Saint Ambrose University
#8 Best Computer Science Colleges in Iowa- Graduation Rate
- 62% C+
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $59,531 B+
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $24,691 D
- 44% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 77% C
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 14.3× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $14.3 over 20 years. Ranked #8 in Best Computer Science Colleges in Iowa.
Every $1 spent returns $14.3 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,311,263.
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 46% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $14.3 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Saint Ambrose University Matters
Saint Ambrose University is a private doctoral / professional university in Davenport, IA 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 Doctoral / Professional University
- Carnegie Class
- Doctoral/Professional
- Enrollment
- 1,916
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- 30
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Psychology, Education
Why students choose Saint Ambrose 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
Competitive — admits about 77% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 930–1170. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $24,691 a year after grants and scholarships — 44% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $59,531 ten years after enrolling — 46% above the typical college, against $25,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.8% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 89% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.72 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Saint Ambrose University has a solid graduation rate of 62%. This figure stands out in the context of the private nonprofit sector and indicates that a significant number of students complete their degrees within a reasonable timeframe. With an acceptance rate of 77%, the university remains accessible to a wide range of applicants.
The Chetty/Opportunity Insights data on this institution is not available, making it hard to assess mobility and long-term outcomes comprehensively. However, students can expect a supportive environment that aims to foster success. The university’s focus on key areas such as Business, Health Professions, and Psychology suggests pathways for students to enter growing job markets.
Financially, the net price for attending Saint Ambrose is $24,691, with a median debt of $25,000. Graduates earn an average of $59,531 ten years after enrollment, indicating a favorable return on investment for many. Students who thrive here typically have an interest in hands-on learning and community engagement, aligning with the university's emphasis on practical skills and service.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Saint Ambrose 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 Saint Ambrose University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Davenport, Iowa, Saint Ambrose University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 77%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,093. The graduation rate is roughly 62%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 77%
- Retention Rate
- 76%
- SAT Average
- 1093
- ACT Midpoint
- 24
- SAT Range
- 930–1170
- ACT Range
- 20–25
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,663
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 12:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.54
- First-Gen Students
- 28%
- Applicants
- 3,589
- Admitted
- 2,653
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 Saint Ambrose University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Saint Ambrose University is $36,658, 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 $24,691. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $22,037 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $36,658
- Out-of-State
- $36,658
- Avg Net Price
- $24,691
- Median Debt
- $25,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 32%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 64%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $22,037
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $21,729
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $22,408
- Family Income $110K+
- $27,807
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 Saint Ambrose 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 Saint Ambrose University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Saint Ambrose University earn a median of $59,531, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $51,616
- 8 Years
- $57,759
- 10 Years
- $59,531
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.42x
- Earning > $25K
- 76%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (294)
- 57%
- 100% (294)
- 57%
- 100% (294)
- 57%
- 100% (294)
- 57%
How Saint Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Saint Ambrose University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Saint Ambrose University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $24,691/year ($98,764 total). Graduates earn $59,531 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,410,027 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,311,263 (14.3× your investment). The median debt is $25,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 62% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $98,764
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,410,027
- Net Return
- $1,311,263
- ROI Multiple
- 14.3×
- Cost Per Year
- $24,691
- Median Debt
- $25,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 62%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Saint Ambrose University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Saint Ambrose University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.78%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower: only about 3% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 26% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $99,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.78%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 26.0%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 3.0%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $134,778
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $6,495,636
- Investment Income
- $-16,399,065
Top Programs
The fields Saint Ambrose 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 22% $60,427 early-career
- Health Professions 15% $70,551 early-career
- Psychology 10% $31,312 early-career
- Education 10% $45,495 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 5%
- Computer Science & IT 4%
- Engineering 4% $74,862 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 3%
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 Saint Ambrose 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+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Saint Ambrose University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Davenport, Iowa, Saint Ambrose University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 77%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,093. The graduation rate is roughly 62%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Saint Ambrose University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Saint Ambrose University is $36,658, 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 $24,691. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $22,037 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,000 in federal student loans.
Is Saint Ambrose University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Saint Ambrose University earn a median of $59,531, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Saint Ambrose University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Saint Ambrose University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.78%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower: only about 3% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 26% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $99,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Saint Ambrose 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 Saint Ambrose University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.72, 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 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Saint Ambrose University.
- Saint Edward's UniversityAustin, TX · Close peer63% grad $58,826 earn 81% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Indiana Wesleyan University-MarionMarion, IN · Close peer67% grad $59,986 earn 89% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- McKendree UniversityLebanon, IL · Close peer57% grad $58,572 earn 72% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- St Bonaventure UniversitySaint Bonaventure, NY · Close peer68% grad $57,214 earn 82% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Elizabethtown CollegeElizabethtown, PA · Close peer77% grad $62,399 earn 78% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Augustana UniversitySioux Falls, SD · Close peer74% grad $59,217 earn 68% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Saint Ambrose 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 Saint Ambrose University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.72, 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 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note