Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Villa Maria College #1205 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $11,359 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Villa Maria College in the 17.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Villa Maria College #1473 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. ---
Azimuth ranks Villa Maria College #1205 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 19.3 percentile for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private master's college in Buffalo, NY, Villa Maria College enrolls roughly 603 undergraduates. Retention is 76.5% and the six-year graduation rate is 31.4%, reflecting the institution's commitment to supporting students through degree completion. Villa Maria College draws strength from its distinctive academic focus on Visual & Performing Arts. The institution serves 64.8% Pell-eligible students and 37.9% first-generation college students, positioning it as an accessible entry point for students from varied economic backgrounds. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $41,151, placing Villa Maria College in the 1.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Villa Maria College #1396 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 5.7 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. For a smaller, arts-focused institution, Villa Maria College delivers measurable economic outcomes alongside its creative mission. The college's emphasis on visual and performing arts creates a distinctive student experience and career pathway that differentiates it from larger regional competitors. Affordability and access remain central to the institution's profile, making it a meaningful option for students seeking a specialized liberal arts education with demonstrated long-term financial returns.
Villa Maria College's published cost of attendance is $36,335. Need-based aid reshapes that figure across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $13,049; middle-income families pay around $12,274; higher-income families pay approximately $25,069. Azimuth ranks Villa Maria College #222 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. Villa Maria College participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside institutional aid. The college applies the FAFSA to determine eligibility and aid packaging. Families should review the college's financial aid page for current aid policies and application deadlines, as aid structures can shift year to year. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,250, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $9,975; 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 $41,151, median federal debt of $21,250 projects to a monthly payment of about $240 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Villa Maria College is a strong fit for students drawn to the visual and performing arts who want a small private college experience in Buffalo, NY. Its program mix is concentrated in Visual & Performing Arts, with 56% of graduates pursuing degrees in this field. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $41,151, placing Villa Maria College in the 1.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $11,359 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 17.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a meaningful share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 64.8% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 37.9% are first-generation — and delivers a Pell completion rate of 22.3%. Published cost of attendance is $25,069, and median federal debt at graduation is $21,250. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 86.6% admit rate makes the application process moderately selective, and the program mix favors creative fields over STEM or business. Students whose interests align with the arts and who can navigate the application process will find a supportive environment for pursuing their passions.
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
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This is the Villa Maria College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Design and Applied Arts
21 graduates
Graphic Communications
21 graduates
Villa Maria College's program mix is anchored in visual and performing arts — a distinctive identity shaped by the institution's focus on creative disciplines. Graphic Communications is the largest program with 21 graduates, followed by Design and Applied Arts with 21 graduates, Film/Video and Photographic Arts with 6 graduates, and Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management with 5 graduates.
Across ranked programs serving roughly 53 students annually, the institution's program portfolio reflects deep concentration in creative and artistic fields. The earnings pattern reflects the nature of arts-focused training.
Design and Applied Arts graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $48,379, while Graphic Communications graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $35,482. These figures represent outcomes for students pursuing careers in creative industries, where early-career earnings trajectories differ from business or engineering pathways.
Arts represents 56% of graduates, with Business comprising 6% of the degree output — a portfolio that emphasizes artistic and creative specialization over broad disciplinary diversity. Villa Maria's positioning as a private arts-focused college in Buffalo reflects a deliberate institutional mission.
Graduates in creative disciplines often enter fields where portfolio strength, internship experience, and industry connections matter as much as formal credentials.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Shaw University Similar quality tier (#34954 ranked) | NC | 80% | $34,409 | #34954 | Compare |
University Of Northwestern-St Paul Similar quality tier (#34956 ranked) | MN | 93% | $50,755 | #34956 | Compare |
Luther College Similar quality tier (#34957 ranked) | IA | 72% | $59,850 | #34957 | Compare |
St. Thomas Aquinas College Similar quality tier in Northeast (#34951 ranked) | NY | 93% | $62,909 | #34951 | Compare |
Midway University Similar quality tier (#34950 ranked) | KY | 95% | $44,246 | #34950 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Villa Maria College's published cost of attendance is $36,335. Need-based aid reshapes that figure across income levels.
Low-income families pay approximately $13,049; middle-income families pay around $12,274; higher-income families pay approximately $25,069. Azimuth ranks Villa Maria College #222 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. Villa Maria College participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside institutional aid.
The college applies the FAFSA to determine eligibility and aid packaging. Families should review the college's financial aid page for current aid policies and application deadlines, as aid structures can shift year to year.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,250, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $9,975; 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 $41,151, median federal debt of $21,250 projects to a monthly payment of about $240 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 Villa Maria College earn median 4-year earnings of $41,151, placing the institution in the 1.6th percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $11,359 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Villa Maria College in the 17.9th percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Villa Maria College #1396 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 5.7th percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures represent meaningful lifetime returns relative to NY's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $32,204 (the state median earnings of working adults age 25–34 with only a high school credential).
The earnings pattern reflects the institution's focus on Visual and Performing Arts, which represents 56% of graduates. Graphic Communications leads with 21 graduates earning median earnings of $35,482, followed by Design and Applied Arts with 21 graduates earning $48,379. While institution-level earnings track NY's regional labor market, specific programs deliver materially stronger outcomes — Design and Applied Arts graduates earn $48,379, roughly 0.8× the national CIP-4 benchmark for the field.
