Academic Comparison between Thomas Aquinas and UC Merced

Thomas Aquinas College and University of California-Merced are frequently compared when students or parents prepare college admissions. Thomas Aquinas is a four-year, private (not-for-profit) school located in Santa Paula, CA and UC Merced is a four-year, public school located in Merced, CA.

Comparison at a Glance

The following list compares two colleges briefly in important perspectives. You can compare them with comprehensive information on full comparison page.

  • Thomas Aquinas is a private (not-for-profit) and UC Merced is a public school and both are four-year schools.
  • UC Merced has more expensive tuition & fees ($46,541) than Thomas Aquinas ($30,200).
  • It is harder to admit to Thomas Aquinas than UC Merced.
  • UC Merced has more students with 9,110 students while Thomas Aquinas has 566 students.
  • Thomas Aquinas has a lower number of students per faculty with 11 to 1 while UC Merced's ratio is 20 to 1.
  • UC Merced has more full-time faculties with 428 faculties while Thomas Aquinas has 50 full-time faculties.
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Comparison Table with important Academic Factors

Thomas Aquinas Collegevs.University of California-Merced
Santa Paula, CaliforniaLocationMerced, California
Four-year, Private (not-for-profit)School Typefour-year, Public
Bachelor's degreeHighest Degree OfferedDoctor's degree
Baccalaureate College - Arts & SciencesCarnegie ClassificationResearch University (high research activity)
$30,2002025 Tuition & Fees
In-State$14,653
Out-Of-State$46,541
66%% Receiving Financial Aid85%
$17,516Average Amount of Financial Aid$24,780
83.09 %Acceptance Rates90.53 %
67.70 %Yield (Enrollment Rates)7.24 %
1,310SAT Score-
30ACT Score-
84 %Graduation Rate69 %
8 %Transfer-out Rate11 %
92 %Retention Rate82 %
566Student Population9,110
50Number of Faculties428
11 to 1Students to Faculty Ratio20 to 1
-Special Learning OpportunitiesDistance Learning (Online Classes), ROTC, Study Abroad
Academic/career counseling serviceOn Campus Student ServicesAcademic/career counseling service, Employment services, On-campus daycare