Head-to-head comparison
Piedmont University vs Thomas University: which has better ROI?
Option A Demorest, GA
Piedmont University
- Net price / year
- $20,599
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,130
- Payback
- 107 yrs
Option B Thomasville, GA
Thomas University
- Net price / year
- $18,499
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,716
- Payback
- 54.6 yrs
Thomas University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $73,996 in 54.6 years versus 107 years at Piedmont University, on median earnings of $49,716 vs $49,130 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Piedmont University | Thomas University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $20,599 | $18,499 |
| Total net cost | $82,396 | $73,996 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,130 | $49,716 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $21,198 |
| Payback | 107 yrs | 54.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$66,996 | -$46,876 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Piedmont University or Thomas University?
Thomas University, at $18,499 a year after aid versus $20,599 — a gap of $2,100 a year, or $8,400 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 Piedmont University or Thomas University graduates earn more?
Thomas University graduates report a median $49,716 ten years after entry, $586 more than the $49,130 at Piedmont 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, Piedmont University or Thomas University?
Thomas University: its completers carry a median $21,198 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Piedmont University, a difference of $3,802. 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?
47% of students finish at Piedmont University, against 28% at Thomas 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.