Thomas College vs. Manhattan School of Music

Comparable Facts

Compare Thomas College in Waterville, ME with Manhattan School of Music in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Thomas College is larger than Manhattan School of Music based on total student enrollment (1,635 students vs. 1,084 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Thomas College is located in Waterville, ME (Rural Fringe setting); Manhattan School of Music is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• Thomas College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Manhattan School of Music is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Thomas College 20:1; Manhattan School of Music 6:1.

Thomas College vs. Manhattan School of Music Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Thomas College or Manhattan School of Music? 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 Manhattan School of Music ($19,126 vs. $51,767).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Thomas College are 21.9% lower than at Manhattan School of Music ($14,090 vs. $18,050).
• Manhattan School of Music is 79.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Thomas College (about $25,226 more per year; $57,050.00 vs. $31,824.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 79.3% higher at Manhattan School of Music than at Thomas College (about $25,226 more per year; $57,050.00 vs. $31,824.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Thomas College than at Manhattan School of Music (98% vs. 87%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Thomas College students is 8.5% larger than aid received by Manhattan School of Music students ($28,212 vs. $26,001).

Thomas College vs. Manhattan School of Music Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Thomas College or Manhattan School of Music? 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 Manhattan School of Music and Thomas College.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Thomas College - Test-free; Manhattan School of Music - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Manhattan School of Music Dec 1, 2026.
• Thomas College has a higher acceptance rate (96.3%) than Manhattan School of Music (40.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.1% at Thomas College vs. 25.3% at Manhattan School of Music.

Thomas College vs. Manhattan School of Music Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Thomas College and Manhattan School of Music? 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).

• Manhattan School of Music's six-year graduation rate (76%) is higher than Thomas College's (45%).
• Graduates from Thomas College earn a median of about $3,600 more per year than Manhattan School of Music graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,000 vs. $37,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Manhattan School of Music graduates have a $3,250 lower median loan debt than Thomas College graduates ($23,750 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Manhattan School of Music graduates have an estimated $34 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Thomas College graduates ($245 vs. $279).
• More Thomas College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Manhattan School of Music students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 65%)

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.