Accolades & Outcomes at Aquinas College
Explore Our Accolades and Outcomes
Aquinas College is regularly recognized on the national stage for its strong academic programs, athletics, sustainability achievements, service efforts, and the success of Aquinas students.
Student Success
U.S. News and World Report recognized Aquinas College in the 2025 Best Colleges list
as a Top Performers on Social Mobility and National Liberal Arts Colleges list.
(5th year in a row!)
Aquinas College was named a 2024-25 Veteran-Friendly School by the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency.
Aquinas College earned seven 2024-2025 Colleges of Distinction recognitions.
- 95% of 2023 Aquinas graduates are either employed or in graduate schools within six months of graduation
- 100% of graduates in nursing (Aquinas/University of Detroit Mercy Nursing Program at Aquinas College) are employed within six months of graduation
- 95% pass rate for recent nursing graduates (Aquinas/Detroit Mercy nursing program) NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination)
- Medical school acceptance rate is 20% higher than the national average.
- 92.4% of Aquinas education students pass the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification
- 90% acceptance rate for physician assistant, physical therapy and dental programs
- Aquinas internship partners include Amway, Disney, Steelcase, Spectrum Health, Grand Rapids Art Museum, Van Andel Research Institute, the Detroit Tigers, and many more
- Accelerated Master and Early Assurance Agreements with state colleges in Michigan
Athletics
- NAIA 2017 Five-Star Champion of Character Institution
- 11-time winner of the WHAC (Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference) All-Sports Award
- More than 250 NAIA All-Americans
- More than 375 Academic All-Americans
Sustainability
- Aquinas College consistently places among the leaders in the annual Race to Zero Waste competition. In 2023, we placed 7th nationally and 1st in the State for the Diversion Category. Also, 2nd nationally in the smaller campus division of the "Food Organics" category.
- The Princeton Review's Guide to Green Colleges: 2021 Edition (11th year)
- Sierra Club 2020 Cool Schools Ranking (9th year)
- 2023 Tree Campus Higher Education designation from Arbor Day Foundation
- Top performer in the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education 2021 Sustainable Campus Index
- Silver rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education 2019
- Bronze Bicycle Friendly University award in 2020 from the League of American Bicyclists
- West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum 2016 Sustainable Business of the Year
- Professional Grounds Management Society Green Star Award
First school in the nation to offer an undergraduate program in sustainable business.
Aquinas signed the St. Francis Pledge for Sustainability with the Catholic Climate Covenant to continue caring for our planet in a way that aligns with our Catholic and Dominican views.
Service and Community
- Multiple Michigan Campus Compact Awards, including the Faculty Service Learning award, the Commitment to Service award, and the Heart and Soul award.
- President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll