Aquinas College vs Emmanuel College
Aquinas College (Ashmore) is a catholic school and Emmanuel College (Carrara) is a independent school. Both are co-educational. Aquinas College teaches 7-12 and Emmanuel College teaches P-12. Aquinas College has 805 students and Emmanuel College has 1,686 (ACARA 2025). They are about 4.8 km apart in a straight line.
Photos: Aquinas College (school website) · Emmanuel College (school website)
See both schools’ full fees, ATAR results and cost to Year 12
Every year level’s fees from each school’s own schedule, the results each school publishes, and the total cost to Year 12, side by side.
Compare these schools in full →A$9.99 a year, cancel anytimeSecure payment by Stripe
Key numbers
Students, ICSEA, students per teacher and girls/boys: ACARA My School 2025 (students per teacher is total enrolments divided by full-time-equivalent teaching staff; it isn’t class size).
Fees and results
Side by side
| Fact | Aquinas College | Emmanuel College |
|---|---|---|
| Suburb | Ashmore | Carrara |
| Region | Southport | Nerang |
| Sector | Catholic | Independent |
| Students | Co-ed | Co-ed |
| Year levels | 7-12 | P-12 |
| Religion | Catholic | Christian |
| Boarding | No | No |
| Senior years | QCE | QCE |
| Facilities and sport (school site) | Gym, Library, Australian rules football, Soccer, Netball, Basketball, Swimming, Athletics, Tennis, Volleyball | Library |
| Distance apart | About 4.8 km in a straight line | |
Facts from ACARA (2025) and each school’s own website.
Which suits whom
- Families choosing by faith: Aquinas College is Catholic; Emmanuel College is Christian.
- Location: Aquinas College is in Ashmore (Southport); Emmanuel College is in Carrara (Nerang).
- Size: Emmanuel College is the larger school, with 881 more students.
- Smaller ratio: Aquinas College has fewer students per teacher (12.8 against 15.3, ACARA 2025).
- Listed by Aquinas College but not Emmanuel College: Gym, Australian rules football, Soccer, Netball, Basketball, Swimming, Athletics, Tennis and Volleyball.
History
Aquinas College
Aquinas College traces its roots to 1901, when the Sisters of Mercy opened Star of the Sea College at Southport. The Christian Brothers opened Aquinas as a boys’ college in 1964.
Source: aquinas.qld.edu.au
Emmanuel College
Emmanuel College opened at Carrara in 1985 with 66 students in Years 8 and 9. Within two years it had 300 students, and its Junior School opened in 1989.
Source: emmanuel.qld.edu.au
Questions parents ask
What is the difference between Aquinas College and Emmanuel College?
Both are co-educational. Aquinas College teaches 7-12 and Emmanuel College teaches P-12. Aquinas College has 805 students and Emmanuel College has 1,686 (ACARA 2025).
Is Aquinas College or Emmanuel College co-ed?
Both are co-educational.
Which is bigger, Aquinas College or Emmanuel College?
Emmanuel College is bigger: 1,686 students against 805 (ACARA 2025).
How many students per teacher do Aquinas College and Emmanuel College have?
Aquinas College has 12.8 students per teacher and Emmanuel College has 15.3 (ACARA My School 2025: total enrolments divided by full-time-equivalent teaching staff).
Which is older, Aquinas College or Emmanuel College?
Aquinas College is older. Aquinas College was founded in 1964 and Emmanuel College in 1985.
Do Aquinas College and Emmanuel College take boarders?
Neither takes boarders.
How far apart are Aquinas College and Emmanuel College?
About 4.8 km in a straight line: Aquinas College is in Ashmore and Emmanuel College is in Carrara.
How do Aquinas College and Emmanuel College fees compare?
Each school publishes its own fee schedule. Members see both schedules year by year, the results each school reports and the total cost to Year 12. Always confirm current fees with the school.
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School profiles
Get the full picture: fees, ATAR results and cost to Year 12
Every year level’s fees from each school’s own schedule, the results each school publishes, and the total cost to Year 12, side by side.
Compare these schools in full →A$9.99 a year, cancel anytimeSecure payment by Stripe
Source and date
Enrolment, ICSEA, students per teacher and girls/boys: ACARA My School 2025. Other facts: each school’s website, checked 21 October 2026. Distance is a straight line between the schools’ map points, not travel distance. Check details with the schools before deciding. Methodology