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 & World Report recognized Aquinas College as a 2027 Best College for Regional Midwest Colleges, Top Private Colleges, Midwest, Best Value Midwest, and Social Mobility Midwest. (It's the 7th year in a row being recognized!)
Aquinas College earned twelve 2026-2027 Colleges of Distinction recognitions.
- 99% of 2025 Aquinas graduates are either employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation
- Aquinas College was named a 2025-26 Veteran-Friendly School by the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency.
- 100% of graduates in nursing (Aquinas/University of Detroit Mercy Nursing Program at Aquinas College) are employed within six months of graduation
- 100% pass rate on the NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) for nursing graduates in 2025 and 2026 (Aquinas/Detroit Mercy nursing program) NCLEX
- 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
Location
Ranked by Niche as the #1 Best College Location in Michigan for 2025.
Grand Rapids gets high marks for safety, families, affordability, and young professionals.
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 recieved the 2024 Tree Campus Higher Education designation from Arbor Day Foundation -- the sixth year in a row!
Aquinas College consistently places among the leaders in the annual Race to Zero Waste competition. In 2026, we placed 1st in the State for the Diversion Category.
- Top performer in the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education 2021 Sustainable Campus Index
- The Princeton Review's Guide to Green Colleges: 2021 Edition (11th year)
- Sierra Club 2020 Cool Schools Ranking (9th year)
- Silver rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education 2019
- Bronze Bicycle Friendly University award in 2015, 2019, and 2022 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