Thomas Aquinas College

Thomas Aquinas College is a private nonprofit Catholic liberal arts college with campuses in Santa Paula, California, and Northfield, Massachusetts. Its academic model is unusually focused: every undergraduate follows the same four-year Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts curriculum, built around the Great Books and discussion-based classes. There are no majors, minors, or conventional lecture courses. Students considering a specific professional or technical path should look closely at how this integrated degree fits their next step; the college says its broad preparation can lead to further study, professional training, or a vocation, but students should confirm requirements with any graduate school or licensing body they may later pursue.

One integrated curriculum, two campuses

Rather than choosing a major, students study a shared sequence across philosophy, theology, mathematics, natural science, literature, history, language and music. Classes center on reading original works, laboratories, tutorials and Socratic seminars in which students and tutors examine questions together. This offers a coherent, text-centered education and a close academic community; it also means the student cannot specialize in a single discipline through a conventional major while enrolled. The college’s admissions overview explains the academic approach, while its Great Books curriculum page describes the texts and discussion method in more detail.

California campus: 10000 Ojai Rd, Santa Paula, CA 93060; (800) 634-9797. This is the campus listed in the inventory. Google Maps lists general campus hours Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday are closed. Call ahead to arrange an admissions visit, since the campus is residential and individual offices follow their own schedules.

New England campus: 231 Main St, Northfield, MA 01360; (413) 846-1200. It offers the same integrated program in a different residential setting. Massachusetts law may limit admission to Catholic students at this campus, so applicants should confirm current eligibility with admissions before applying to that location.

2026–27 costs and financial support

For 2026–27, the college lists direct costs of $31,900 in tuition and $11,800 for housing and meals, for $43,700 before variable transportation, personal costs and loan fees. It reports no additional mandatory fees and says nearly all required books are provided at no cost to students. Actual expenses can still differ by campus and travel needs. Use the college’s cost of attendance page to review its campus-specific estimates before comparing offers.

Financial assistance is based on demonstrated need, not academic merit. The college’s institutional program includes grants and on-campus work-study funded by benefactors; students apply with the FAFSA and the college’s Confidential Financial Aid Application. Federal Pell Grants and Direct Student Loans are available to eligible students, and the college also lists state, outside and veterans’ benefits. For 2026–27, students not receiving institutional grant or work-study aid may apply for separate campus jobs of eight hours a week, with the college listing earnings of at least $4,300 for the academic year. This work option is not a grant or guaranteed aid award. Read the financial-aid requirements and ask the office to explain your eligibility and expected family contribution before deciding whether the cost is manageable.

Applying and deciding whether the format fits

The college has rolling admissions and considers applicants individually, space permitting. Students should be ready for four years of demanding reading, writing, mathematical and scientific work, as well as participation in discussion-based classes and residential campus life. The program is intentionally Catholic; non-Catholic students are welcome at the California campus, while New England applicants should check the campus-specific restriction noted above. You can start an application or request admissions information through the college’s admissions office.

Student perspectives: close community, rigorous discussion

Public student comments commonly praise the small classes, engaged tutors, close-knit residential community and conversations around original texts. Several reviewers describe the program as intellectually demanding and formative. One student also cautions that a discussion-heavy classroom can favor more vocal participants and feel challenging for reserved students; other comments emphasize the substantial mathematics and natural-science workload. These are individual accounts, but they point to useful questions for a visit: how tutors draw quieter students into seminars, what academic support is available, and how the common curriculum serves your own plans after graduation. A sample of student reviews can help you prepare those questions.