Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · Private Nonprofit · 81.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 86/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Thomas Jefferson University scores 86 (Strong Value) - a strong result for a Philadelphia-based health sciences university. The 6-year payback period, $67,600 average 6-year earnings, and debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.218 (score 97) are the core drivers. The debt sub-score of 97 is exceptional: median debt of only $14,744 against $67,600 in 6-year earnings reflects either very effective financial aid or a student population with strong employer tuition reimbursement. The 68.6% completion rate is the main weakness.
At 0.22, median debt is less than a quarter of average earnings six years after entry. A ratio of 1.0 would mean owing a full year of those earnings.
Thomas Jefferson University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $47,505/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $47,505/yr |
| Average net price | $28,928/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $115,712 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $77,449 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $67,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $14,744 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $156 |
| Estimated payback period | 6 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 68.6% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 3,755 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $47,505/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $28,928/year, or roughly $115,712 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $22,537/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $34,889/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $14,744, which works out to about $156 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($67,600) and comes to 0.22, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $22,537 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $24,407 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $24,680 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $29,734 |
| $110,001+ | $34,889 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Low-income families (0-$30,000) pay $22,537 per year at Jefferson - $90,148 over four years. Against $67,600 average earnings and a 6-year payback, this is manageable for completers, especially in nursing and allied health. Jefferson's 37.5% Pell rate suggests real access for low-income students in healthcare programs. The completion rate of 68.6% means meaningful attrition - low-income students who do not complete face the full debt burden without the earnings offset.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $24,680 per year ($98,720 over four years) and the $75,001-$110,000 bracket pays $29,734 per year ($118,936 over four years). At these prices, nursing and allied health graduates at $85-100k year-one earnings reach payback in 1-2 years - a strong outcome. Non-health programs at these price points face slower payback. Middle-income families should align program choice with Jefferson's health science strengths.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income families ($110,000+) pay $34,889 per year - $139,556 over four years. At this price, Jefferson nursing and allied health still produce competitive ROI: $85,656 year-one against $140k total cost implies payback under 2 years for nursing completers. For design, business, or general health science majors at full pay, the financial case is weaker.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Thomas Jefferson University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $99,839 | B |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $71,608 | D |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology | $68,760 | C |
| Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment | $106,225 | B+ |
| Design and Applied Arts | $59,731 | D |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $55,383 | D |
| Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations | $57,815 | C |
| Psychology | $55,371 | - |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $74,992 | D |
| Clinical Psychology | $56,119 | F |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is Jefferson's defining program at 430 graduates - by far the highest volume. Year-one earnings of $85,656 and year-four earnings of $99,839 reflect immediate and sustained placement into Jefferson Health and the broader Philadelphia healthcare market. Median debt of $30,000 and a B-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.35 are solid. This nursing program graduates 430 per year.
Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment
Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment (61 graduates) earns $82,918 at year one and $106,225 at year four, with a B+ debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.302 and $25,000 median debt. This program includes radiologic technology, respiratory therapy, and diagnostic imaging - healthcare roles with consistent employment and strong Philadelphia-area wage rates. The 4-year trajectory to $106,225 reflects career advancement and specialization. This is one of Jefferson's best ROI programs relative to earnings and debt load.
Architectural Sciences and Technology
Architectural Sciences (73 graduates) earns $55,334 at year one and $68,760 at year four, with a C-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56 and $31,000 median debt. This program is a legacy of the Philadelphia University merger and represents Jefferson's design-school heritage. Architecture graduates in the Philadelphia market access mid-size and regional architectural firms rather than the major national practices.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (16 graduates) earns $45,225 at year one and $74,992 at year four, with a D-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.81 and $36,625 median debt. Against $47,505 tuition, business administration at Jefferson is a poor ROI case. The D grade reflects high debt against modest year-one earnings. Jefferson's business offering was part of the Philadelphia University merger and does not have the brand recognition of its health sciences programs.
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
Health Sciences General (134 graduates) earns $43,635 at year one and $71,608 at year four, with a D-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.71 and $31,000 median debt. The 4-year trajectory to $71,608 is more representative of health administration and clinical support careers with experience. At $31,000 median debt, the D grade reflects the structural gap between general health studies pay and Jefferson's cost.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 87.2% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 90.2% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 87.9% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 87.8% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Thomas Jefferson University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 81.0% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 580-670 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 580-660 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 25-30 |
| Enrollment | 3,755 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 37.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $10,627 |
Jefferson's 81% admission rate describes a broadly accessible private health university. ACT 25-30 is the parallel range. The institution selects primarily for healthcare program readiness rather than academic distinction across all fields. Students admitted to nursing or allied health programs at Jefferson should evaluate the school's clinical placement resources and NCLEX pass rates, not its selectivity profile.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Jefferson's ROI score is 86.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Jefferson University (this school) | 86 | $28,928 | $77,449 |
| MCPHS University | 90 | $39,545 | $125,557 |
| Loyola University Maryland | 83 | $30,574 | $82,652 |
| Molloy University | 82 | $24,347 | $77,789 |
| Albright College | 56 | $20,024 | $58,700 |
| Bryn Athyn College of the New Church | 34 | $20,586 | $40,457 |
Who Thrives Here
Thomas Jefferson University admits 81% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 580-670 Math and 580-660 Reading, ACT 25-30. Enrollment of 3,755 is mid-size. Jefferson's brand is strongest in nursing, health sciences, and design (the former Philadelphia University programs).
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, Thomas Jefferson University pays off. You'd pay about $28,928 a year after aid ($115,712 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $77,449 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 6 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 68.6% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
On debt, you can breathe a little easier here. Median debt of $14,744 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $67,600 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.22: well under 1.0, the point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings.
Thomas Jefferson University: Common Questions
Is Thomas Jefferson University worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Thomas Jefferson University pays off. It scores 86/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $28,928 a year after aid ($115,712 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $77,449 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 6 years to earn back.
How much does Thomas Jefferson University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $28,928 a year, or roughly $115,712 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Thomas Jefferson University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $77,449 ten years after enrolling, roughly $35,649 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Thomas Jefferson University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 6 years for Thomas Jefferson University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Thomas Jefferson University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $14,744, against average earnings of $67,600 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.22. In our view that is very manageable: well under 1.0, the point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings.
What is the graduation rate at Thomas Jefferson University?
The six-year graduation rate is 68.6%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.