Thomas College vs. Hampshire College

Comparable Facts

Compare Thomas College in Waterville, ME with Hampshire College in Amherst, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Thomas College is larger than Hampshire College based on total student enrollment (1,635 students vs. 844 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Thomas College vs. Hampshire College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Thomas College or Hampshire 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 Hampshire College ($19,126 vs. $27,895).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Thomas College are 11.7% lower than at Hampshire College ($14,090 vs. $15,958).
• Hampshire College is 85.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Thomas College (about $27,072 more per year; $58,896.00 vs. $31,824.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 85.1% higher at Hampshire College than at Thomas College (about $27,072 more per year; $58,896.00 vs. $31,824.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hampshire College than at Thomas College (100% vs. 98%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Hampshire College students is 63.6% larger than aid received by Thomas College students ($46,145 vs. $28,212).

Thomas College vs. Hampshire College Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Thomas College - Test-free; Hampshire College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Hampshire College Jan 15, 2027.
• Thomas College has a higher acceptance rate (96.3%) than Hampshire College (75.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.1% at Thomas College vs. 14.4% at Hampshire College.

Thomas College vs. Hampshire College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Thomas College and Hampshire 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).

• Hampshire College's six-year graduation rate (61%) is higher than Thomas College's (45%).
• Graduates from Thomas College earn a median of about $3,900 more per year than Hampshire College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,000 vs. $37,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Hampshire College graduates have a $3,469 lower median loan debt than Thomas College graduates ($23,531 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Hampshire College graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Thomas College graduates ($243 vs. $279).
• More Hampshire College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Thomas College students, three years after graduation. (72% 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.