Florida Southern vs. AMU

Deciding between Florida Southern College 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 Southern College
Ave Maria University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Florida Southern Lakeland, FL
  • AMU Ave Maria, FL
  • Setting
  • Florida Southern Small City
  • AMU Distant Rural
  • Total enrollment
  • Florida Southern 3,211
  • AMU 1,423
  • Type
  • Florida Southern Private 4 Year
  • AMU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Florida Southern #325
  • AMU #625
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Florida Southern United Methodist
  • AMU Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • Florida Southern Non-profit
  • AMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Florida Southern
  • AMU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Florida Southern $44,040
  • AMU $30,198
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Florida Southern $44,040
  • AMU $30,198
  • Room & Board
  • Florida Southern $14,360
  • AMU $14,432
  • Average Net Price
  • Florida Southern $29,384
  • AMU $25,294
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Florida Southern $31,394
  • AMU $20,936
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Florida Southern 100%
  • AMU 100%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Florida Southern 10,800
  • AMU 2,689
  • Admitted
  • Florida Southern 6,957
  • AMU 1,113
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Florida Southern 64.4%
  • AMU 41.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Florida Southern 11%
  • AMU 32.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Florida Southern 1240
  • AMU 1130
  • Typical ACT score
  • Florida Southern 27
  • AMU 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • Florida Southern 3.73
  • AMU 3.6
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Florida Southern A-
  • AMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Florida Southern Difficult
  • AMU Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • Florida Southern Low
  • AMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Florida Southern 25/30
  • AMU 21/28
  • SAT Range
  • Florida Southern 1150/1330
  • AMU 1018/1240
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Florida Southern Test optional
  • AMU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Florida Southern May 1, 2027
  • AMU
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Florida Southern 11:1
  • AMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Florida Southern
    • Business (22%)
    • Health Professions (12%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • AMU
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (22%)
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Philosophy and Religious Studies (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Florida Southern 55%
  • AMU 41%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Florida Southern $42,700
  • AMU N/A
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Florida Southern 65%
  • AMU 53%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Florida Southern $24,000
  • AMU $22,428
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Florida Southern $248
  • AMU $231
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Florida Southern 35%
  • AMU 48%
  • % Women
  • Florida Southern 65%
  • AMU 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Florida Southern Low
  • AMU Medium
  • HBCU
  • Florida Southern No
  • AMU No
  • % White
  • Florida Southern 74%
  • AMU 61%
  • % Asian
  • Florida Southern 2%
  • AMU 3%
  • % Black
  • Florida Southern 6%
  • AMU 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Florida Southern 11%
  • AMU 15%
  • % Native American
  • Florida Southern 1%
  • AMU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Florida Southern 0%
  • AMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Florida Southern 2%
  • AMU 0%
  • % International
  • Florida Southern 4%
  • AMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Florida Southern 1%
  • AMU 13%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Florida Southern 60%
  • AMU 28%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Florida Southern 38%
  • AMU 70%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Florida Southern College in Lakeland, FL with Ave Maria University in Ave Maria, FL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Florida Southern College is larger than AMU based on total student enrollment (3,211 students vs. 1,423 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Florida Southern College is located in Lakeland, FL (Small City setting); Ave Maria University is in Ave Maria, FL (Distant Rural setting).
  • Florida Southern College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Ave Maria University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Florida Southern College 11:1; Ave Maria University 17:1.

Florida Southern vs. AMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Florida Southern 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 Ave Maria University than Florida Southern ($25,294 vs. $29,384).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Florida Southern College are 0.5% lower than at Ave Maria University ($14,360 vs. $14,432).
  • Florida Southern College is 45.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than AMU (about $13,842 more per year; $44,040.00 vs. $30,198.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 45.8% higher at Florida Southern than at Ave Maria University (about $13,842 more per year; $44,040.00 vs. $30,198.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Florida Southern College as at Ave Maria University (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Florida Southern College students is 50% larger than aid received by Ave Maria University students ($31,394 vs. $20,936).

Florida Southern vs. AMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Florida Southern 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 Florida Southern.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Florida Southern College (1240) is 110 points higher than at AMU (1130).
  • Incoming Florida Southern students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 24 at AMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Florida Southern College 1150/1330; Ave Maria University 1018/1240.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Florida Southern College 25/30; Ave Maria University 21/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Florida Southern - Test optional; AMU - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Florida Southern May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Florida Southern students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at AMU (3.6).
  • Florida Southern has a higher acceptance rate (64.4%) than AMU (41.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11% at Florida Southern vs. 32.8% at AMU.

Florida Southern vs. AMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Florida Southern 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 Southern College's six-year graduation rate (55%) is higher than Ave Maria University's (41%).
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Ave Maria University graduates have a $1,572 lower median loan debt than Florida Southern graduates ($22,428 vs. $24,000).
  • Among borrowers, AMU graduates have an estimated $17 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Florida Southern graduates ($231 vs. $248).
  • More Florida Southern graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AMU students, three years after graduation. (65% 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.