Thomas College vs. Fisher College

Comparable Facts

Compare Thomas College in Waterville, ME with Fisher College in Boston, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Fisher College is larger than Thomas College based on total student enrollment (1,652 students vs. 1,635 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Thomas College is located in Waterville, ME (Rural Fringe setting); Fisher College is in Boston, MA (Large City setting).
• Thomas College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Fisher College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Thomas College 20:1; Fisher College 14:1.

Thomas College vs. Fisher College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Thomas College or Fisher College? 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 Fisher College ($19,126 vs. $28,596).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Thomas College are 21.9% lower than at Fisher College ($14,090 vs. $18,041).
• Fisher College is 12.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Thomas College (about $3,865 more per year; $35,689.00 vs. $31,824.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12.1% higher at Fisher College than at Thomas College (about $3,865 more per year; $35,689.00 vs. $31,824.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Thomas College than at Fisher College (98% vs. 94%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Thomas College students is 11.2% larger than aid received by Fisher College students ($28,212 vs. $25,379).

Thomas College vs. Fisher College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Thomas College or Fisher College? 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 Fisher College and Thomas College.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsFisher College 800/1070.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsFisher College 15/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Thomas College - Test-free; Fisher College - Test-free.
• Thomas College has a higher acceptance rate (96.3%) than Fisher College (70.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.1% at Thomas College vs. 6.1% at Fisher College.

Thomas College vs. Fisher College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Thomas College and Fisher College? 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).

• Fisher College's six-year graduation rate (48%) is higher than Thomas College's (45%).
• Graduates from Thomas College earn a median of about $5,000 more per year than Fisher College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,000 vs. $36,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Fisher College graduates have a $7,813 lower median loan debt than Thomas College graduates ($19,187 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Fisher College graduates have an estimated $81 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Thomas College graduates ($198 vs. $279).
• More Thomas College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fisher College students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 45%)

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.