Ave Maria University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Ave Maria University charges a net price of $24,860/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $99,440. Graduates earn a median $49,520 ten years after entry, $1,160/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 85.7 years — a 20-year net return of -$76,240, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Ave Maria University's 85.7-year payback ranks #1,225 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 4% of them, and #36 of 166 in Florida.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $24,860/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $99,440 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $49,520 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $1,160/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $20,776 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 85.7 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$76,240 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Ave Maria University's own numbers. Net price $24,860 × 4 years = $99,440 total. Median earnings $49,520 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $1,160 a year of premium. $99,440 ÷ $1,160 = 85.7 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves -$76,240. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Ave Maria University students graduate with?
A median $20,776 in federal loans among completers, or 42% of the $49,520 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Ave Maria University students graduate?
54% finish their degree — 46% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $99,440 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $184,148 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Ave Maria University expensive compared with other Florida colleges?
Its $24,860 net price runs $5,048 above the $19,812 median across the 166 Florida colleges we profile, or $20,192 more across the full degree.