Thomas College vs. CSE

Comparable Facts

Compare Thomas College in Waterville, ME with Saint Elizabeth University in Morristown, NJ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Thomas College is larger than CSE based on total student enrollment (1,635 students vs. 871 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Thomas College is located in Waterville, ME (Rural Fringe setting); Saint Elizabeth University is in Morristown, NJ (Large Suburban setting).
• Thomas College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Saint Elizabeth University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Thomas College 20:1; Saint Elizabeth University 8:1.

Thomas College vs. CSE Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Thomas College or CSE? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Thomas College than CSE ($19,126 vs. $23,437).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saint Elizabeth University are 3.1% lower than at Thomas College ($13,652 vs. $14,090).
• Saint Elizabeth University is 15.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Thomas College (about $4,917 more per year; $36,741.00 vs. $31,824.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 15.5% higher at CSE than at Thomas College (about $4,917 more per year; $36,741.00 vs. $31,824.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Thomas College than at Saint Elizabeth University (98% vs. 96%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Elizabeth University students is 5.5% larger than aid received by Thomas College students ($29,755 vs. $28,212).

Thomas College vs. CSE Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Thomas College or CSE? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between CSE and Thomas College.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Thomas College - Test-free; CSE - Test optional.
• Thomas College has a higher acceptance rate (96.3%) than CSE (71%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.1% at Thomas College vs. 7.6% at CSE.

Thomas College vs. CSE Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Thomas College and CSE? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Saint Elizabeth University's six-year graduation rate (58%) is higher than Thomas College's (45%).
• Graduates from Saint Elizabeth University earn a median of about $4,500 more per year than Thomas College graduates about ten years after starting college ($45,500 vs. $41,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Saint Elizabeth University graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Thomas College graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, CSE graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Thomas College graduates ($258 vs. $279).
• More Thomas College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSE students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 57%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.