Thomas College vs. McDaniel College

Comparable Facts

Compare Thomas College in Waterville, ME with McDaniel College in Westminster, MD on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

McDaniel College is larger than Thomas College based on total student enrollment (2,868 students vs. 1,635 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Thomas College is located in Waterville, ME (Rural Fringe setting); McDaniel College is in Westminster, MD (Small Suburban setting).
• Thomas College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. McDaniel College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Thomas College 20:1; McDaniel College 13:1.

Thomas College vs. McDaniel College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Thomas College or McDaniel 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 McDaniel College ($19,126 vs. $24,497).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at McDaniel College are 7.9% lower than at Thomas College ($12,974 vs. $14,090).
• McDaniel College is 63.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Thomas College (about $20,257 more per year; $52,081.00 vs. $31,824.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 63.7% higher at McDaniel College than at Thomas College (about $20,257 more per year; $52,081.00 vs. $31,824.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at McDaniel College than at Thomas College (100% vs. 98%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by McDaniel College students is 44.3% larger than aid received by Thomas College students ($40,721 vs. $28,212).

Thomas College vs. McDaniel College Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Thomas College - Test-free; McDaniel College - Test-free.
• Thomas College has a higher acceptance rate (96.3%) than McDaniel College (77.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.1% at Thomas College vs. 13.7% at McDaniel College.

Thomas College vs. McDaniel College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Thomas College and McDaniel 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).

• McDaniel College's six-year graduation rate (74%) is higher than Thomas College's (45%).
• Graduates from McDaniel College earn a median of about $12,400 more per year than Thomas College graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,400 vs. $41,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, McDaniel College and Thomas College graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, McDaniel College and Thomas College graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
• More McDaniel College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Thomas College students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 67%)

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.