Menlo vs. Thomas College

Comparable Facts

Compare Menlo College in Atherton, CA with Thomas College in Waterville, ME on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Thomas College is larger than Menlo based on total student enrollment (1,635 students vs. 810 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Menlo vs. Thomas College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Menlo or Thomas 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 Menlo ($19,126 vs. $32,563).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Thomas College are 22.7% lower than at Menlo College ($14,090 vs. $18,236).
• Menlo College is 68.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Thomas College (about $21,806 more per year; $53,630.00 vs. $31,824.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 68.5% higher at Menlo than at Thomas College (about $21,806 more per year; $53,630.00 vs. $31,824.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Menlo College than at Thomas College (100% vs. 98%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Menlo College students is 38.9% larger than aid received by Thomas College students ($39,174 vs. $28,212).

Menlo vs. Thomas College Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Menlo - Test-free; Thomas College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Menlo Apr 1, 2027.
• Thomas College has a higher acceptance rate (96.3%) than Menlo (68.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 5.3% at Menlo vs. 16.1% at Thomas College.

Menlo vs. Thomas College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Menlo and Thomas 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).

• Thomas College's six-year graduation rate (45%) is higher than Menlo College's (34%).
• Graduates from Menlo College earn a median of about $12,900 more per year than Thomas College graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,900 vs. $41,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Menlo College graduates have a $5,938 lower median loan debt than Thomas College graduates ($21,062 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Menlo graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Thomas College graduates ($217 vs. $279).
• More Thomas College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Menlo students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 55%)

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.