Thomas College vs. Mars Hill University

Comparable Facts

Compare Thomas College in Waterville, ME with Mars Hill University in Mars Hill, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Thomas College is larger than Mars Hill University based on total student enrollment (1,635 students vs. 1,110 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Thomas College is located in Waterville, ME (Rural Fringe setting); Mars Hill University is in Mars Hill, NC (Rural Fringe setting).
• Thomas College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Mars Hill University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Thomas College 20:1; Mars Hill University 11:1.

Thomas College vs. Mars Hill University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Thomas College or Mars Hill University? 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 Mars Hill University than Thomas College ($18,925 vs. $19,126).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mars Hill University are 13% lower than at Thomas College ($12,258 vs. $14,090).
• Mars Hill University is 18.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Thomas College (about $5,912 more per year; $37,736.00 vs. $31,824.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 18.6% higher at Mars Hill University than at Thomas College (about $5,912 more per year; $37,736.00 vs. $31,824.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mars Hill University than at Thomas College (100% vs. 98%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mars Hill University students is 10.1% larger than aid received by Thomas College students ($31,066 vs. $28,212).

Thomas College vs. Mars Hill University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Thomas College or Mars Hill University? 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 Mars Hill University and Thomas College.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Thomas College - Test-free; Mars Hill University - Test-free.
• Thomas College has a higher acceptance rate (96.3%) than Mars Hill University (67.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.1% at Thomas College vs. 31.1% at Mars Hill University.

Thomas College vs. Mars Hill University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Thomas College and Mars Hill University? 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).

• Thomas College's six-year graduation rate (45%) is higher than Mars Hill University's (38%).
• Graduates from Thomas College earn a median of about $8,700 more per year than Mars Hill University graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,000 vs. $32,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Mars Hill University and Thomas College graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Mars Hill University and Thomas College graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
• More Thomas College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mars Hill University students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 53%)

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.