Thomas College vs. Longy

Comparable Facts

Compare Thomas College in Waterville, ME with Longy School of Music of Bard College in Cambridge, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Thomas College is larger than Longy based on total student enrollment (1,635 students vs. 317 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Thomas College is located in Waterville, ME (Rural Fringe setting); Longy School of Music of Bard College is in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting).
• Thomas College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Longy School of Music of Bard College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Thomas College 20:1; Longy School of Music of Bard College 4:1.

Thomas College vs. Longy Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Thomas College or Longy? 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 Longy ($19,126 vs. $49,815).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Thomas College are 4.4% lower than at Longy School of Music of Bard College ($14,090 vs. $14,738).
• Longy School of Music of Bard College is 73.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Thomas College (about $23,451 more per year; $55,275.00 vs. $31,824.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 73.7% higher at Longy than at Thomas College (about $23,451 more per year; $55,275.00 vs. $31,824.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Longy School of Music of Bard College than at Thomas College (100% vs. 98%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Thomas College students is 24.6% larger than aid received by Longy School of Music of Bard College students ($28,212 vs. $22,635).

Thomas College vs. Longy Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Thomas College or Longy? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Longy and Thomas College.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Thomas College - Test-free; Longy - Not reported.

Thomas College vs. Longy Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Thomas College and Longy? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Thomas College's six-year graduation rate is 45%. Comparable graduation rate data is not available for Longy.
• Graduates from Thomas College have median earnings of about $41,000 about ten years after starting college (College Scorecard). Comparable earnings data is not available for Longy.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Longy School of Music of Bard College graduates have a $806 lower median loan debt than Thomas College graduates ($26,194 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Longy graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Thomas College graduates ($270 vs. $279).
• More Longy 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.