Head-to-head comparison
Northern Kentucky University vs Thomas More University: which has better ROI?
Option A Highland Heights, KY
Northern Kentucky University
- Net price / year
- $8,191
- Earnings, 10 years
- $50,220
- Payback
- 17.6 yrs
Option B Crestview Hills, KY
Thomas More University
- Net price / year
- $21,835
- Earnings, 10 years
- $59,384
- Payback
- 7.9 yrs
Thomas More University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $87,340 in 7.9 years versus 17.6 years at Northern Kentucky University, on median earnings of $59,384 vs $50,220 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Northern Kentucky University | Thomas More University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,191 | $21,835 |
| Total net cost | $32,764 | $87,340 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $50,220 | $59,384 |
| Median debt | $23,000 | $26,236 |
| Payback | 17.6 yrs | 7.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $4,436 | $133,140 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Northern Kentucky University or Thomas More University?
Northern Kentucky University, at $8,191 a year after aid versus $21,835 — a gap of $13,644 a year, or $54,576 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 Northern Kentucky University or Thomas More University graduates earn more?
Thomas More University graduates report a median $59,384 ten years after entry, $9,164 more than the $50,220 at Northern Kentucky 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Northern Kentucky University or Thomas More University?
Northern Kentucky University: its completers carry a median $23,000 in federal loans versus $26,236 at Thomas More University, a difference of $3,236. 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?
52% of students finish at Northern Kentucky University, 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.