Thomas Aquinas College included in new U.S. News & World Report's list of top liberal arts colleges

Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula tied for No. 58 as one of the top liberal arts colleges in America, according to a newly released U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges guide.

The report also recognized the college for its financial aid program — listing the school as No. 30 among the top 60 national liberal arts colleges on its Best Values list and No. 5 among national liberal arts colleges for “least debt” at graduation, the only Catholic national liberal arts school in the United States to make that list, according to the college.

U.S. News & World Report said the rankings are based on 15 factors “related to academic excellence, such as graduation rates and faculty resources.” The rating formula “puts an emphasis on outcomes,” with “measures of graduation and retention being the most heavily weighted factors,” according to a news release.

The guide also ranks Thomas Aquinas College first in the country for the highest proportion of classes under 20 students, with 100 percent, and the lowest proportion of classes with more than 50 students at zero percent.

Thomas Aquinas College has received high marks in the newest editions of other annual college guides, both Catholic and secular, including The Princeton Review, WhatWillTheyLearn.com, Kiplinger, and the National Catholic Register.