Ave Maria University
#2 Best Online Bachelor's in Biology- Graduation Rate
- 55% C
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $49,520 B-
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $24,860 D
- 45% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 41% A-
- Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 11.6× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $11.6 over 20 years. Ranked #2 in Best Online Bachelor's in Biology.
Every $1 spent returns $11.6 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,050,607.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Earnings 21% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $11.6 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Ave Maria University Matters
Ave Maria University is a private liberal arts college in Ave Maria, FL and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Liberal Arts College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate · Arts & Sciences
- Enrollment
- 1,298
- Setting
- Rural
- Designations
- 30
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, Health Professions, Communications
Why students choose Ave Maria University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Selective — admits about 41% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $24,860 a year after grants and scholarships — 45% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $49,520 ten years after enrolling — 21% above the typical college, against $20,776 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.44 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of just under 1,300 students, Ave Maria University offers a close-knit environment that fits those looking for a smaller school experience. The focus here is on a liberal arts education, with top programs in Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Biology & Biomedical, Psychology, and Social Sciences. This variety allows students to explore different fields while also honing in on their specific interests.
After graduation, students can expect to earn around $49,520 within ten years, a figure that reflects the potential return on their investment in education. While the graduation rate is 55%, indicating that some students may face challenges, those who do complete their degrees often find that their earnings can significantly improve their financial standing, especially when we consider the affordability of the education here.
When it comes to the financials, the net price for students after aid is about $24,860, with a median debt load of $20,776. This balance positions Ave Maria as an accessible option for many families. Students who thrive here often appreciate the community-focused atmosphere and the personalized attention they receive, making it a good fit for those who value connection and support in their academic journey.
Rankings
- #2 Best Online Bachelor's in Biology
- #2 Best Online Bachelor's in Mathematics
- #2 Best Online Bachelor's in Physical Sciences
- #2 Best Online Bachelor's in Environmental Science
- #2 Best Online Master's in Biology
- #2 Best Online Master's in Mathematics
- #2 Best Online Master's in Physical Sciences
- #2 Best Online Master's in Environmental Science
Can I Get In?
How selective Ave Maria University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Ave Maria University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Ave Maria, Florida, Ave Maria University reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 41%. The graduation rate is roughly 55%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 41%
- Retention Rate
- 79%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,091
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 14:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.49
- First-Gen Students
- 18%
- Applicants
- 3,404
- Admitted
- 1,505
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Ave Maria University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Ave Maria University is $30,198, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $24,860. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $18,761 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $20,776 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $30,198
- Out-of-State
- $30,198
- Avg Net Price
- $24,860
- Median Debt
- $20,776
- Pell Grant Rate
- 21%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 45%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $18,761
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $20,840
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $23,790
- Family Income $110K+
- $27,107
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Ave Maria University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Ave Maria University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Ave Maria University earn a median of $49,520, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $43,572
- 8 Years
- $46,740
- 10 Years
- $49,520
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.42x
- Earning > $25K
- 60%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (150)
- 49%
- 100% (150)
- 49%
- 100% (150)
- 49%
- 100% (150)
- 49%
How Ave Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Ave Maria University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Ave Maria University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $24,860/year ($99,440 total). Graduates earn $49,520 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,150,047 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,050,607 (11.6× your investment). The median debt is $20,776, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 55% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $99,440
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,150,047
- Net Return
- $1,050,607
- ROI Multiple
- 11.6×
- Cost Per Year
- $24,860
- Median Debt
- $20,776
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 55%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $8,682,351
- Investment Income
- $1,670,400
Top Programs
The fields Ave Maria University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 25%
- Biology & Biomedical 13%
- Health Professions 11%
- Communications 9%
- Psychology 8% $36,820 early-career
- Social Sciences 5%
- English & Literature 3%
- Education 1%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Ave Maria University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Ave Maria University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Ave Maria, Florida, Ave Maria University reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 41%. The graduation rate is roughly 55%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Ave Maria University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Ave Maria University is $30,198, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $24,860. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $18,761 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $20,776 in federal student loans.
Is Ave Maria University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Ave Maria University earn a median of $49,520, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is Ave Maria University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Ave Maria University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.44, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Ave Maria University.
- Oklahoma Baptist UniversityShawnee, OK · Close peer51% grad $48,434 earn 49% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- William Penn UniversityOskaloosa, IA · Close peer31% grad $48,936 earn 52% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and SciencesFayette, MO · Close peer52% grad $48,991 earn 57% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- East Texas Baptist UniversityMarshall, TX · Close peer48% grad $52,788 earn 58% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Averett UniversityDanville, VA · Close peer46% grad $51,516 earn 57% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Oakwood UniversityHuntsville, AL · Close peer47% grad $42,488 earn 45% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Ave Maria University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Ave Maria University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.44, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note