Thomas College vs. WPI

Comparable Facts

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

Worcester Polytechnic Institute is larger than Thomas College based on total student enrollment (7,584 students vs. 1,635 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Thomas College vs. WPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Thomas College or WPI? 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 WPI ($19,126 vs. $47,372).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Thomas College are 23.4% lower than at Worcester Polytechnic Institute ($14,090 vs. $18,386).
• Worcester Polytechnic Institute is 91.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Thomas College (about $29,141 more per year; $60,965.00 vs. $31,824.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 91.6% higher at WPI than at Thomas College (about $29,141 more per year; $60,965.00 vs. $31,824.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Worcester Polytechnic Institute than at Thomas College (100% vs. 98%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Worcester Polytechnic Institute students is 11.8% larger than aid received by Thomas College students ($31,545 vs. $28,212).

Thomas College vs. WPI Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Thomas College - Test-free; WPI - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: WPI Feb 15, 2027.
• Thomas College has a higher acceptance rate (96.3%) than WPI (60.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.1% at Thomas College vs. 18.1% at WPI.

Thomas College vs. WPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Thomas College and WPI? 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).

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute's six-year graduation rate (76%) is higher than Thomas College's (45%).
• Graduates from Worcester Polytechnic Institute earn a median of about $41,700 more per year than Thomas College graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,700 vs. $41,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Thomas College graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Thomas College graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
• More WPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Thomas College students, three years after graduation. (92% 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.