Thomas Jefferson University
- Graduation Rate
- 68% B-
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $77,449 A
- Top 5% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $28,928 F
- 69% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 81% C-
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 16.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $16.8 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $16.8 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,832,630.
What The Data Says
-
A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
-
Graduates earn 90% more than the national college median.
-
Every $1 invested returns $16.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Thomas Jefferson University Matters
Thomas Jefferson University is a private research university in Philadelphia, PA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong research base and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 5% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R2 · High Research
- Enrollment
- 3,755
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Psychology, Visual & Performing Arts
Why students choose Thomas Jefferson University
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 81% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1160–1330. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $28,928 a year after grants and scholarships — 69% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $77,449 ten years after enrolling — 90% above the typical college, against $14,744 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.80 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of about 3,755 students, Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia is a solid choice for those interested in health professions, business, or the arts. The school has an acceptance rate of 81%, making it accessible for a broad range of applicants. Programs like Biology & Biomedical, Visual & Performing Arts, and Psychology stand out, allowing students to dive deep into their areas of interest while preparing for meaningful careers.
After graduation, students see a strong earning potential, with a median income of $77,449 a decade after leaving the university. This financial outcome indicates that graduates are well-positioned in the job market, and those who pursue careers in health or business might find even more opportunities for advancement. The affordability of the education is also noteworthy, particularly for students receiving Pell Grants, as 37% of the student body qualifies for this financial aid, helping to offset costs significantly.
When it comes to the bottom line, the net price after financial aid is around $28,928, which is manageable considering the median debt for graduates stands at $14,744. This balance of cost and potential earnings suggests that students who thrive here often come from diverse backgrounds and are driven to succeed in their fields. The supportive environment, combined with a practical approach to education, makes Thomas Jefferson University a place where many can find their path forward.
Rankings
- #13 Best MBA Programs for Healthcare Management
- #16 Best Nursing Colleges in Pennsylvania
- #18 Best MBA Programs for General Management
- #38 Best Online Nursing Programs in Pennsylvania
- #41 Best Online Computer Science Programs in Pennsylvania
- #41 Best MBA Programs for Business Analytics
- #48 Best Online Business Programs in Pennsylvania
- #50 Best Bachelor's Programs in Pennsylvania
Can I Get In?
How selective Thomas Jefferson University 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 Jefferson University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Thomas Jefferson University, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 81%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,243. The graduation rate is roughly 68%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 81%
- Retention Rate
- 82%
- SAT Average
- 1243
- ACT Midpoint
- 28
- SAT Range
- 1160–1330
- ACT Range
- 25–30
- Full-Time Faculty
- 40%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $10,627
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 13:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.73
- First-Gen Students
- 33%
- Applicants
- 5,723
- Admitted
- 5,085
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2024-25
The acceptance rate tells you how hard Thomas Jefferson University is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 12% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school most admitted students ultimately pass on.
- Yield Rate
- 12%
- of admits enroll
- Submitted SAT
- 23%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Submitted ACT
- 2%
- of enrolled freshmen
Test-optional, in practice. Only about 25% of enrolled freshmen submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive here, not a long shot.
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 Jefferson University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Thomas Jefferson University is $47,505, 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 $28,928. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $22,537 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $14,744 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $47,505
- Out-of-State
- $47,505
- Avg Net Price
- $28,928
- Median Debt
- $14,744
- Pell Grant Rate
- 37%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 86%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $22,537
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $24,407
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $24,680
- Family Income $110K+
- $34,889
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 Jefferson University — 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 Jefferson University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Thomas Jefferson University earn a median of $77,449, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $64,335
- 8 Years
- $68,761
- 10 Years
- $77,449
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.19x
- Earning > $25K
- 91%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (338)
- 56%
- 100% (338)
- 56%
- 100% (338)
- 56%
- 100% (338)
- 56%
How Thomas Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Thomas Jefferson University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Thomas Jefferson University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $28,928/year ($115,712 total). Graduates earn $77,449 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,948,342 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,832,630 (16.8× your investment). The median debt is $14,744, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 68% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $115,712
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,948,342
- Net Return
- $1,832,630
- ROI Multiple
- 16.8×
- Cost Per Year
- $28,928
- Median Debt
- $14,744
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 68%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-187,502,987
Top Programs
The fields Thomas Jefferson University 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.
- Health Professions 67% $84,078 early-career
- Business & Marketing 6% $47,548 early-career
- Psychology 5% $44,210 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 4% $52,040 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 3%
- Computer Science & IT 2%
- Engineering 1% $63,400 early-career
- Legal Studies 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 Jefferson University'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+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Thomas Jefferson University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Thomas Jefferson University, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 81%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,243. The graduation rate is roughly 68%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Thomas Jefferson University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Thomas Jefferson University is $47,505, 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 $28,928. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $22,537 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $14,744 in federal student loans.
Is Thomas Jefferson University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Thomas Jefferson University earn a median of $77,449, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
How Connected Is Thomas Jefferson University? 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 Jefferson University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.80, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), 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.
Does Thomas Jefferson University offer Early Decision?
No. Thomas Jefferson University does not report a binding Early Decision plan (2024-25 Common Data Set).
Is Thomas Jefferson University really test-optional?
In practice, yes. Only about 25% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at Thomas Jefferson University (2024-25 Common Data Set).
What percentage of admitted students enroll at Thomas Jefferson University?
About 12% of admitted students choose to enroll at Thomas Jefferson University — its yield rate (2024-25 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Thomas Jefferson University.
- Molloy UniversityRockville Centre, NY · Close peer71% grad $77,789 earn 82% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of ScrantonScranton, PA · Close peer80% grad $74,652 earn 81% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- University of the PacificStockton, CA · Close peer68% grad $78,445 earn 71% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Loyola University MarylandBaltimore, MD · Close peer80% grad $82,652 earn 75% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Seattle UniversitySeattle, WA · Close peer74% grad $75,272 earn 77% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- The Catholic University of AmericaWashington, DC · Close peer80% grad $73,250 earn 83% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Thomas Jefferson University? 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 Jefferson University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.80, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), 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