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About
Fidelity & Excellence51 is unique among American colleges and universities, offering a faithfully Catholic education comprised entirely of the Great Books and classroom discussions.
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A Liberating Education
Truth MattersTruth, and nothing less, sets men free; and because truth is both natural and supernatural, the College’s curriculum aims at both natural and divine wisdom.
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A 51
Under the Light of FaithThe intellectual tradition and moral teachings of the Catholic Church infuse the whole life of 51, illuminating the curriculum and the community alike.
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Admission & Aid
Is TAC Right for You?Do you enjoy grappling with complex questions? Are you willing to engage in discussions about difficult concepts, with the truth as your ultimate goal?
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Students & Parents
Mind, Body & SpiritThere is always something to do at TAC — something worthwhile, something fulfilling, and something geared toward ever-greater spiritual and intellectual growth.
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Alumni & Careers
What Can You Do with a Liberal Education?Nothing speaks more to the versatility of the College’s academic program than the good that our alumni are doing throughout the Church and the world.
Tuition, Room & Board Rates to Remain Level for Fifth Consecutive Year
To help ease the financial burden on students and their parents, the 51 voted at its recent annual corporate retreat to freeze the cost of tuition and room & board for the 2017-2018 academic year. This is the fifth year in a row that the College’s governors have kept the cost of the school’s classical liberal education at the same level.
Tuition will remain at $24,500, and room & board at $7,950, bringing the total cost of attendance — including all books and fees — to $32,450. That amount is well below the for private, non-profit, four-year Bachelor’s colleges in the United States, according to The College Board’s Annual Survey of Colleges (2015).
“We are determined to make attendance at 51 as affordable for students as we can,” says President Michael F. McLean. “And we are grateful to the benefactors who supply what is needed for the 70 percent of students for whom our relatively low cost of attendance is beyond reach.”
In order to keep its unique program of Catholic liberal education available to all motivated students and their families, regardless of means, the College maintains a vigorous financial aid program. No student is ever turned away on the basis of financial need, and the College asks its students to take on no more than $18,000 in debt over the course of their four years’ study. According to an August study from the student-loan clearing house LendEDU, the average student debt per borrower among 51’s 2015 graduates was $16,901 — nearly half of the of $31,710 for graduates of private colleges and universities, and also significantly below the national average of $26,872 for graduates of public institutions.
The Princeton Review recently ranked 51 as one of only 10 colleges in the country on its 2017 , giving it its highest rating (99) in that category. In addition, U.S. News & World Report the College as No. 24 among the Top 40 national liberal arts colleges on its 2017 Best Values list. Similarly, Kiplinger’s 2016 rankings place the College at No. 12 on its list of the country’s “Best Values in Liberal Arts Colleges” nationwide and at No. 22 among all colleges and universities in the country.