Ave Maria University is a private nonprofit smaller four-year college in Ave Maria, FL, focused on bachelor’s-level study with a rural campus setting, with about 1,298 undergraduates, an acceptance rate of about 41.4%, listed tuition around $30,198 and typical net price of $24,860 after grants, first-year retention of 78.9%, about 53.9% of students graduating within six years, and median earnings of $43,572 six years after enrollment.

Grade for Ave Maria University

Letter grades from Best Universities methodology. Overall grade blends the categories below for schools in that ranking cohort.

Overall grade

D+

Best Universities compares this school with national benchmarks for similar institutions.

How are grades calculated?

Affordability
D+

$24,860Average net price

Outcomes
D+

53.9%Graduation rate

Career
D

$43,572Median earnings, 6 years after entry

Economic Access
D

21.0%Pell Grant recipient share

Key facts for Ave Maria University

Tuition (in-state)
$30,198
Tuition (out-of-state)
$30,198
Total cost of attendance
$46,129
Average net price
$24,860
Acceptance rate
41.4%
Total enrollment
1,298
Graduation rate
53.9%
Median earnings, 6 years after entry
$43,572

Key rankings for Ave Maria University

Where Ave Maria University ranks among four-year colleges nationwide on selected cost and outcome measures. Rank 1 is best on that measure (lowest cost or debt; highest earnings, retention, or graduation). These are single-measure standings, not Best Universities list placement.

#1,292 of 1,811

Net Price

#1,010 of 1,816

Earnings

#744 of 1,808

Retention

#942 of 1,850

Graduation

#530 of 1,767

Debt

What stands out at Ave Maria University

Ave Maria University in Ave Maria, FL is a four-year college where bachelor’s-level study is the main focus.

  • Rural (somewhat remote)
  • 1,298 undergraduates
Average net price$24,860
Acceptance rate41.4%
Pell Grant recipient share21.0%
Graduation rate53.9%
Median earnings, 6 years after entry$43,572
First-year retention78.9%

Average net price after aid sits above the national median for similar schools while six-year earnings fall short of it. That combination deserves a closer look at aid packages and likely majors.

Admission is more selective than the national middle for similar schools and Pell Grant use runs lower—typical of campuses where access is shaped more by selectivity than by very high financial need in the enrolled class.

Best Universities methodology explains how grades and ranked-list placements are calculated.

Student measures: Cost, completion, earnings, retention, and debt.

Institution context: Enrollment, demographics, faculty, setting, and admissions.

At a glance

Cost, outcomes & access at Ave Maria University

Two related measures side by side for a quick scan.

Net Price and Earnings

Average net price (after aid)
$24,860
Median earnings 6 years after entry
$43,572

Retention and Graduation

First-year retention
78.9%
Graduation rate (within 6 years)
53.9%

Acceptance and Pell Grant Share

Acceptance rate
41.4%
Undergraduate Pell recipient share
21.0%
Total cost and tuition

Annual figures on one dollar scale, so bar lengths are comparable within this chart. Total cost of attendance covers tuition, fees, and living costs. Listed tuition is the price before aid; average net price is what students paid after grants and scholarships.

Total cost of attendance$46,129
Listed tuition (in-state)$30,198
Listed tuition (out-of-state)$30,198
Room and board (on campus)$14,432
Average net price (after aid)$24,860

In-state tuition is above the national median of $19,284 for similar four-year colleges, while out-of-state tuition is above the national median of $26,816.

How Ave Maria University compares

Figures are for four-year colleges. State, region, and national columns use the middle value (median) for similar schools; retention uses averages for region and nation. Region shown: Southeast (region 5).

This school vs state, regional, and national benchmarks

Net price

This school$24,860
State (FL)$20,864
Region$18,796
National$19,923

Earnings, 6 years

This school$43,572
State (FL)$41,582
Region$39,566
National$45,225

Retention

This school78.9%
State (FL)75.5%
Region71.9%
National74.9%

Graduation

This school53.9%
State (FL)55.7%
Region48.8%
National54.4%

Median debt

This school$20,776
State (FL)$23,590
Region$24,053
National$23,250

Swipe sideways to compare state, region, and national figures.

Measure This school State (FL) Region Nation
Net price$24,860Above national median$20,864$18,796$19,923
Earnings, 6 years$43,572Below national median$41,582$39,566$45,225
Retention78.9%Above national median75.5%71.9%74.9%
Graduation53.9%Below national median55.7%48.8%54.4%
Acceptance rate41.4%Below national median63.9%74.3%77.0%
Pell share21.0%Below national median33.9%37.9%33.9%
Median debt$20,776Below national median$23,590$24,053$23,250
3-year cohort default rate0.0%About the same0.0%0.0%0.0%

Recent 3-year cohort default rates are near zero because of the federal student loan payment pause and are not useful for school-to-school comparison.

