FAU vs. AMU

Deciding between Florida Atlantic University and Ave Maria University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Florida Atlantic University
Ave Maria University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • FAU Boca Raton, FL
  • AMU Ave Maria, FL
  • Setting
  • FAU Small City
  • AMU Distant Rural
  • Total enrollment
  • FAU 31,607
  • AMU 1,423
  • Type
  • FAU Public 4 Year
  • AMU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • FAU #657
  • AMU #625
  • Religious Affiliation
  • FAU -
  • AMU Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • FAU Non-profit
  • AMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • FAU
  • AMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • FAU $4,879
  • AMU $30,198
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • FAU $17,324
  • AMU $30,198
  • Room & Board
  • FAU $15,860
  • AMU $14,432
  • Average Net Price
  • FAU $10,225
  • AMU $25,294
  • Average Grant Aid
  • FAU $10,857
  • AMU $20,936
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • FAU 86%
  • AMU 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • FAU 31,511
  • AMU 2,689
  • Admitted
  • FAU 20,838
  • AMU 1,113
  • Acceptance Rate
  • FAU 66.1%
  • AMU 41.4%
  • Enrolled
  • FAU 20.3%
  • AMU 32.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • FAU 1120
  • AMU 1130
  • Typical ACT score
  • FAU 23
  • AMU 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • FAU 3.74
  • AMU 3.6
  • Typical High School Grades
  • FAU A-
  • AMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • FAU Moderate
  • AMU Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • FAU Low
  • AMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • FAU 21/26
  • AMU 21/28
  • SAT Range
  • FAU 1040/1200
  • AMU 1018/1240
  • Submit Test Scores
  • FAU Required
  • AMU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • FAU May 1, 2027
  • AMU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • FAU 24:1
  • AMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • FAU
    • Business (27%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • AMU
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (22%)
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Philosophy and Religious Studies (11%)
    • Biology (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • FAU 43%
  • AMU 41%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • FAU $46,200
  • AMU N/A
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • FAU 54%
  • AMU 53%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • FAU $16,861
  • AMU $22,428
  • Median Loan Payment
  • FAU $174
  • AMU $231

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • FAU 43%
  • AMU 48%
  • % Women
  • FAU 57%
  • AMU 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • FAU High
  • AMU Medium
  • HBCU
  • FAU No
  • AMU No
  • % White
  • FAU 43%
  • AMU 61%
  • % Asian
  • FAU 4%
  • AMU 3%
  • % Black
  • FAU 20%
  • AMU 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • FAU 26%
  • AMU 15%
  • % Native American
  • FAU 0%
  • AMU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • FAU 0%
  • AMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • FAU 4%
  • AMU 0%
  • % International
  • FAU 2%
  • AMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • FAU 1%
  • AMU 13%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • FAU 78%
  • AMU 28%
  • % Out-of-State
  • FAU 19%
  • AMU 70%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • FAU Yes
  • AMU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • FAU No
  • AMU No
  • Meal Plan
  • FAU Yes
  • AMU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • FAU Yes
  • AMU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • FAU No
  • AMU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, FL with Ave Maria University in Ave Maria, FL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Florida Atlantic University is larger than AMU based on total student enrollment (31,607 students vs. 1,423 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Florida Atlantic University is located in Boca Raton, FL (Small City setting); Ave Maria University is in Ave Maria, FL (Distant Rural setting).
  • Florida Atlantic University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Ave Maria University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Florida Atlantic University 24:1; Ave Maria University 17:1.

FAU vs. AMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, FAU or AMU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Florida Atlantic University than AMU ($10,225 vs. $25,294).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ave Maria University are 9% lower than at Florida Atlantic University ($14,432 vs. $15,860).
  • Ave Maria University is 518.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than FAU (about $25,319 more per year; $30,198.00 vs. $4,879.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 74.3% higher at AMU than at Florida Atlantic University (about $12,874 more per year; $30,198.00 vs. $17,324.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ave Maria University than at Florida Atlantic University (100% vs. 86%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ave Maria University students is 92.8% larger than aid received by Florida Atlantic University students ($20,936 vs. $10,857).

FAU vs. AMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, FAU or AMU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between AMU and FAU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Ave Maria University (1130) is 10 points higher than at FAU (1120).
  • Incoming AMU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 23 at FAU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Florida Atlantic University 1040/1200; Ave Maria University 1018/1240.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Florida Atlantic University 21/26; Ave Maria University 21/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: FAU - Required; AMU - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: FAU May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman FAU students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at AMU (3.6).
  • FAU has a higher acceptance rate (66.1%) than AMU (41.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.3% at FAU vs. 32.8% at AMU.

FAU vs. AMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for FAU and AMU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Florida Atlantic University's six-year graduation rate (43%) is higher than Ave Maria University's (41%).
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Florida Atlantic University graduates have a $5,567 lower median loan debt than AMU graduates ($16,861 vs. $22,428).
  • Among borrowers, FAU graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AMU graduates ($174 vs. $231).
  • More FAU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AMU students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 53%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.