
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 is a small, private Catholic university in the suburban hills of northern Kentucky that operates with an open-arms admissions philosophy and a distinctly personal, community-focused approach. Its identity is rooted in a 14:1 student-faculty ratio that promises individual attention, a slate of practical majors led by business administration, and a residential campus life built around fostering growth. While its graduation rates signal a challenge for some students to persist, those who do graduate report solid early-career earnings, positioning it as a accessible, teaching-focused regional institution where students are known by name.
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.
Compare on earnings: best colleges for Nursing · best colleges for Business · best colleges for Criminal Justice
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 practices a highly accessible, non-selective admissions policy. With an of 90%, the university admits nearly all who apply, creating a pathway for a broad range of students. For the Fall 2023 entering class, 3,242 students applied, 2,929 were accepted, and 2,126 ultimately enrolled, indicating a high from those admitted. The middle 50% SAT range for admitted students who submit scores is 1030–1230, with an equivalent ACT range of 21–27. The average high school GPA of incoming students is 3.35. The university has a policy, meaning submission of SAT or ACT scores is not required. There is no evidence in the provided sources that the university employs an Early Decision plan or that demonstrated interest is a considered factor in admissions decisions; the is the authoritative source for such policy details, though the specific CDS for Thomas More University is not among the provided snippets.
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.
Academics at Thomas More are defined by close faculty mentorship and a focus on practical, career-oriented programs within a liberal arts framework. The university offers 39 majors, with Business Administration and Management as the most popular, awarding around 59 degrees in that field annually. Other well-recognized programs include accounting, environmental and life sciences, history, international studies, English, political science, and paper science. The student-faculty ratio is 14:1, a figure the university actively promotes as central to its community ethos, ensuring students are "more than just a number." This intimate scale is a double-edged sword; while it facilitates personal attention, some prospective students express concern about the extremely small size of the institution. The average first-year retention rate, an indicator of initial student satisfaction, is 65%.
Campus life at Thomas More is intentionally communal and residential, with a stated commitment from Residence Life to foster intellectual, physical, social, and spiritual growth. The university is situated in a suburban setting in Crestview Hills, Kentucky, and enrolls 1,446 undergraduate students. Campus housing costs an average of $8,150 per year. The small size permeates the student experience, encouraging a tight-knit atmosphere where, as the university notes, you're part of a community. Reviews on student life platforms cover aspects of housing, food, athletics, and clubs, though the provided sources lack specific details about Greek life or a distinctive array of traditions. The vibe is that of a familiar, supportive environment rather than a large, anonymous campus.
Student outcomes at Thomas More present a mixed picture, with graduation rates being a notable area of focus and improvement for the institution. The university has a stated graduation rate goal of 65% for cohorts graduating within 150% of normal time. Reported graduation rates vary by source: one analysis notes an overall completion rate of 40% (32% for male students, higher for females), while the federal College Scorecard reports a rate of 47%. The university's own graduation data shows figures for specific cohorts, such as 37.99% for one group. For those who do graduate, early career earnings appear strong. According to a university post, Thomas More students earn an average of $70,000 four years after graduation. The institution is ranked 1,229 out of 1,715 nationally by one ranking site, reflecting its regional positioning.
Thomas More University is a private institution with a that varies significantly based on family income, and the majority of students receive financial aid to offset costs. The average net price after aid is $21,835. According to the College Board, 77.7% of students receive financial aid, with an average aid package of $26,926. U.S. News data breaks down net price by income bracket: for families earning $0-$30,000, the average net price is $12,814; for those earning $30,001-$48,000, it is $16,149; and for families with incomes over $110,000, projections are around $28,165. The university provides a Net Price Calculator for prospective students to get an early estimate of their financial aid. The provided sources do not indicate that Thomas More University has a "no-loan" policy or that it meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted students; such policies are typically outlined in the or explicit institutional aid statements.
Thomas More University stands out for its unwavering commitment to accessibility and personalized education within a Catholic framework. Its 90% is a deliberate open door, making a private, values-based education a realistic option for a wide academic range of students. The 14:1 student-faculty ratio isn't just a statistic; it's the operational core of the institution, creating an environment where professors know students by name and mentorship is expected. While it lacks the selectivity and national reach of elite liberal arts colleges, it carves a distinct niche as a teaching-focused university where the primary mission is student development, not research prestige. Its location in the suburban Cincinnati metro area offers a quiet campus setting with proximity to a major city. The combination of strong reported post-graduate earnings for completers, a practical academic focus led by business, and a supportive, community-driven campus life defines its unique position in the landscape of small, regional private universities.