Head-to-head comparison
Thomas More University vs Spalding University: which has better ROI?
Option A Crestview Hills, KY
Thomas More University
- Net price / year
- $21,835
- Earnings, 10 years
- $59,384
- Payback
- 7.9 yrs
Option B Louisville, KY
Spalding University
- Net price / year
- $25,491
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,438
- Payback
- 94.6 yrs
Thomas More University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $87,340 in 7.9 years versus 94.6 years at Spalding University, on median earnings of $59,384 vs $49,438 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Thomas More University | Spalding University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $21,835 | $25,491 |
| Total net cost | $87,340 | $101,964 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $59,384 | $49,438 |
| Median debt | $26,236 | $25,250 |
| Payback | 7.9 yrs | 94.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $133,140 | -$80,404 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Thomas More University or Spalding University?
Thomas More University, at $21,835 a year after aid versus $25,491 — a gap of $3,656 a year, or $14,624 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 More University or Spalding University graduates earn more?
Thomas More University graduates report a median $59,384 ten years after entry, $9,946 more than the $49,438 at Spalding 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, Thomas More University or Spalding University?
Spalding University: its completers carry a median $25,250 in federal loans versus $26,236 at Thomas More University, a difference of $986. 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 Spalding 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.