Head-to-head comparison
Thomas University vs Covenant College: which has better ROI?
Option A Thomasville, GA
Thomas University
- Net price / year
- $18,499
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,716
- Payback
- 54.6 yrs
Option B Lookout Mountain, GA
Covenant College
- Net price / year
- $26,265
- Earnings, 10 years
- $50,412
- Payback
- 51.2 yrs
Covenant College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $105,060 in 51.2 years versus 54.6 years at Thomas University, on median earnings of $50,412 vs $49,716 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Thomas University | Covenant College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,499 | $26,265 |
| Total net cost | $73,996 | $105,060 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,716 | $50,412 |
| Median debt | $21,198 | $22,500 |
| Payback | 54.6 yrs | 51.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$46,876 | -$64,020 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Thomas University or Covenant College?
Thomas University, at $18,499 a year after aid versus $26,265 — a gap of $7,766 a year, or $31,064 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 University or Covenant College graduates earn more?
Covenant College graduates report a median $50,412 ten years after entry, $696 more than the $49,716 at Thomas 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 University or Covenant College?
Thomas University: its completers carry a median $21,198 in federal loans versus $22,500 at Covenant College, a difference of $1,302. 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?
71% of students finish at Covenant College, 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.