Admit rate has ranged 44%–92% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Ave Maria University is a fiercely Catholic liberal arts school in Florida's swampy hinterlands, where daily Mass, Aquinas-heavy curricula, and an intentional lack of Greek life shape a tight-knit, devout community. With a 41-49% acceptance rate and mid-tier graduation stats, it attracts students seeking rigorous theology and nursing programs alongside an all-in religious experience—think spiritual retreats, not frat parties.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
Grade point average
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Letters of recommendation
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
1,298
In-state tuition
$30,198
Out-of-state tuition
$30,198
Location
Ave Maria, FL
Top Majors
Psychology, Nursing, Theology
Notable Quirk
9+ daily Mass options
Campus Housing
90% live on-campus
Acceptance Rate
41-49%
6-Year Grad Rate
55-57%
Student-Faculty Ratio
17:1
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$49,520
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.0×
Median debt at graduation
$20,776
Graduation rate
54%
First-year retention
79%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
53%
Pell (lower-income) share
44%
First-generation share
18%
Endowment / student
$8,486
Financial health
3.0 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Economics$48,041
Business Administration, Management and Operations$33,993
Psychology, General$30,988
Biology, General$29,250
Theological and Ministerial Studies$28,598
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
0
Per 1,000 students
0.00
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
101
Summer high
90°F
Winter low
59°F
Annual rain
58.3"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively High
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
53
Scholarly works
1,328
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Ave Maria University?
Ave Maria University's acceptance rate is approximately 41% (Ave Maria, FL), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
How much does Ave Maria University cost?
At Ave Maria University, the average net price (after aid) is about $24,860 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Ave Maria University?
Ave Maria University enrolls approximately 1,298 undergraduate students.
Where is Ave Maria University located?
Ave Maria University is located in Ave Maria, FL.
Admissions
Ave Maria's admissions process is moderately selective, with Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. fluctuating between 41% (per College Board) and 49% (US News) for recent cycles. Of 2,689 applicants in one year, 1,113 were admitted, with 1,320 enrolling—a YieldThe share of admitted students who actually choose to enroll. Colleges watch it closely, which is why some weigh how interested you seem. rate suggesting many admitted students commit. The university is test-optional (SAT school code: 4249; ACT: 6212) and doesn't use the Common App. While no average GPA is officially published, Sallie Mae reports admitted students typically have SAT scores between 1060–1200. The acceptance rate is notably 25% lower than the national average for colleges.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
The curriculum is unapologetically Catholic, with theology required for all undergraduates alongside 33 majors and 31 minors. Popular programs include Psychology (21% of degrees), Nursing (19%), and Theology (16%), per College Raptor data. The 17:1 student-faculty ratio supports small classes, and every discipline—from STEM to music—is framed by Catholic intellectual tradition. The catalog emphasizes Great Books and Aquinas, with faculty expected to align teaching with Church doctrine. Notably, the nursing program has strong clinical partnerships, while theology majors dive deep into scholastic philosophy.
Campus life revolves around faith and community: 90% of students live on campus (per US News), with dorms segregated by gender and quiet hours enforced. There’s no Greek life, but daily Mass (9+ options), Eucharistic adoration, and mandatory theology courses create a monastic intensity. Instagram posts highlight rosary walks and theology-on-tap events. Niche reviews mention a "safe, wholesome" environment with club options like pro-life activism and swing dancing. The Florida location means swampy heat (average 84°F), but students trade beaches for retreats at the on-site oratory, a massive church dominating the campus skyline.
Graduation rates are middling: 55-57% graduate within 6 years (College Scorecard/EDsmart), with 49% finishing in 4 years (Data USA). Alumni earnings are modest—$36K at 1 year post-grad, rising to $48K by year 5 (Niche), though theology majors likely pull averages down. The 79% freshman retention rate (Varsity Tutors) suggests students who stay past year one tend to persist. Nursing grads fare best, with some earning median salaries of $59K (College Scorecard), outperforming peers in liberal arts. The career office emphasizes Catholic networks, with many grads entering ministry, education, or healthcare.
At $31,766 sticker price for tuition (US News), Ave Maria is pricey but offers $19,899 average aid packages (College Board), bringing net cost to ~$21K (MeetYourClass). The Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. Calculator warns estimates aren’t binding, but typical aid includes institutional scholarships (awarded during admissions) and federal grants. Florida residents may qualify for state aid, though the university provides fewer need-based options than elite schools. Most students live on campus, adding ~$12K for room/board. Frugal Catholics take note: theology majors can apply for diocese-sponsored scholarships, but nursing students often shoulder heavier debt.
Ave Maria is Florida’s answer to Steubenville—a no-compromises Catholic enclave where theology infuses biology labs and dorm walls. The 17:1 ratio ensures professors know your confession history, while the lack of Greek life swaps keggers for Latin Mass. It’s not for the spiritually lukewarm: with mandatory theology, single-sex dorms, and a 90% on-campus population, the school cultivates a seminary-like intensity. Yet nursing grads out-earn peers, proving piety and practicality can coexist. If you want a degree where Aquinas is as vital as clinicals—and your social life includes vespers—this is the swamp’s holiest hideout.
Ave Maria University logo · sourceAve Maria University - Cardinal Newman Society · sourceResidence Halls (Dorms) at Ave Maria | Ave Maria University · sourceAve Maria University | CampusTours · source
