Rust College vs Thomas Aquinas College
Rust College and Thomas Aquinas College, while both offering unique educational experiences, present distinct differences in their academic offerings, student demographics, and campus environments. Rust College, a historically Black college in Holly Springs, Mississippi, boasts a diverse student body and a strong focus on liberal arts education. In contrast, Thomas Aquinas College, located in Santa Paula, California, is a Catholic liberal arts college known for its rigorous curriculum rooted in the Great Books tradition. With Rust College's higher acceptance rate and Thomas Aquinas College's lower student-faculty ratio, prospective students can explore the detailed comparison table to discover which institution better aligns with their academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Rust College |
![]() Thomas Aquinas College |
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Overview |
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Location | Holly Springs, Mississippi | Santa Paula, California |
Campus setting | Town: Distant | Rural: Distant |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 55.0% | 89.0% |
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No | No |
Religious affiliation | Methodism | Catholic |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 37.6% | 83.1% |
Application fees | $10 | |
SAT range | N/A | 1180 - 1370 |
ACT range | N/A | 25 - 30 |
Students submitting SAT score | 34.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 19.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 2,609 | 261 |
Total number of admissions given out | 981 | 217 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 349 | 131 |
Yield rate | 35.6% | 60.4% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $17,400 | $48,062 |
Average net price | $7,927 | $22,631 |
Tuition | $9,900 | $26,000 |
Room & board | $4,300 | $9,400 |
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
97.0%
Average amount $8,773 |
71.0%
Average amount $13,973 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
63.0%
Average amount $4,401 |
69.0%
Average amount $3,590 |
Students taking out private loans |
0.0%
Average amount $0 |
5.0%
Average amount $7,167 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
768
Men 43.2% Women 56.8% |
497
Men 49.7% Women 50.3% |
Graduate students | N/A | N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Very Low
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Low
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Out-of-state students | N/A | N/A |
International students | 0.4% | 5.4% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Distant | Rural: Distant |
Dormitory capacity | 800 | 659 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 6:1 | 11:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 26.9% | 85.9% |
Dropout rate | 66.1% | 3.8% |
Transferred out | N/A | 9.0% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Journalism (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
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