Thomas College
#1 Best Business Colleges in Maine- Graduation Rate
- 53% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $44,991 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $18,885 C-
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 96% F
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 13.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $13.4 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Business Colleges in Maine.
Every $1 spent returns $13.4 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $939,094.
What The Data Says
-
A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
-
Social mobility rate of 2.99% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
-
Every $1 invested returns $13.4 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Thomas College Matters
Thomas College is a private university in Waterville, ME and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 647
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Education, Criminal Justice, Psychology
Why students choose Thomas College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 96% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $18,885 a year after grants and scholarships — 10% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $44,991 ten years after enrolling — 10% above the typical college, against $24,250 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 3.0% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 10% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.52 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an acceptance rate of 96%, Thomas College is a welcoming option for students looking for a supportive environment in Waterville, Maine. This school tends to attract those interested in practical fields like Business & Marketing, Psychology, Education, Computer Science & IT, and Criminal Justice. It’s a good fit for individuals who value small class sizes and personal attention from faculty, which can enhance the learning experience and help students feel more connected.
Looking at life after graduation, the average earnings for alumni ten years out hover around $44,991. This figure is essential when considering the value of your degree. It suggests that graduates can find solid job opportunities in their fields. The affordability of attending Thomas College is also noteworthy, especially for those who might be concerned about financial burdens—18% of students receive Pell Grants, which can help make college more accessible for low-income families.
When it comes to the financial side, the net price after aid stands at about $18,885, and the median debt upon graduation is $24,250. These figures indicate that while there's some debt involved, the cost of education can be manageable for many students. Those who tend to thrive here are often those who appreciate a close-knit community and seek a hands-on approach to learning, preparing them well for their careers ahead.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Thomas College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Thomas College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Thomas College, located in Waterville, Maine, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 96%. The graduation rate is roughly 53%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 96%
- Retention Rate
- 77%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 51%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,625
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 23:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.53
- First-Gen Students
- 38%
- Applicants
- 869
- Admitted
- 845
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Thomas College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Thomas College is $31,824, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $18,885. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,655 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $24,250 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $31,824
- Out-of-State
- $31,824
- Avg Net Price
- $18,885
- Median Debt
- $24,250
- Pell Grant Rate
- 18%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 33%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $12,655
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $11,904
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $16,227
- Family Income $110K+
- $26,770
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Thomas College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Thomas College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Thomas College report median earnings of $44,991, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $40,495
- 8 Years
- $37,492
- 10 Years
- $44,991
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.54x
- Earning > $25K
- 61%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (96)
- 44%
- 100% (96)
- 44%
- 100% (96)
- 44%
- 100% (96)
- 44%
How Thomas Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Thomas College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Thomas College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $18,885/year ($75,540 total). Graduates earn $44,991 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,014,634 in total earnings — a net gain of $939,094 (13.4× your investment). The median debt is $24,250, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 53% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $75,540
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,014,634
- Net Return
- $939,094
- ROI Multiple
- 13.4×
- Cost Per Year
- $18,885
- Median Debt
- $24,250
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 53%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Thomas College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Thomas College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.99%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 13.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 22.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $60,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 2.99%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 22.8%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 13.1%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $82,470
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $1,505,466
- Investment Income
- $-1,691,064
Top Programs
The fields Thomas College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 39% $43,254 early-career
- Education 12%
- Criminal Justice 11% $47,717 early-career
- Psychology 9% $44,432 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 8%
- Health Professions 5%
- Social Sciences 2%
- Communications 1%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Thomas College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Thomas College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Thomas College, located in Waterville, Maine, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 96%. The graduation rate is roughly 53%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Thomas College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Thomas College is $31,824, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $18,885. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,655 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $24,250 in federal student loans.
Is Thomas College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Thomas College report median earnings of $44,991, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Thomas College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Thomas College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.99%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 13.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 22.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $60,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Thomas College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Thomas College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.52, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.05), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Thomas College.
- Life Pacific UniversitySan Dimas, CA · Close peer48% grad $43,299 earn 96% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Bethel UniversityMishawaka, IN · Close peer55% grad $48,860 earn 98% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Spalding UniversityLouisville, KY · Close peer54% grad $49,438 earn 99% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Maine at FarmingtonFarmington, ME · Close peer52% grad $44,433 earn 97% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Rochester Christian UniversityRochester Hills, MI · Close peer43% grad $48,707 earn 98% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Hilbert CollegeHamburg, NY · Close peer52% grad $48,309 earn 97% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Thomas College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Thomas College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.52, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.05), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note