Thomas College vs. Massachusetts College of Art and Design

Comparable Facts

Compare Thomas College in Waterville, ME with Massachusetts College of Art and Design in Boston, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Massachusetts College of Art and Design is larger than Thomas College based on total student enrollment (1,989 students vs. 1,635 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Thomas College is located in Waterville, ME (Rural Fringe setting); Massachusetts College of Art and Design is in Boston, MA (Large City setting).
• Thomas College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Massachusetts College of Art and Design is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Thomas College 20:1; Massachusetts College of Art and Design 9:1.

Thomas College vs. Massachusetts College of Art and Design Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Thomas College or Massachusetts College of Art and Design? 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 Massachusetts College of Art and Design ($19,126 vs. $24,864).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Thomas College are 27.4% lower than at Massachusetts College of Art and Design ($14,090 vs. $19,412).
• Thomas College is 106.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Massachusetts College of Art and Design (about $16,424 more per year; $31,824.00 vs. $15,400.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 36.4% higher at Massachusetts College of Art and Design than at Thomas College (about $11,576 more per year; $43,400.00 vs. $31,824.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Thomas College than at Massachusetts College of Art and Design (98% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Thomas College students is 170.7% larger than aid received by Massachusetts College of Art and Design students ($28,212 vs. $10,421).

Thomas College vs. Massachusetts College of Art and Design Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Thomas College or Massachusetts College of Art and Design? 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 Massachusetts College of Art and Design and Thomas College.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Thomas College - Test-free; Massachusetts College of Art and Design - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Massachusetts College of Art and Design Feb 1, 2027.
• Thomas College has a higher acceptance rate (96.3%) than Massachusetts College of Art and Design (76.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.1% at Thomas College vs. 17.3% at Massachusetts College of Art and Design.

Thomas College vs. Massachusetts College of Art and Design Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Thomas College and Massachusetts College of Art and Design? 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).

• Massachusetts College of Art and Design's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than Thomas College's (45%).
• Graduates from Thomas College earn a median of about $2,300 more per year than Massachusetts College of Art and Design graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,000 vs. $38,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Massachusetts College of Art and Design graduates have a $1,750 lower median loan debt than Thomas College graduates ($25,250 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Massachusetts College of Art and Design graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Thomas College graduates ($261 vs. $279).
• More Thomas College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Massachusetts College of Art and Design students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 64%)

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.