Centre College vs Thomas More University: which has better ROI?
Centre College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $83,124 in 4.6 years versus 7.9 years at Thomas More University, on median earnings of $66,240 vs $59,384 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Centre College | Thomas More University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $20,781 | $21,835 |
| Total net cost | $83,124 | $87,340 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $66,240 | $59,384 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $26,236 |
| Payback | 4.6 yrs | 7.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $274,476 | $133,140 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Centre College or Thomas More University?
Centre College, at $20,781 a year after aid versus $21,835 — a gap of $1,054 a year, or $4,216 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Centre College or Thomas More University graduates earn more?
Centre College graduates report a median $66,240 ten years after entry, $6,856 more than the $59,384 at Thomas More University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Centre College or Thomas More University?
Thomas More University: its completers carry a median $26,236 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Centre College, a difference of $764. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
81% of students finish at Centre College, against 41% at Thomas More University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.