Campus & institution details for Ave Maria University

Campus settingRural (somewhat remote)
Official websitewww.avemaria.edu/
Student–faculty ratio17:1
Full-time faculty100.0%
Avg monthly faculty salary$9,091

Share of undergraduates in each group. Gender and race or ethnicity are reported separately, so each set totals about 100%.

Women53.0%
Men47.0%
Black or African American2.9%
Hispanic / Latino15.0%
White69.5%
Asian4.7%
Two or more races0.0%
International students2.3%

Confirm program details and current staffing on the college website.

Frequently asked questions about Ave Maria University

Common questions about Ave Maria University, answered with Best Universities cost and outcome figures. For how we rank schools, use the methodology link in the header; for deadlines and aid, rely on the college’s official site.

Where is Ave Maria University located?

Ave Maria University is located in Ave Maria, FL. If the college has more than one campus, confirm addresses and program locations on the school's official site or with the admissions office.

What kind of school is Ave Maria University?

Ave Maria University is a private nonprofit four-year college. Best Universities compares it with similar four-year institutions for ranking and benchmark purposes.

How much does it cost to attend Ave Maria University (tuition and net price)?

Listed sticker tuition is $30,198 for in-state students and $30,198 for out-of-state students. Average net price (typical annual cost after grant and scholarship aid for full-time, first-time undergraduates) is about $24,860. Your actual net price depends on income, residency, and aid.

What is Ave Maria University's acceptance rate?

The overall undergraduate acceptance rate is about 41.4% for the year shown. Selectivity can vary by program or campus; check admissions for the path you care about.

How large is Ave Maria University's undergraduate student body?

Undergraduate enrollment is about 1,298. Enrollment changes over time and may span multiple campuses depending on how the school reports.

What are completion and earnings outcomes for Ave Maria University?

Median earnings six years after entry at Ave Maria University are roughly $43,572. Outcomes vary widely by major, occupation, and region. About 53.9% of students graduate on time or soon after. Individual trajectories differ from these population-level measures.

How does Best Universities rank Ave Maria University?

Among similar schools nationwide, Ave Maria University stands as follows on selected measures: Average net price (#1,292 of 1,811); Median earnings, 6 years after entry (#1,010 of 1,816); First-year retention (#744 of 1,808); Graduation rate (#942 of 1,850); Median loan debt (#530 of 1,767). Those are single-measure ranks, not a single overall list place. See the methodology page for how Best Universities builds ranked lists.

Where should I go for admissions and official information about Ave Maria University?

For application deadlines, requirements, campus visits, and program lists, use Ave Maria University’s official website. Best Universities publishes cost and outcome figures for comparison; it does not replace the institution’s admissions or financial aid office.

All figures for Ave Maria University Expand to view

A fuller table of the figures Best Universities uses for this school. Useful if you are double-checking a number.

All figures for Ave Maria University
FieldValue
InstitutionAve Maria University
Official websitewww.avemaria.edu/
City, stateAve Maria, FL
School typeFour-year college
Undergraduate enrollment1,298
Listed tuition (in-state)$30,198
Listed tuition (out-of-state)$30,198
Listed tuition (generic)$30,198
Total cost of attendance$46,129
Room and board (on campus)$14,432
Average net price$24,860
Median earnings, 6 years after entry$43,572
Median earnings, 8 years after entry$46,740
Median earnings, 10 years after entry$49,520
Median loan debt$20,776
3-year cohort default rate0.0%
First-year retention78.9%
Graduation rate (4-year programs)53.9%
Graduation rate (shorter programs)Not reported
Acceptance rate41.4%
SAT averageNot reported
ACT averageNot reported
Pell Grant share21.0%
Share with federal loans45.2%
Part-time enrollment share1.2%
Campus settingRural (somewhat remote)
Student–faculty ratio17
Avg monthly faculty salary$9,091
Full-time faculty share100.0%
Online onlyNo
HBCUNo
SAT midpoint, MathNot reported
SAT midpoint, Reading & WritingNot reported
Share of undergraduates, women53.0%
Share of undergraduates, men47.0%
Share of undergraduates, Black2.9%
Share of undergraduates, Hispanic15.0%
Share of undergraduates, White69.5%
Share of undergraduates, Asian4.7%
Share of undergraduates, two or more races0.0%
Share of undergraduates, international2.3%
Net price, family income $0–30kNot reported
Net price, family income $30–48kNot reported
Net price, family income $48–75kNot reported
Net price, family income $75–110kNot reported
Net price, family income $110k+Not reported

Sources for Ave Maria University

Figures from the same school data Best Universities uses for rankings. Shortlist with them, then verify on the college’s official site.