Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) vs Aquinas College

When it comes to higher education in Grand Rapids, Michigan, two prominent institutions stand out: Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) and Aquinas College. While both offer excellent educational opportunities, they differ in several key aspects. GRCC, a public community college, boasts an open admissions policy, making it accessible to a wide range of students. Aquinas College, on the other hand, is a private, Catholic liberal arts college with a more selective admissions process. GRCC offers a diverse range of associate degrees and certificates, while Aquinas College focuses on bachelor's degrees in various fields. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to delve into the specifics of acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, graduation rates, and more, helping you make an informed decision about which institution aligns best with your academic goals and preferences.
Aquinas College logo

Aquinas College

Grand Rapids Community College logo

Grand Rapids Community College

Overview

Location Grand Rapids, Michigan Grand Rapids, Michigan
Campus setting City: Midsize City: Midsize
College type 4 year 2 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate
Students retention rate 85.0% 57.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation Catholic

Admission

Acceptance rate 89.0% Open Admission
Application fees
SAT range 1000 - 1170 N/A
ACT range 20 - 25 N/A
Students submitting SAT score 45.0%
Students submitting ACT score 7.0%
Total number of applicants 1,432
Total number of admissions given out 1,275
Admitted students who chose to enroll 218
Yield rate 17.1%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A Not required
High school GPA Required N/A
Recommendation letters Required N/A
High school transcript Not required N/A
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required N/A

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $46,096
In state: $21,121

Out of state: $24,841
Average net price $19,447 $9,168
Tuition $35,384
In state: $7,410

Out of state: $11,130
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $4,764

Meal plan: $5,500
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

100.0%
Average amount $27,496
54.0%
Average amount $5,801
Students receiving federal student loan 55.0%
Average amount $5,303
16.0%
Average amount $3,541
Students taking out private loans 9.0%
Average amount $14,628
1.0%
Average amount $8,106

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 1,238
Men 43.1% Women 56.9%
12,642
Men 42.3% Women 57.7%
Graduate students 124
Men 29.8% Women 70.2%
N/A
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Low
Out-of-state students 11.8% N/A
International students 4.3% N/A
Campus local/setting City: Midsize City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity 922 N/A
First year students are required to live on campus? No N/A
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Michigan Illinois Indiana Ohio Texas N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Education
  • Liberal Arts
  • Health Professions
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Liberal Arts
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Engineering Technologies
  • Law Enforcement and Firefighting
Students to faculty ratio 10:1 18:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 60.3% 19.7%
Dropout rate 8.4% 36.2%
Transferred out 31.2% 19.4%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,253
  • Year 2: $54,869
  • Year 3: $66,880
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $40,400
  • Year 2: $40,821
  • Year 3: $47,279
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $28,818
  • Year 2: $33,993
  • Year 3: $43,207
Business/Corporate Communications (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,669
  • Year 2: $41,193
  • Year 3: $42,839
Sustainability Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $38,871
  • Year 3: $41,665
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $29,345
  • Year 2: $33,281
  • Year 3: $41,265
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $28,324
  • Year 2: $28,236
  • Year 3: $37,288
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $26,007
  • Year 3: $27,047
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $34,516
  • Year 2: $33,281
  • Year 3: N/A
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $30,459
  • Year 2: $25,596
  • Year 3: N/A
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
  • Year 1: $51,135
  • Year 2: $53,358
  • Year 3: $61,862
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,133
  • Year 2: $54,732
  • Year 3: $57,616
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $35,723
  • Year 2: $41,025
  • Year 3: $44,954
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
  • Year 1: $31,348
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $41,400
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
  • Year 1: $41,438
  • Year 2: $37,671
  • Year 3: $41,393
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $43,232
  • Year 2: $39,369
  • Year 3: $39,841
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $31,941
  • Year 3: $36,311
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $33,965
  • Year 2: $33,779
  • Year 3: $34,400
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
  • Year 1: $23,727
  • Year 2: $25,967
  • Year 3: $32,428
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $24,081
  • Year 2: $26,933
  • Year 3: $32,396

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