This seal was designed by Willaim F.J. Ryan of New York and was adopted by vote of the advisory council in 1952.

St. Thomas Aquinas, the Dominican order, and Grand Rapids are all represented in the seal of Aquinas College.

The fifteen vertical bars, alternately silver and blue, represent the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary and commemorate the diffusion of the Rosary by St. Dominic and the Order of Preachers.

The waviness of the bars gives the heraldic equivalent of water and their vertical nature presents the headlong movement of water - rapids - Grand Rapids.

The blazing sun is the distinctive symbol of St. Thomas Aquinas, patron of the college. In the painting by Benozzo Gozzoli in the Louvre (France), St. Thomas appears with such a sun on his breast and with books on his lap.

The chief (upper compartment above the sun) is the simple and more ancient interpretation of the Dominican coat of arms in the black and white of the habit. The white denotes purity of life and the black penance.

An open book above the shield, silver trimmed in gold, symbolizes an institution of learning. It also represents the famous books of St. Thomas: the Summa Theologica, Summa Contra Gentiles, and the Office of the Blessed Sacrament.

The motto, on a silver scroll edged in gold, is taken from a painting by Francesco Vanni in the Church of San Romano, Pisa, Italy. The "Angelic Doctor'' is kneeling before a crucifix. The crucified Savior says, "Thou hast written well of Me, Thomas. What recompense dost thou desire?'' St. Thomas replies, "Thyself only, O Lord!'' -NON NISI TE, DOMINE.