Aquinas College occupies a wooded former estate on the east side of Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Dominican Sisters of Grand Rapids founded it in 1886, and it is still a small Catholic liberal arts college of around 1,000 students. It was one of the first US colleges to offer a degree in sustainable business.
Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States
Official website: aquinas.edu
1886
Private Catholic liberal arts college
Dominican Sisters of Grand Rapids
About 1,000 students
$36,000 – $40,000
International students, before scholarships
$11,000 – $14,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on aquinas.edu before you apply.
BS Sustainable Business
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 79
BS Business Administration
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 79
BS Biology
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 79
BA Psychology
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 79
One of the first sustainable business degrees in the US.
Small classes taught by faculty, not teaching assistants.
A tree-filled campus a few miles east of downtown Grand Rapids.
Graduates work for Grand Rapids employers such as Meijer, Steelcase and Corewell Health.
Sustainable business graduates move into corporate sustainability and environmental consulting roles.
Bachelor's graduates can usually work 12 months in the US on OPT.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
No PG intake
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
No PG intake
Grand Rapids is Michigan's second-largest city, known for furniture making, breweries and the hospitals along Michigan Street's Medical Mile. Buses run from near campus to downtown.
Rent is moderate by US standards. Lake Michigan's beaches at Grand Haven are about 40 minutes west.
Form I-20 issued by Aquinas College
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
Aquinas reviews applications on a rolling basis. International students should apply by spring for August entry to allow time for the I-20 and visa.
Most students start in August, with a January start possible for some programmes.
You'll need an F-1 visa. Once you accept your offer and send proof of funding, Aquinas College issues the Form I-20. After that it's the SEVIS fee, the DS-160 form and an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
Sustainable business, business administration, biology and psychology are popular. Admission is based on school grades, with about IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 79 for students whose first language is not English.
Aquinas gives merit scholarships to most first-year students, including international applicants. Awards depend on your academic record and reduce the tuition bill.
