“A business-integrated education built for career success, social mobility, and a faster path to your degree.”
Thomas College is a private, non-sectarian four-year institution founded in 1894 in Waterville, Maine. Originally established as a business college, it has grown into a comprehensive liberal arts and professional studies institution with a distinctive business-integration focus that distinguishes it from conventional small colleges. With approximately 1,600 undergraduates on a scenic 120-acre residential campus in central Maine, Thomas blends a close-knit community experience with ambitious academic programming that emphasizes practical workforce preparation, entrepreneurial thinking, and accelerated degree completion. Its three academic schools — the H. Allen Ryan School of Business, the Peter and Paula Lunder School of Education, and the School of Arts and Sciences — offer over 50 undergraduate degree programs and 11 graduate programs, all designed with tangible career outcomes in mind. A signature hallmark of Thomas College is its 3+1 accelerated pathway: students in nearly any major can earn their bachelor degree in three years and complete a master degree in the fourth year, making Thomas one of only a handful of institutions nationally offering this campus-wide structure. This model reduces total educational costs and gets graduates into the workforce up to two years earlier than at comparable colleges. On campus, over 45% of students compete as varsity athletes on one of 20 NCAA Division III Terrier teams, winning 32 conference championships and fostering a culture of discipline and community participation that defines life at Thomas. Thomas College has built a notable international student community, with 13% of its most recent incoming class arriving from outside the United States — an exceptional share for a college its size — drawn by generous international scholarships, English-language support, and a uniquely affordable path to a U.S. degree. Located in Waterville, a vibrant college town in central Maine known for its arts district, Kennebec River, and access to outdoor recreation, Thomas offers both a tight-knit campus experience and a deeply livable regional setting. Graduates earn median earnings of approximately $41,000 ten years after enrolling — above the national median — and the college ranks #33 nationally for social mobility among Regional Universities North, a testament to its commitment to making upward opportunity accessible.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
Regional Universities North
US News 2026 (ranked in the #150-164 range)
Top Performers on Social Mobility (Regional Universities North)
US News 2026
Test Optional — You can submit scores if they help your case, but they're not required.
Official SourceRolling Admissions
Applications reviewed on a rolling basis; August 1 is the standard regular deadline for fall entry
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Domestic
$31,824 – $32,780
/yr
Out-of-State / Intl
$32,780
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
The flagship school, offering comprehensive business education with an emphasis on entrepreneurship, analytics, and applied management.
Maine-licensed teacher preparation programs integrated with hands-on classroom placements throughout the program.
Liberal arts and sciences foundation, including computer science, criminal justice, psychology, and health sciences.
Eleven graduate programs, most accessible via the 3+1 accelerated pathway for Thomas undergraduates.
3 years
Complete a B.S. in Business in three years, then earn an MBA in the fourth — unique accelerated model that reduces total cost and time to full credentials.
4 years
Comprehensive CS curriculum with cybersecurity, software development, and data science concentrations; qualifies graduates for STEM OPT extension.
4 years
One of the most popular programs, combining business and kinesiology to prepare students for careers in sport administration, coaching, and fitness management.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $31,824
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
