At $20,701/yr net price, Thomas More University graduates earn $59,384/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $25,384/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $20,701 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $82,804 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $59,384/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$25,384/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 3.3 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 40.1% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $26,236 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $14,407/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $15,773/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $19,388/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $21,643/yr |
| $110,001+ | $23,299/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master | $70,456 | $25,320 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor | $55,964 | $23,889 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Bachelor | $49,270 | $31,000 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. | Bachelor | $45,500 | |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | Master | $37,568 |
The Risk Factor
40.1% of students at Thomas More University graduate within 6 years. More than half of students finish, but the dropout rate is a real factor in whether this investment pays off.
Analysis
Thomas More University gives you a solid but uneven financial return. Your median earnings ten years out land near $59,000, which sits comfortably above the roughly $20,700 net price you pay each year. The debt load is manageable at around $26,000, close to a single year's starting salary. The bigger risk here is not the price tag but whether you finish.
That risk is real. Only 40% of students graduate, and just 67% come back for a second year. If you leave with debt and no degree, none of the earnings figures apply to you. Before enrolling, be honest about whether you'll stay all four years, because the ROI collapses if you don't.
Nursing is the clear winner. It pays close to $56,000 out of the gate with the lowest debt of the three top programs, and the Cincinnati-northern Kentucky region hires nurses steadily. Business Administration pays less, around $49,000, yet saddles you with the heaviest debt at $31,000, so the math works out worse than nursing on both ends. Criminal Justice trails at $45,500, a workable number only if you keep borrowing low.
Net price scales hard with income here. If your family earns under $30,000, you pay about $14,400 a year. over $110,000, you pay roughly $23,300. Lower-income families get meaningful relief, but even the discounted price isn't cheap for a school with a 40% graduation rate.
This school fits you if you're set on nursing and confident you'll graduate. If you're drawn to business or a general major and unsure about finishing, look harder at the numbers or compare cheaper public options nearby. The payoff is concentrated in one field and one outcome: completing the degree.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Thomas More University worth the cost?
Thomas More University's value depends heavily on your major. Business graduates earn around $70,000 annually, making the $26,236 median debt manageable, but education majors start around $37,568 with the same debt burden.
What is the ROI for Thomas More University graduates?
Thomas More graduates earn a median of $59,384 ten years after graduation, which is reasonable given the $20,701 annual net price. However, the 40% graduation rate means many students don't complete their degrees, making debt without a degree a real risk.
Which Thomas More University programs have the best job prospects?
Business administration and nursing offer the strongest returns at Thomas More, with business grads earning up to $70,456 and nurses around $55,964. Criminal justice and education majors face lower starting salaries relative to their debt.
How much student debt do Thomas More University graduates typically have?
Thomas More graduates carry a median debt of $26,236, which is manageable for higher-earning majors like business but potentially problematic for education graduates starting around $37,568. The low graduation rate increases the risk of debt without a degree.