Ave Maria University

Ave Maria University's published cost of attendance is $46,129. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $18,761, middle-income families pay around $23,790, and higher-income families pay approximately $27,107.

Azimuth ranks Ave Maria University #937 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.

Ave Maria participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and the university works to close the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay through a combination of need-based scholarships and grants.

The affordability rank reflects both the headline cost and the debt load graduates carry: understanding [net price versus sticker price](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) helps families calibrate their true out-of-pocket obligation. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,776, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $37,017; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.

For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $59,489, median federal debt of $20,776 projects to a monthly payment of about $235 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).

Graduates of Ave Maria University earn median 4-year earnings of $59,489, placing Ave Maria University in the 44.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $20,463 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Ave Maria University in the 5.1 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Azimuth ranks Ave Maria University #1249 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Ave Maria's concentration in business and professional fields.

Business Administration is the largest program with 27 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $63,839. The Theological and Ministerial Studies program graduates 25 students with median 4-year earnings of $42,457, while Psychology, General produces 25 graduates earning $49,235.

Together, these programs anchor the institution's return profile.

Ave Maria University's program mix is anchored in business and professional fields, reflecting the institution's Catholic identity and focus on applied career preparation. Business Administration is the largest program with 27 graduates, followed by Theological and Ministerial Studies with 25 graduates, Psychology, General with 25 graduates, and Communication and Media Studies with 22 graduates.

Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 240 students annually, the institution concentrates on fields with direct workforce pathways. The strongest earnings outcomes cluster in applied business and professional fields.

Accounting leads with median earnings of $71,237 four years after enrollment from 14 graduates, followed by Business Administration with $63,839 from 27 graduates and Psychology, General with $49,235 from 25 graduates. Theological and Ministerial Studies rounds out the high-earning cluster with $42,457 from 25 graduates.

This concentration in business and professional majors reflects Ave Maria University's institutional positioning as a career-focused private university. The program portfolio emphasizes high-mobility direct-to-workforce pathways where graduates enter professional and business roles immediately after completion.

The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Ave Maria University's dominant program families align with labor-market demand in business, accounting, and professional services sectors.