Acceptance Rate
41%
Avg. SAT
1260
75th percentile
“Dom Monaghan's faithful Catholic liberal arts outpost in Florida's planned town of Ave Maria.”
Ave Maria, FL
Location
Rural
Campus Setting
Ave Maria University traces its roots to 1998, when Domino's Pizza founder Thomas S. Monaghan established it in Michigan to counter what he saw as secular drift in Catholic higher education. In 2007, the school relocated to a purpose-built campus in the new town of Ave Maria, Florida, which Monaghan also developed as a family-focused community. Students who thrive here embrace a daily rhythm infused with Catholic prayer and sacraments, forming tight-knit bonds in a small environment of about 1,300 undergraduates. The surrounding area offers rural quietude 40 minutes from Naples beaches, but the remote location requires a car for shopping or entertainment beyond the town. High tuition around $25,000 demands weighing financial aid against the intimate scale, where program variety stays limited compared to larger schools.
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Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Test Policy
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Average GPA
Application Fee
Academics
Student-Faculty Ratio
Programs Offered
Full-Time Faculty
Women Faculty
Research Spending
Degree Levels Offered
Classrooms buzz with Socratic seminars in a demanding core curriculum that mandates philosophy, theology, and great books for all students, regardless of major. You'll encounter small classes led by professors who often share the faith, fostering debates on ethics alongside biology labs or business cases. Strengths shine in theology, philosophy, biology, and sacred music, with hands-on opportunities like student-run labs. Large lecture halls rarely appear given the size, but popular majors fill quickly, and research leans undergraduate-focused rather than cutting-edge grants. The intellectual culture prizes orthodoxy, which energizes committed students but may feel narrow for others seeking broader inquiry.
Student Body
Total Enrollment
1,301 undergrad • 122 grad
Undergraduate
Graduate
International
White
70%
Black / African American
3%
Hispanic / Latino
16%
Asian
4%
Other / Multi-racial
7%
Campus Life
Campus Setting
Ave Maria, FL
Varsity Athletics
Campus life orbits the Ave Maria Oratory, where daily Mass draws hundreds and rosary walks punctuate evenings. A typical week mixes classes, club meetings, and volunteer service, with intramural sports and faith retreats filling weekends in single-sex dorms. The social scene stays wholesome—think theology on tap over bonfires, not bars—with no Greek life but active groups like pro-life advocates. Hot, humid Florida weather dominates nine months a year, pushing activities indoors or to pools. The small, residential vibe builds lifelong friendships but can feel insular, especially far from urban nightlife.
Housing
On-Campus Housing
Housing Capacity
Meal Plan Available
Average Room & Board
Athletics
Athletic Association
NCAA
ROTC & Veteran Support
Veteran’s Programs Available
Yellow Ribbon Program (Post-9/11 GI Bill)
Yes
Dedicated point of contact for veteran support services
Yes
Cost & Aid
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
Room & Board
Estimated Cost
Financial Aid
Students Receiving Aid
Receiving Pell Grants
Average Grant
Average Federal Loan
Net Annual Cost by Household Income
Household Income
Avg. Net Cost
$0 – $30K
$16,054
$30K – $48K
$15,751
$48K – $75K
$16,435
$75K – $110K
$21,342
$110K+
$21,096
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Outcomes & Earnings
Retention Rate
79%
4 Years Graduation Rate
59%
6 Years Graduation Rate
64%
Median 10-Year Earnings
$49,520
79% of first-time, full-time students complete their freshman year at Ave Maria University and return in the fall. 59% of first-time, full-time students graduate in 4 years, and 64% graduate within 6 years.
Graduation Rate
4-year grads
59%
4-5 years
5%
6-8 years
1%
Non-grad
35%
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Key Statistics
Type
Private
Tuition
$25,168
Acceptance
41%
Undergrads
1,301
4-Year Grad Rate
59%
Endowment
$34M
Ave Maria, FL 34142-9505
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