Thomas Jefferson University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It enrolls 3,755 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
69/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes71
Value49
Affordability40
Selectivity57
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 81%, Thomas Jefferson University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
81%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1160 – 1330
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
25 – 30
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Thomas Jefferson University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
20.3 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Thomas Jefferson University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $28,928 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$28,928
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
37%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
86%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$47,505
Room & Board (on-campus)
$15,834
Room & Board (off-campus)
$18,438
Books & Supplies
$1,600
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,768
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,768
Total Cost of Attendance
$64,197
Application fee: $50 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$22,537
$30,001 – $48,000
$24,407
$48,001 – $75,000
$24,680
$75,001 – $110,000
$29,734
Over $110,000
$34,889
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,00010%percentile
$7,00025%percentile
$14,744Medianpercentile
$15,00075%percentile
$25,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $18,313
↑ $3,569
No Pell $12,500
↓ $2,244
Dependent students $12,750
↓ $1,994
Independent students $12,500
↓ $2,244
Female students $12,500
↓ $2,244
Male students $15,125
↑ $381
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $12,490, close to what completers borrow ($14,744) but without the degree to show for it.
Graduation Rate & Retention
45% of full-time students who enrolled at Thomas Jefferson University graduate within six years, and 82% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
45%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
82%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Thomas Jefferson University earn a median of $77,449 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$77,449
Earning > $25K
87%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$86,600
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$144,400
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$122,100
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$85,100
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$78,200
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $57,800, about 40% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Stable ↓
0.6 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 87% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Thomas Jefferson University is home to 3,755 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 33% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
3,755
Part-Time
11%
First-Generation
33%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 43.5%1,633
Black 16.7%627
Asian 16.0%601
Hispanic 14.1%530
Other 5.9%220
International 1.9%72
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Thomas Jefferson University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Housing
Mostly residential2,080 beds on campus
Adult Learners
19%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Thomas Jefferson University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
97 distinct programs across
15 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Thomas Jefferson University is 13:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
13:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$5.1B
Strong financial cushion supports aid and stability
Avg Faculty Salary
$92,656
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
330 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
46
14%
$128,695
Associate Professors
96
29%
$101,281
Assistant Professors
147
45%
$82,837
Instructors
41
12%
$66,749
Pros & Cons of Thomas Jefferson University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Thomas Jefferson University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Above-average post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
Below-average completion rate
High published cost of attendance before aid
Most students take on federal loans
Best for:
Based on the data, Thomas Jefferson University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions about Thomas Jefferson University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Thomas Jefferson University.
Is Thomas Jefferson University hard to get into?
Thomas Jefferson University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 81%.
What is the acceptance rate at Thomas Jefferson University?
Thomas Jefferson University has an acceptance rate of 81%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Thomas Jefferson University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Thomas Jefferson University scored between 1160 and 1330 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Thomas Jefferson University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Thomas Jefferson University scored between 25 and 30 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Thomas Jefferson University cost?
The average net price after aid at Thomas Jefferson University is $28,928 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Thomas Jefferson University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $77,449 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $28,928 per year. That's roughly 2.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Thomas Jefferson University known for?
Thomas Jefferson University is best known for its programs in Nursing, Medicine, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Thomas Jefferson University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Thomas Jefferson University are $77,449, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Thomas Jefferson University accredited?
Yes. Thomas Jefferson University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Thomas Jefferson University?
Thomas Jefferson University enrolls 3,755 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Thomas Jefferson University?
Thomas Jefferson University graduates 45% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Thomas Jefferson University a public or private college?
Thomas Jefferson University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Thomas Jefferson University located?
Thomas Jefferson University is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
What programs does Thomas Jefferson University offer?
Thomas Jefferson University offers 97 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Medicine, Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Thomas Jefferson University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Thomas Jefferson University is 13:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Rankings That Feature Thomas Jefferson University
Thomas Jefferson University appears in these rankings, built from the same federal data and the UCD Score.
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84 UCD Score
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86 UCD Score
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$6,233 Lowest Net
$114,862 Top Earn
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84 UCD Score
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$5,167 Lowest Net
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84 UCD Score
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$6,233 Lowest Net
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