
Crestview Hills, KYprivate nonprofitthomasmore.edu
Admit rate has ranged 91%–97% over the last 5 years. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Thomas More University, a small Catholic liberal arts school in suburban Kentucky, offers an intimate, values-driven education with a practical bent. With acceptance rates hovering around 90%, it's accessible yet maintains a tight-knit community where business and nursing majors dominate. The university leans heavily into its Catholic identity while delivering solid job placement rates—especially for graduates who stick around the region.
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
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Outcomes & value
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Campus & location
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Thomas More University is decidedly not selective, with Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. ranging from 78% to 97% across sources—though most cluster around 90%. The middle 50% of admitted students score between 20-27 on the ACT or 1030-1280 on the SAT, with average GPAs hovering around 3.0. Notably, the school is test-optional, appealing to students who may not excel on standardized exams. Enrollment data shows a small undergraduate population (around 1,446 students), with a focus on traditional, full-time learners. Retention rates are modest, with about 60-66% of students returning for their sophomore year—suggesting the university serves a mix of committed students and those still testing the waters of higher ed.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Thomas More leans into its Catholic liberal arts identity but with a pragmatic twist: business (68 graduates), nursing (26 graduates), and kinesiology dominate its most popular majors. The curriculum emphasizes interdisciplinary studies, with standout programs in accounting, environmental science, and political science. Small class sizes are the norm, fostering close faculty-student relationships. The university also offers accelerated dual-degree programs, allowing undergrads to start on master’s coursework—a selling point for career-focused students. While the core curriculum includes philosophy and theology, the vibe is more applied than theoretical, with a focus on job-ready skills.
Life at Thomas More revolves around its suburban campus in Crestview Hills, where dorms house a tight-knit community (annual cost: ~$8,150). The university leans into Catholic traditions, including communal meals that evoke medieval academic customs. Student reviews highlight a low-key social scene, with Greek life virtually nonexistent and athletics (especially DIII sports) filling the gap. Clubs range from ministry groups to niche academic societies, but the overall vibe is quiet and commuter-friendly—many students live off-campus or hail from nearby Greater Cincinnati. Weekend excitement often means trips to Cincinnati’s bars and restaurants rather than raucous on-campus parties.
Thomas More’s graduation rate lags behind national averages at 40-43%, but those who persist see solid returns: 61-66% of recent graduates secured jobs within six months, with near-perfect placement for certain cohorts. Alumni typically land roles in regional healthcare, education, and business, with salaries reflecting the area’s modest cost of living. The university’s career services emphasize local networks, making it a strong choice for students planning to stay in Kentucky or Ohio. While not a pipeline to elite grad schools, it delivers practical outcomes for students who leverage its small size to build relationships with professors and local employers.
Thomas More’s sticker price is steep (~$38,000 tuition), but 77.7% of students receive financial aid, bringing the average net price down to $21,314. The university heavily promotes its institutional scholarships, with average aid packages around $26,926 for freshmen. The Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. Calculator hints at aggressive discounting for strong applicants, especially those from middle-income families. While not a bargain for everyone, the aid strategy makes it competitive against regional public schools—provided students maximize scholarship opportunities.
Thomas More carves a niche as a small, Catholic, career-focused university that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Its hyper-local job placement and dual-degree options appeal to pragmatic students, while the liberal arts core ensures a dash of intellectual rigor. The campus vibe is unpretentious and community-oriented—think shared meals and DIII sports rather than cutthroat pre-professionalism. For students seeking a values-driven education with a clear ROI in the Greater Cincinnati area, it’s a compelling choice. Just don’t expect the rah-rah spirit of a Big Ten school; here, success is measured in steady jobs and lifelong connections, not football wins.