Head-to-head comparison
William Jessup University vs Thomas Aquinas College: which has better ROI?
Option A Rocklin, CA
William Jessup University
- Net price / year
- $28,062
- Earnings, 10 years
- $56,257
- Payback
- 14.2 yrs
Option B Santa Paula, CA
Thomas Aquinas College
- Net price / year
- $26,196
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,619
- Payback
- 14.4 yrs
William Jessup University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $112,248 in 14.2 years versus 14.4 years at Thomas Aquinas College, on median earnings of $56,257 vs $55,619 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | William Jessup University | Thomas Aquinas College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $28,062 | $26,196 |
| Total net cost | $112,248 | $104,784 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $56,257 | $55,619 |
| Median debt | $23,700 | $18,000 |
| Payback | 14.2 yrs | 14.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $45,692 | $40,396 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, William Jessup University or Thomas Aquinas College?
Thomas Aquinas College, at $26,196 a year after aid versus $28,062 — a gap of $1,866 a year, or $7,464 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 William Jessup University or Thomas Aquinas College graduates earn more?
William Jessup University graduates report a median $56,257 ten years after entry, $638 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, William Jessup University or Thomas Aquinas College?
Thomas Aquinas College: its completers carry a median $18,000 in federal loans versus $23,700 at William Jessup University, a difference of $5,700. 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 56% at William Jessup 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.