Campus Notes

Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula, CA, is the only Catholic college in the United States to be ranked in U.S. News & World Report‘s 2011 top-10 lists for yield–the percentage of accepted students who end up enrolling–and popularity among alumni–the percentage of graduates who give money back to their school.

In the yield category, TAC came in fifth place as 70.8 percent of accepted students choose to attend.  In the popularity among alumni category, TAC ranked tenth with 52.5 percent of alumni giving donations.

From the Thomas Aquinas College Spring 2011 newsletter:

“What these surveys indicate is very positive,” says President Michael F. McLean.  “They suggest, first, that we are communicating the mission and unique nature of the College well to prospective students — they like what they see and they want to enroll.  Moreover, their admiration for the College endures.  They arrive with very high expectations, and they leave with those expectations fulfilled, and in many cases even exceeded.”…

This high rate, says Thomas Aquinas College Director of Admissions Jon Daly, is evidence of the desirability of the College’s program of Catholic liberal education…  “That those of our applicants who are admitted overwhelmingly choose to come here shows a real commitment on their part to classical education taught under the light of faith.”…

“I often say that outside the normal course of the Catholic life, and besides marrying my wife, the best decision I ever made was to attend Thomas Aquinas College,” says Jonathan Monnereau (‘o5), president of the Alumni Association.  “The deepening of my faith, the unique education I received, the friendships established — all of these are invaluable gifts.  These sentiments are shared by many other graduates.  Recognizing the privileges and benefits of receiving such a unique and valuable formation, we alumni of the College are especially grateful to our beloved alma mater.”

Thomas Aquinas College is featured by The Cardinal Newman Society in The Newman Guide to Choosing a Catholic College for its strong Catholic identity.  Read TAC’s profile.