Thomas Jefferson University

Admission to Thomas Jefferson University is accessible, as its acceptance rate has climbed even while its position in national rankings has trended upward over time. In the 2027 U.S. News rankings, the university stood at 133, moving up from 153 in 2020. Gaining admission has become easier in recent cycles, with the school accepting a large share of its applicant pool. In 2025, the admit rate was 81%, which was higher than 83% of peer schools in a comparison group of private comprehensive universities with similar rankings. At the same time, the institution demonstrates a modest pull among admitted candidates. The yield rate in 2025 was 12.1%, indicating that the university enrolls a small fraction of the students it accepts. For prospective applicants, these figures mean that admission is relatively attainable, but Jefferson must compete against alternative options when admitted candidates decide where to enroll.

Applicants evaluating Thomas Jefferson University encounter standardized test score expectations that sit below those of many peer institutions. In 2025, the university reported a median SAT score of 1240, which was higher than 7% of peer schools in a comparison group of private comprehensive universities with similar rankings. On the ACT, composite scores typically spanned from 25 to 30. Performance across individual reading, writing, and mathematics sections similarly reflects consistent, moderate preparation rather than highly competitive cutoffs. For prospective students assessing their fit, scoring within these testing ranges aligns well with the typical profile of enrolled cohorts. Demonstrating an academic record capable of matching these standardized benchmarks provides applicants with a clear target when evaluating their overall readiness for the university's undergraduate curriculum.

Academic programs at Thomas Jefferson University are strongly focused on healthcare and clinical disciplines, where the institution holds its highest national standing. In the 2026 U.S. News graduate rankings, the university achieved prominent positions with its medical school ranking 2nd in both primary care and research, while occupational therapy ranked 8th. Undergraduate degrees are heavily concentrated in these health areas, with the top three bachelor's majors accounting for 49.2% of all bachelor's graduates in 2025. The leading programs were Registered Nursing, which graduated 244 students, and General Health Services. Earnings for graduates reflect the strength of this healthcare concentration. According to 2023 earnings data, median earnings one year after graduation reached $98,195 for nursing graduates and $91,985 for allied health diagnostic and treatment professions. For prospective applicants, the university offers strong clinical training and post-graduate earning potential, though academic options outside the health professions are far less central to the campus.

The student body at Thomas Jefferson University is primarily composed of graduate students and maintains a sizable female majority across all divisions. In 2025, total enrollment reached 8,238 students, with graduate degree seekers accounting for 54.2% of the entire student population. Women represent nearly three-quarters of both undergraduate and graduate cohorts. Asian students constitute an established demographic across campus, making up 16.8% of first-year undergraduates and a comparable proportion of graduate learners. In contrast, international representation remains modest throughout the undergraduate ranks, where foreign students comprise less than two percent of entering freshmen. At the graduate level, international enrollment is higher, totaling 343 students in 2025. For prospective applicants, the campus community is heavily focused on post-baccalaureate training, with a diverse domestic student body and limited international undergraduate numbers.

Undergraduate and graduate populations at Thomas Jefferson University exhibit sharply contrasting age profiles that shape daily campus life. The undergraduate community consists largely of traditional-age college students, with those aged 18 to 19 making up 33.8% of the 3,772 undergraduates in 2025, while students aged 20 to 21 represent another 31.1%. In contrast, the graduate division is distinctly older, led by individuals aged 25 to 29 who account for 36.9% of the graduate cohort. This division creates a dual campus environment where residential and campus-based student life is largely experienced by traditional undergraduate young adults, while the majority of the overall student population consists of working-age adults engaged in clinical and advanced professional study.

International student enrollment at Thomas Jefferson University has grown over the past decade but remains heavily weighted toward graduate study. At the undergraduate level, international students represented 2% of the student body in 2025, up from earlier years. When compared against 30 private comprehensive universities with similar rankings, this undergraduate proportion was higher than 13% of peer schools. In contrast, the graduate international presence is considerably larger, reaching 7.7% of all graduate students in 2025. This divergence is also visible in degree completions: in 2025, international students earned less than two percent of bachelor's degrees but received 12% of master's degrees. International graduate students concentrate primarily in disciplines such as business administration and biology, while domestic students overwhelmingly dominate clinical healthcare majors such as nursing and physician assistant studies. For prospective international candidates, graduate degree tracks offer a much more established international peer network than undergraduate programs.

Applicants considering Thomas Jefferson University have several prominent alternative institutions located within close proximity in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. Just 1.8 kilometers away, Drexel University is ranked 80 among National Universities in the 2027 rankings. Nearby at 1.9 kilometers is the University of Pennsylvania, holding the 7th position nationally among National Universities. Also within 1.9 kilometers across the river is Rutgers University-Camden, which ranked 95 among National Universities. Slightly further north at 2.2 kilometers sits Temple University, ranked 109 in the same National Universities category. These four surrounding universities provide students with a variety of academic environments and selectivity profiles within a small geographic radius of downtown Philadelphia.

Campus safety reports for Thomas Jefferson University indicate an increase in reported security incidents over the past decade. Forward Pathway's crime rate per 1,000 students rose from earlier lows to reach 4.4 in 2025. Over the three-year period from 2023 to 2025, recorded incidents across campus and affiliated areas were led by 17 reports of assault and 17 reports of sexual harassment, followed by 15 reports of robbery. Other offenses recorded across those same three years included burglaries and weapon arrests in smaller quantities. Because Thomas Jefferson operates an urban campus integrated into central Philadelphia, security dynamics reflect the surrounding metropolitan setting. Prospective students and families should consider these trends and review campus escort services, building access rules, and transit safety when evaluating the university's living and study environment.