Students at Anna Maria College benefit from focused career preparation that leads to above-average earnings, particularly in specialized fields like fire safety and nursing.
The college's small size enables personalized attention and direct pathways into stable, well-paying careers in growing sectors.
Anna Maria College is a small private nonprofit institution in Paxton, Massachusetts, that delivers above-average earnings outcomes for its graduates. With a median 10-year earnings of $46,651, the college ranks in the 70th percentile nationally for return on investment, reflecting its focus on career-oriented programs that lead directly to stable employment.
The college serves a diverse student body, with about 34% receiving Pell Grants and nearly 40% being first-generation college students. As an "Opportunity Builders" institution, Anna Maria provides meaningful access while working to improve outcomes for the students it serves. The college's strength lies in specialized programs like fire prevention and safety technology, which produces graduates earning over $84,000 ten years out, and nursing programs that consistently lead to strong healthcare careers.
What distinguishes Anna Maria is its small-college approach to career preparation. With focused programs, personalized attention, and direct pathways into growing fields, the college offers students a clear route from enrollment to employment, particularly in public safety and healthcare sectors where demand remains consistently strong.
Anna Maria College's program portfolio reflects a strategic focus on career-oriented fields with strong employment demand. The Fire Prevention and Safety Technology program stands out as both the college's largest and highest-earning program, graduating 68 students annually who earn a median of $84,653 ten years after graduation. This program exemplifies Anna Maria's approach to specialized career preparation, training students for roles in fire departments, safety consulting, and emergency management where demand remains consistently strong.
The Adult Health Nursing program, with 42 graduates earning $72,413, represents the college's second-largest program and demonstrates Anna Maria's strength in healthcare education. These nursing graduates enter a field with excellent job security and advancement opportunities, contributing to the college's overall strong return on investment. Both programs benefit from the college's small size, which enables hands-on training, personalized faculty attention, and direct connections to employers in Massachusetts and beyond.
Anna Maria College graduates achieve solid long-term financial outcomes, with a median 10-year earnings of $46,651 that places the institution in the 70th percentile nationally for return on investment. While earnings vary significantly by program, graduates in the college's signature fields see particularly strong results, with many reaching well above the institutional median as their careers progress.
The college's standout program is Fire Prevention and Safety Technology, which graduates 68 students annually who go on to earn a median of $84,653 ten years after graduation. This program represents Anna Maria's highest aggregate return, combining substantial enrollment with exceptional earnings outcomes. Adult Health Nursing, the college's largest program with 42 graduates, produces median earnings of $72,413, reflecting the strong demand for healthcare professionals. These specialized programs demonstrate how Anna Maria's focused approach to career preparation translates into meaningful financial returns for graduates who enter high-demand fields with clear advancement pathways.
Anna Maria College operates as a private institution with net prices that reflect typical private college costs. Low-income students pay about $24,807 annually after aid, while middle-income families see costs around $27,834, and higher-income families pay approximately $33,624. These prices place the college in the 11th percentile nationally for affordability, indicating costs that are higher than most public alternatives but within the range of many private colleges.
The college's financial aid approach focuses on making specialized career programs accessible to students from diverse economic backgrounds. With over one-third of students receiving Pell Grants, Anna Maria demonstrates a commitment to serving students who need financial support. The institution's value proposition centers on the idea that higher upfront costs can be justified by strong career outcomes in fields like fire safety and nursing, where graduates typically see steady employment and competitive salaries that support loan repayment over time.
Anna Maria College Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
