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SANTA PAULA, Calif.—Thomas Aquinas College was recently included on a New York Times’ list of the best 106 national colleges and universities in the country, based on the caliber of their entering freshmen.

In its January special education section, the New York Times published the results of an inquiry into how admissions committees make their decisions. In conducting its research, the Times chose to consider only those institutions that “admit the country’s best students,” namely, those at which 25% or more of entering freshmen receive 700 or more points on either the math or verbal SAT and place in the top 10% of their high school graduating classes. Thomas Aquinas College was on that list of 106 institutions.

It is worth noting that since Thomas Aquinas College opened its doors in 1971, it has had a “rolling” admissions policy such that it accepts qualified students as they submit their applications. The alternative, more widely used, is to accept applications until a certain date and only then to review and act upon them, ensuring that student bodies are composed of “the cream of the crop.”

“Nevertheless,” says Dean Michael McLean, “Thomas Aquinas College’s unique program is attracting some of the best students in the country, and though we have never tailored our program to the dictates of outside rating groups, it is gratifying to have the college highlighted in this way.”

There are only four Catholic institutions on the New York Times list of colleges and universities that admit the best students: Georgetown University, Boston College, the University of Notre Dame, and Thomas Aquinas College.