FGCU vs. AMU

Deciding between Florida Gulf Coast 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 Gulf Coast University
Ave Maria University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • FGCU Fort Myers, FL
  • AMU Ave Maria, FL
  • Setting
  • FGCU Rural Fringe
  • AMU Distant Rural
  • Total enrollment
  • FGCU 16,612
  • AMU 1,423
  • Type
  • FGCU Public 4 Year
  • AMU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • FGCU #757
  • AMU #625
  • Religious Affiliation
  • FGCU -
  • AMU Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • FGCU Non-profit
  • AMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • FGCU
  • AMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • FGCU $6,118
  • AMU $30,198
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • FGCU $25,162
  • AMU $30,198
  • Room & Board
  • FGCU $11,107
  • AMU $14,432
  • Average Net Price
  • FGCU $12,863
  • AMU $25,294
  • Average Grant Aid
  • FGCU $8,515
  • AMU $20,936
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • FGCU 62%
  • AMU 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • FGCU 20,422
  • AMU 2,689
  • Admitted
  • FGCU 12,956
  • AMU 1,113
  • Acceptance Rate
  • FGCU 63.4%
  • AMU 41.4%
  • Enrolled
  • FGCU 20.9%
  • AMU 32.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • FGCU 1120
  • AMU 1130
  • Typical ACT score
  • FGCU 22
  • AMU 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • FGCU 4.0
  • AMU 3.6
  • Typical High School Grades
  • FGCU A/A+
  • AMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • FGCU Easy
  • AMU Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • FGCU Low
  • AMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • FGCU 20/25
  • AMU 21/28
  • SAT Range
  • FGCU 1040/1200
  • AMU 1018/1240
  • Submit Test Scores
  • FGCU Required
  • AMU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • FGCU Nov 1, 2026
  • AMU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • FGCU 20:1
  • AMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • FGCU
    • Business (25%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (14%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
  • AMU
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (22%)
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Philosophy and Religious Studies (11%)
    • Biology (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • FGCU 45%
  • AMU 41%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • FGCU $45,200
  • AMU N/A
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • FGCU 59%
  • AMU 53%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • FGCU $19,500
  • AMU $22,428
  • Median Loan Payment
  • FGCU $201
  • AMU $231

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • FGCU 42%
  • AMU 48%
  • % Women
  • FGCU 58%
  • AMU 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • FGCU Medium
  • AMU Medium
  • HBCU
  • FGCU No
  • AMU No
  • % White
  • FGCU 66%
  • AMU 61%
  • % Asian
  • FGCU 2%
  • AMU 3%
  • % Black
  • FGCU 7%
  • AMU 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • FGCU 19%
  • AMU 15%
  • % Native American
  • FGCU 0%
  • AMU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • FGCU 0%
  • AMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • FGCU 3%
  • AMU 0%
  • % International
  • FGCU 2%
  • AMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • FGCU 1%
  • AMU 13%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • FGCU 78%
  • AMU 28%
  • % Out-of-State
  • FGCU 18%
  • AMU 70%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, FL with Ave Maria University in Ave Maria, FL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Florida Gulf Coast University is larger than AMU based on total student enrollment (16,612 students vs. 1,423 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Florida Gulf Coast University is located in Fort Myers, FL (Rural Fringe setting); Ave Maria University is in Ave Maria, FL (Distant Rural setting).
  • Florida Gulf Coast 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 Gulf Coast University 20:1; Ave Maria University 17:1.

FGCU vs. AMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, FGCU 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 Gulf Coast University than AMU ($12,863 vs. $25,294).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Florida Gulf Coast University are 23% lower than at Ave Maria University ($11,107 vs. $14,432).
  • Ave Maria University is 393.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than FGCU (about $24,080 more per year; $30,198.00 vs. $6,118.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 20% higher at AMU than at Florida Gulf Coast University (about $5,036 more per year; $30,198.00 vs. $25,162.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ave Maria University than at Florida Gulf Coast University (100% vs. 62%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ave Maria University students is 145.9% larger than aid received by Florida Gulf Coast University students ($20,936 vs. $8,515).

FGCU vs. AMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, FGCU 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 FGCU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Ave Maria University (1130) is 10 points higher than at FGCU (1120).
  • Incoming AMU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 22 at FGCU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Florida Gulf Coast University 1040/1200; Ave Maria University 1018/1240.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Florida Gulf Coast University 20/25; Ave Maria University 21/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: FGCU - Required; AMU - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: FGCU Nov 1, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman FGCU students have a 0.4 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at AMU (3.6).
  • FGCU has a higher acceptance rate (63.4%) than AMU (41.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.9% at FGCU vs. 32.8% at AMU.

FGCU vs. AMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for FGCU 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 Gulf Coast University's six-year graduation rate (45%) is higher than Ave Maria University's (41%).
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Florida Gulf Coast University graduates have a $2,928 lower median loan debt than AMU graduates ($19,500 vs. $22,428).
  • Among borrowers, FGCU graduates have an estimated $30 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AMU graduates ($201 vs. $231).
  • More FGCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AMU students, three years after graduation. (59% 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.