Head-to-head comparison
Stanbridge University vs Thomas Aquinas College: which has better ROI?
Option A Irvine, CA
Stanbridge University
- Net price / year
- $45,372
- Earnings, 10 years
- $62,144
- Payback
- 13.2 yrs
Option B Santa Paula, CA
Thomas Aquinas College
- Net price / year
- $26,196
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,619
- Payback
- 14.4 yrs
Stanbridge University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $181,488 in 13.2 years versus 14.4 years at Thomas Aquinas College, on median earnings of $62,144 vs $55,619 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Stanbridge University | Thomas Aquinas College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $45,372 | $26,196 |
| Total net cost | $181,488 | $104,784 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $62,144 | $55,619 |
| Median debt | $20,000 | $18,000 |
| Payback | 13.2 yrs | 14.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $94,192 | $40,396 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Stanbridge University or Thomas Aquinas College?
Thomas Aquinas College, at $26,196 a year after aid versus $45,372 — a gap of $19,176 a year, or $76,704 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 Stanbridge University or Thomas Aquinas College graduates earn more?
Stanbridge University graduates report a median $62,144 ten years after entry, $6,525 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, Stanbridge University or Thomas Aquinas College?
Thomas Aquinas College: its completers carry a median $18,000 in federal loans versus $20,000 at Stanbridge University, a difference of $2,000. 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 62% at Stanbridge 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.