Private Nonprofit Graduate Good 58/100

Ave Maria University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Ave Maria, Florida

About Ave Maria University

Ave Maria University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Ave Maria, Florida. It enrolls 1,298 students (a small, tight-knit 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.

Acceptance
41.4%
Graduation
49.4%
Net Price
$24,860
Median Earnings (10yr)
$49,520
Enrollment
1,298
Student : Faculty
12:1

Accreditor Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic Calendar Semester

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
58/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes 47
Value 20
Affordability 25
Selectivity 88

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 41.4%, Ave Maria University is a selective institution.

Acceptance Rate
41.4%
Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported
Test Policy Test Optional Applicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Ave Maria University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Getting more selective 40.0 pts since 2019
84.9%201991.8%202064%202144.2%202244.8%2023

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Ave Maria 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 $24,860 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.

Average Net Price
$24,860
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
21%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
45%
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
$30,198
Room & Board (on-campus)
$14,432
Room & Board (off-campus)
$16,450
Books & Supplies
$1,320
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,050
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,050
Total Cost of Attendance
$46,129

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
    $18,761
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $20,840
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $23,790
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $24,088
  • Over $110,000
    $27,107

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.

$2,750
10% percentile
$5,500
25% percentile
$20,776
Median percentile
$24,830
75% percentile
$30,000
90% 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 $12,750 ↓ $8,026
No Pell $12,000 ↓ $8,776
Female students $15,000 ↓ $5,776
Male students $11,000 ↓ $9,776
Pell recipients: 25.1% (5,220 students)No Pell: 23.6% (4,913 students)Female students: 29.6% (6,141 students)Male students: 21.7% (4,503 students)Overall Median$20,776
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,500, less than completers ($20,776), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

49% of full-time students who enrolled at Ave Maria University graduate within six years, and 77% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate
49%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
77%
Returning for their second year

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Ave Maria University earn a median of $49,520 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$49,520
Earning > $25K
76%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$43,000$45,000$47,000$48,000$50,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

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.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt 13.3 pts across 6 years
64.2%1yr70.5%3yr73%5yr77.5%7yr
What this signals: Strong. 78% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Ave Maria University is home to 1,298 students, a small, close-knit community.

Total Enrolled
1,298
Part-Time
1%
First-Generation
18%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
White 69.5% 902
Hispanic 15.0% 195
Asian 4.7% 61
Black 2.9% 37
International 2.3% 30
Other 0.9% 11
White: 69.5% (902 students)Hispanic: 15.0% (195 students)Asian: 4.7% (61 students)Black: 2.9% (37 students)International: 2.3% (30 students)Other: 0.9% (11 students)Total1,298

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Ave Maria University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Rural: Distant Ave Maria, Florida
Housing
Strongly residential 1,133 beds for 1,298 students
Adult Learners
3% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated

What You Can Study

Ave Maria University offers a varied set of programs: 30 distinct programs across 17 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.

7 Programs
3 Programs
3 Programs
1 Program
2 Programs
2 Programs
1 Program

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Ave Maria University is 12:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$225M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$78,640
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

79 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 21 27% $90,698
Associate Professors 26 33% $84,156
Assistant Professors 29 37% $64,328
Instructors 3 4% $84,784

Pros & Cons of Ave Maria University

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Ave Maria University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS
  • Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
  • Tight-knit, close community feel
CONS
  • Above-average net price
  • Selective admissions, solid academic profile expected
  • Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
  • Below-average completion rate
  • Modest first-year retention
Best for: Based on the data, Ave Maria University is a fit for students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.

Frequently Asked Questions about Ave Maria University

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Ave Maria University.

Is Ave Maria University hard to get into?
Ave Maria University is selective but not extremely competitive. Its acceptance rate is 41.4%. Strong academic credentials and a thoughtful application materially improve your odds.
What is the acceptance rate at Ave Maria University?
Ave Maria University has an acceptance rate of 41.4%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Ave Maria University cost?
The average net price after aid at Ave Maria University is $24,860 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Ave Maria University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $49,520 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $24,860 per year. That's roughly 2.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Ave Maria University known for?
Ave Maria University is best known for its programs in Communication & Media, Business Administration, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Ave Maria University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Ave Maria University are $49,520, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Ave Maria University accredited?
Yes. Ave Maria University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Ave Maria University?
Ave Maria University enrolls 1,298 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Ave Maria University?
Ave Maria University graduates 49% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Ave Maria University a public or private college?
Ave Maria University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Ave Maria University located?
Ave Maria University is located in Ave Maria, Florida.
What programs does Ave Maria University offer?
Ave Maria University offers 30 distinct programs. The most popular include Communication & Media, Business Administration, Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Ave Maria University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Ave Maria University is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

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