MDC vs. AMU

Deciding between Miami Dade 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.

Miami Dade College
Ave Maria University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • MDC Miami, FL
  • AMU Ave Maria, FL
  • Setting
  • MDC Large City
  • AMU Distant Rural
  • Total enrollment
  • MDC 58,941
  • AMU 1,423
  • Type
  • MDC Public 4 Year
  • AMU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MDC
  • AMU #625
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MDC -
  • AMU Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • MDC Non-profit
  • AMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MDC
  • AMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MDC $2,838
  • AMU $30,198
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MDC $9,661
  • AMU $30,198
  • Room & Board
  • MDC $27,262
  • AMU $14,432
  • Average Net Price
  • MDC $5,766
  • AMU $25,294
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MDC $7,216
  • AMU $20,936
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MDC 86%
  • AMU 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MDC -
  • AMU 2,689
  • Admitted
  • MDC -
  • AMU 1,113
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MDC Open
  • AMU 41.4%
  • Enrolled
  • MDC Open
  • AMU 32.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MDC
  • AMU 1130
  • Typical ACT score
  • MDC
  • AMU 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • MDC -
  • AMU 3.6
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MDC -
  • AMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • MDC Unavailable
  • AMU Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • MDC
  • AMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • MDC
  • AMU 21/28
  • SAT Range
  • MDC
  • AMU 1018/1240
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MDC Open admission
  • AMU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • MDC
  • AMU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MDC 22:1
  • AMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MDC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (68%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
    • Education (3%)
    • Business (2%)
  • AMU
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (22%)
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Philosophy and Religious Studies (11%)
    • Biology (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • MDC -
  • AMU 41%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MDC $34,100
  • AMU N/A
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MDC 41%
  • AMU 53%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MDC $8,703
  • AMU $22,428
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MDC $89
  • AMU $231

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MDC 42%
  • AMU 48%
  • % Women
  • MDC 58%
  • AMU 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MDC Medium
  • AMU Medium
  • HBCU
  • MDC No
  • AMU No
  • % White
  • MDC 6%
  • AMU 61%
  • % Asian
  • MDC 1%
  • AMU 3%
  • % Black
  • MDC 15%
  • AMU 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • MDC 69%
  • AMU 15%
  • % Native American
  • MDC 0%
  • AMU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MDC 0%
  • AMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MDC 0%
  • AMU 0%
  • % International
  • MDC 6%
  • AMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MDC 3%
  • AMU 13%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MDC 99%
  • AMU 28%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MDC 1%
  • AMU 70%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Miami Dade College is larger than AMU based on total student enrollment (58,941 students vs. 1,423 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Miami Dade College is located in Miami, FL (Large City setting); Ave Maria University is in Ave Maria, FL (Distant Rural setting).
  • Miami Dade College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Ave Maria University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Miami Dade College 22:1; Ave Maria University 17:1.

MDC vs. AMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MDC 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 Miami Dade College than AMU ($5,766 vs. $25,294).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ave Maria University are 47.1% lower than at Miami Dade College ($14,432 vs. $27,262).
  • Ave Maria University is 964.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than MDC (about $27,360 more per year; $30,198.00 vs. $2,838.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 212.6% higher at AMU than at Miami Dade College (about $20,537 more per year; $30,198.00 vs. $9,661.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ave Maria University than at Miami Dade College (100% vs. 86%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ave Maria University students is 190.1% larger than aid received by Miami Dade College students ($20,936 vs. $7,216).

MDC vs. AMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MDC 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 MDC.

  • Miami Dade College reports an open admissions policy.
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsAve Maria University 1018/1240.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsAve Maria University 21/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MDC - Open admission; AMU - Test-free.

MDC vs. AMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MDC 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).

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Miami Dade College graduates have a $13,725 lower median loan debt than AMU graduates ($8,703 vs. $22,428).
  • Among borrowers, MDC graduates have an estimated $142 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AMU graduates ($89 vs. $231).
  • More AMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MDC students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 41%)

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.