Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Saint Ambrose University #771 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $6,766 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Saint Ambrose University in the 80.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Saint Ambrose University #287 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — reflecting strong financial outcomes across its business-focused program mix. --- Saint Ambrose University's composite ranking reflects its balance of access and return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's business-oriented program mix supports graduates in achieving financial outcomes that outperform expectations at comparable institutions.
Azimuth ranks Saint Ambrose University #771 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in Davenport, Iowa, Saint Ambrose University enrolls roughly 1,916 undergraduates. Retention is 75.8% and the six-year graduation rate is 61.0%, reflecting solid conversion of enrollment into degree completion. Where Saint Ambrose University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Saint Ambrose University #287 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $6,766 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Saint Ambrose University in the 80.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's business-focused program mix — with Business as the dominant concentration — aligns with strong labor-market demand and contributes to solid long-term financial outcomes for graduates. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Saint Ambrose University sits in the 30.8 percentile for access and the 28.8 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. 31.6% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 28.4% are first-generation college students, reflecting a moderately selective enrollment posture. Mobility outcomes rank in the 30.3 percentile, indicating that while graduates achieve solid earnings, the institution's low-income student outcomes and career-transition support sit below the strongest peer comparisons.
Saint Ambrose University's published cost of attendance is $51,141. Net price by income band varies meaningfully across the enrollment spectrum: low-income families pay approximately $22,037, middle-income families pay around $22,408, and higher-income families pay approximately $27,807. Azimuth ranks Saint Ambrose University #1015 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. Saint Ambrose University meets demonstrated financial need through a combination of need-based aid, merit scholarships, and federal and institutional loan programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and the university works with students to construct aid packages that blend grants, scholarships, and borrowing. The gap between published cost and net price reflects the institution's commitment to financial aid, though the affordability rank indicates that post-graduation debt service remains a meaningful consideration relative to peer institutions. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $30,948; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $67,026, median federal debt of $25,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $282 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Saint Ambrose University is a strong fit for students interested in Business and related applied fields who want a private university experience in IA, Midwest. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $67,026, placing Saint Ambrose University in the 71.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $6,766 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Saint Ambrose University in the 80.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 31.6% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 28.4% are first-generation — and delivers mobility outcomes that place Saint Ambrose University in the 52.7 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure not yet updated to the 4-year horizon. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 77.3% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors Business and related applied fields over STEM-heavy ones. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find the earnings trajectory and aid package among the strongest in the region.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Saint Ambrose University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Accounting and Related Services
23 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
16 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
69 graduates
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
19 graduates
Mechanical Engineering
19 graduates
Saint Ambrose University's program mix is anchored in business and professional fields, reflecting the institution's applied-career orientation. Kinesiology is the largest program with 75 graduates, followed by Nursing, Psychology, General, Teacher Education, and Digital Marketing.
Across 30 total programs, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, with several delivering strong four-year earnings outcomes aligned to regional labor-market demand. Accounting delivers the highest median earnings four years after enrollment at $83,719, with 23 graduates entering the workforce.
Nursing follows with median earnings four years after enrollment of $75,832 across 69 graduates, and Kinesiology delivers $67,548 for 75 graduates. These three programs represent the institution's strongest direct-to-workforce pathways, where four-year earnings reflect immediate labor-market outcomes in accounting, business administration, and related professional fields.
Digital Marketing and Psychology, General round out the earnings leaders with median four-year earnings of $66,714 and $56,803 respectively. The concentration in Business — supported by programs in accounting, finance, management, and related business disciplines — positions Saint Ambrose graduates for stable, accessible career entry in fields with consistent regional hiring.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) framework shows that accounting and business administration remain in steady demand across Midwest labor markets, aligning well with the institution's graduate outcomes and employer recruitment patterns in the Davenport area and surrounding region.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Saint Ambrose University's published cost of attendance is $51,141. Net price by income band varies meaningfully across the enrollment spectrum: low-income families pay approximately $22,037, middle-income families pay around $22,408, and higher-income families pay approximately $27,807.
Azimuth ranks Saint Ambrose University #1015 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.
Saint Ambrose University meets demonstrated financial need through a combination of need-based aid, merit scholarships, and federal and institutional loan programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and the university works with students to construct aid packages that blend grants, scholarships, and borrowing.
The gap between published cost and net price reflects the institution's commitment to financial aid, though the affordability rank indicates that post-graduation debt service remains a meaningful consideration relative to peer institutions. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $30,948; 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 $67,026, median federal debt of $25,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $282 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 Saint Ambrose University earn median 4-year earnings of $67,026, placing Saint Ambrose University in the 71.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $6,766 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Saint Ambrose University in the 80.4 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Saint Ambrose University #287 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Saint Ambrose University's concentration in business and professional fields.
Kinesiology is the largest program with 75 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $67,548, performing at 1.2x the national benchmark for the field. The Nursing program graduates 69 students with median 4-year earnings of $75,832, and Psychology, General delivers median 4-year earnings of $56,803 across 45 graduates.
These programs anchor Saint Ambrose University's return story, with Nursing combining substantial enrollment with strong earnings outcomes to drive the institution's overall financial performance.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Grand View University Similar quality tier in Midwest (#19756 ranked) | IA | 99% | $52,824 | #19756 | Compare |
College Of The Ozarks Similar quality tier in Midwest (#19751 ranked) | MO | 12% | $41,592 | #19751 | Compare |
William Jewell College Similar quality tier in Midwest (#19750 ranked) | MO | 38% | $59,268 | #19750 | Compare |
Universidad Del Sagrado Corazon Similar quality tier (#19749 ranked) | PR | 58% | $31,754 | #19749 | Compare |
Central Methodist University-College Of Graduate And Extended Studies Similar quality tier in Midwest (#19236 ranked) | MO | 57% | $48,991 | #19236 | Compare |
