an explicit part of institutional life and the curriculum. The college operates in Grand Rapids and maintains institutional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission. Current official materials confirm undergraduate and graduate catalogs for 2026–27 and offerings at bachelor's and master's levels. Aquinas is not verified as a doctoral institution; the PhD level in the supplied database record should therefore be removed. The academic and social environment is designed around one principal campus rather than a large multicampus university system. Undergraduate education covers liberal arts, sciences, business, education, technology, health-related preparation, and creative fields. Graduate study is more limited and professionally focused. Prospective nursing students should distinguish the University of Detroit Mercy partnership from degrees taught and awarded directly under ordinary Aquinas arrangements. This structure may suit students seeking a smaller mission-centered college in a regional city, while applicants wanting a broad doctoral portfolio or a large research-university environment should look elsewhere.

Aquinas uses rolling admission for traditional undergraduate applicants and reviews completed applications holistically. The current admissions page lists November 1 as the preferred application date, June 1 as the preferred enrollment-deposit date, and July 1 as the FAFSA date, but it does not clearly label all three with a specific entry year. Applicants for 2027 entry should confirm the applicable cycle directly before relying on them. First-year applicants submit the no-fee Aquinas application or Common Application and an official high-school transcript. The college expects at least 15 acceptable academic units representing reasonable college-preparatory coverage. Standard test scores are not listed as a general first-year requirement on the reviewed page, although the partnered nursing pathway has separate GPA and SAT or ACT criteria. Transfer applicants submit the no-fee application and official records from all prior colleges; the published minimum is a 2.0 cumulative GPA in at least 12 credits at the 100 level or above. International applicants also provide a passport copy, financial documentation, official records, credential evaluation where applicable, and evidence of English proficiency unless exempted. The page lists IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 105, PTE 53, EIKEN Pre-1, and TOEFL requirements, including a revised TOEFL scale after January 21. International fall and spring final dates differ for Canadian and other international applicants. Graduate and nursing candidates should consult their program-specific procedures because undergraduate requirements do not automatically apply.

Aquinas presents undergraduate education as a liberal-arts curriculum supported by general education in knowledge, skills, values, and ethics. Its current undergraduate page organizes study across business; health sciences and nursing; computer technology; fine arts and humanities; global studies; kinesiology; mathematics and data science; physical and environmental sciences; and social sciences and education. Listed fields include accounting, biology, business administration, chemistry, communication, computer information systems, data science, education, English, environmental science, history, international studies, mathematics, music, philosophy, political science, psychology, sociology, theatre, theology, and world languages. Program availability and requirements should be checked against the 2026–27 catalog before applying. Graduate options are substantially narrower. Official pages identify the Master of Management, an accelerated master's route in education leading toward Michigan teacher certification, and a 60-semester-hour Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. These programs have distinct professional purposes, schedules, and admission expectations; applicants should not infer that every undergraduate department offers graduate study. Nursing requires special attention. The four-year bachelor's nursing program located at Aquinas is offered in partnership with Trinity Health Saint Mary's and the University of Detroit Mercy. Nursing coursework is taught by University of Detroit Mercy faculty, and participating students are University of Detroit Mercy students for tuition and financial-aid purposes. Applicants comparing programs should therefore review the nursing-specific admission and cost rules rather than applying Aquinas's standard undergraduate terms. Across other fields, students can use academic advising, peer tutoring, the Writing Center, faculty office hours, and structured study support.

Key Highlights

• Private nonprofit Catholic college founded by the Dominican Sisters of Grand Rapids in 1886
• Institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
• Current official materials support bachelor's and master's study, not PhD study
• Located on a principal campus in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Student Life & Environment

Student life combines residential programming, organizations, wellness support, service, faith-based activity, athletics, and esports. Student Affairs oversees Housing and Residence Life, Student Activities and Orientation, counseling and wellness, diversity and inclusion resources, and student conduct processes. Students can explore registered organizations, participate in Student Senate, and use orientation resources when entering the college. Academic support includes the Writing Center, peer tutors, TRIO Student Support Services, the CARE team, faculty office hours, and weekday study tables during the semester. Housing options include traditional rooms, apartments, Hruby Hall, and college-owned houses. For 2026–27, Aquinas states that traditional full-time first-, second-, and third-year students must live on campus unless they reside with a parent or legal guardian within 30 miles of campus. Students should review the residence-life rules for exemptions and current application instructions rather than assume housing is optional. Catholic and Dominican identity is visible through campus ministry, service, and the Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Chapel. Participation in the community is not limited to religious activity, and the college states that it welcomes students of different faiths. Prospective students should consider both the opportunities and the expectations of a smaller residential, mission-centered campus, including the multi-year residency policy and the separate costs of housing and meal plans.

Location & Surroundings

Aquinas College is at 1700 Fulton Street East in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Its official admissions material describes a wooded campus, while its city setting gives students access to the cultural, recreational, employment, and internship possibilities of a substantial regional center. This combination is useful for students who want a defined campus community without studying in an isolated college town. Grand Rapids is the institution's operating base and helps distinguish this Aquinas College from similarly named institutions elsewhere. Campus housing, classrooms, student services, worship space, and recreation are concentrated in the same general setting. Career and internship support is provided through the on-campus Advantage Center, which can help students connect their academic work with opportunities in the surrounding region. Students considering the location should evaluate practical details independently, including travel from home, access to internships, winter conditions, and whether they will bring a vehicle. The college publishes campus and downtown maps as well as driving information, but the reviewed sources do not establish a specific public-transportation guarantee. Applicants should use current local transportation information when planning commuting or off-campus housing.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For 2026–27, traditional undergraduate tuition is $42,840 for 12–20 credits across the academic year, plus an $800 annual required fee. Published housing charges range by room type from $3,074 to $4,919 per semester, while meal plans range from $360 to $4,067 per semester. Those figures are billed categories, not a student's net price. Books, transportation, personal expenses, and other indirect costs can increase the total, and international students are required to purchase health insurance, estimated by the college at $1,600 annually. Graduate tuition for 2026–27 is listed at $764 per credit for the Master of Management, accelerated education master's program, and Master of Arts in Counseling. Nursing is priced separately because participating students belong to the University of Detroit Mercy program; the Aquinas cost page gives estimated UDM tuition of $34,276 and states that Aquinas housing and food rates apply. Students should use the correct institution's financial-aid process for that pathway. Aquinas directs students to financial aid and a net-price calculator, but the calculator displayed during review was labeled for 2025–26. Applicants should not treat sticker price as their expected bill and should request a 2026–27 aid estimate. Career support is coordinated by the Advantage Center, which offers appointments, events, classes, internship assistance, Handshake guidance, and services for alumni. No verified salary or placement-rate claim was found in the reviewed current sources, so career value should be judged through program-specific outcomes, internship access, licensing requirements, and individual aid offers.