Head-to-head comparison
Thomas Aquinas College vs John Paul the Great Catholic University: which has better ROI?
Option A Santa Paula, CA
Thomas Aquinas College
- Net price / year
- $26,196
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,619
- Payback
- 14.4 yrs
Option B Escondido, CA
John Paul the Great Catholic University
- Net price / year
- $34,666
- Earnings, 10 years
- $56,930
- Payback
- 16.2 yrs
Thomas Aquinas College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $104,784 in 14.4 years versus 16.2 years at John Paul the Great Catholic University, on median earnings of $55,619 vs $56,930 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Thomas Aquinas College | John Paul the Great Catholic University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $26,196 | $34,666 |
| Total net cost | $104,784 | $138,664 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $55,619 | $56,930 |
| Median debt | $18,000 | $26,968 |
| Payback | 14.4 yrs | 16.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $40,396 | $32,736 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Thomas Aquinas College or John Paul the Great Catholic University?
Thomas Aquinas College, at $26,196 a year after aid versus $34,666 — a gap of $8,470 a year, or $33,880 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 Thomas Aquinas College or John Paul the Great Catholic University graduates earn more?
John Paul the Great Catholic University graduates report a median $56,930 ten years after entry, $1,311 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, Thomas Aquinas College or John Paul the Great Catholic University?
Thomas Aquinas College: its completers carry a median $18,000 in federal loans versus $26,968 at John Paul the Great Catholic University, a difference of $8,968. 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 64% at John Paul the Great Catholic 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.