Head-to-head comparison
Biola University vs Thomas Aquinas College: which has better ROI?
Option A La Mirada, CA
Biola University
- Net price / year
- $31,495
- Earnings, 10 years
- $56,778
- Payback
- 15 yrs
Option B Santa Paula, CA
Thomas Aquinas College
- Net price / year
- $26,196
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,619
- Payback
- 14.4 yrs
Thomas Aquinas College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $104,784 in 14.4 years versus 15 years at Biola University, on median earnings of $55,619 vs $56,778 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Biola University | Thomas Aquinas College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $31,495 | $26,196 |
| Total net cost | $125,980 | $104,784 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $56,778 | $55,619 |
| Median debt | $23,875 | $18,000 |
| Payback | 15 yrs | 14.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $42,380 | $40,396 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Biola University or Thomas Aquinas College?
Thomas Aquinas College, at $26,196 a year after aid versus $31,495 — a gap of $5,299 a year, or $21,196 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Biola University or Thomas Aquinas College graduates earn more?
Biola University graduates report a median $56,778 ten years after entry, $1,159 more than the $55,619 at Thomas Aquinas College. 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Biola University or Thomas Aquinas College?
Thomas Aquinas College: its completers carry a median $18,000 in federal loans versus $23,875 at Biola University, a difference of $5,875. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
84% of students finish at Thomas Aquinas College, against 68% at Biola 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.