SVU vs. AMU

Deciding between Southern Virginia 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.

Southern Virginia University
Ave Maria University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • SVU Buena Vista, VA
  • AMU Ave Maria, FL
  • Setting
  • SVU Distant Town
  • AMU Distant Rural
  • Total enrollment
  • SVU 936
  • AMU 1,423
  • Type
  • SVU Private 4 Year
  • AMU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SVU
  • AMU #625
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SVU -
  • AMU Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • SVU Non-profit
  • AMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SVU
  • AMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SVU $21,280
  • AMU $30,198
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SVU $21,280
  • AMU $30,198
  • Room & Board
  • SVU $9,894
  • AMU $14,432
  • Average Net Price
  • SVU $24,561
  • AMU $25,294
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SVU $10,041
  • AMU $20,936
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SVU 100%
  • AMU 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SVU 1,451
  • AMU 2,689
  • Admitted
  • SVU 1,399
  • AMU 1,113
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SVU 96.4%
  • AMU 41.4%
  • Enrolled
  • SVU 21.4%
  • AMU 32.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SVU 1100
  • AMU 1130
  • Typical ACT score
  • SVU 21
  • AMU 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • SVU 3.19
  • AMU 3.6
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SVU B+
  • AMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • SVU Moderate
  • AMU Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • SVU
  • AMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • SVU 18/25
  • AMU 21/28
  • SAT Range
  • SVU 943/1253
  • AMU 1018/1240
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SVU Test-free
  • AMU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • SVU
  • AMU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SVU 14:1
  • AMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SVU
    • Business (21%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (15%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
    • English and Literature (13%)
    • Work and Family Studies (12%)
  • AMU
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (22%)
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Philosophy and Religious Studies (11%)
    • Biology (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SVU 25%
  • AMU 41%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SVU $40,600
  • AMU N/A
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SVU 53%
  • AMU 53%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SVU $23,654
  • AMU $22,428
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SVU $244
  • AMU $231

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SVU 53%
  • AMU 48%
  • % Women
  • SVU 47%
  • AMU 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SVU Low
  • AMU Medium
  • HBCU
  • SVU No
  • AMU No
  • % White
  • SVU 80%
  • AMU 61%
  • % Asian
  • SVU 1%
  • AMU 3%
  • % Black
  • SVU 4%
  • AMU 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • SVU 4%
  • AMU 15%
  • % Native American
  • SVU 1%
  • AMU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SVU 1%
  • AMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SVU 7%
  • AMU 0%
  • % International
  • SVU 2%
  • AMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SVU 1%
  • AMU 13%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SVU 22%
  • AMU 28%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SVU 76%
  • AMU 70%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Southern Virginia University in Buena Vista, VA with Ave Maria University in Ave Maria, FL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Ave Maria University is larger than SVU based on total student enrollment (1,423 students vs. 936 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Southern Virginia University is located in Buena Vista, VA (Distant Town setting); Ave Maria University is in Ave Maria, FL (Distant Rural setting).
  • Southern Virginia University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Ave Maria University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Southern Virginia University 14:1; Ave Maria University 17:1.

SVU vs. AMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SVU 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 Southern Virginia University than AMU ($24,561 vs. $25,294).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Virginia University are 31.4% lower than at Ave Maria University ($9,894 vs. $14,432).
  • Ave Maria University is 41.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than SVU (about $8,918 more per year; $30,198.00 vs. $21,280.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 41.9% higher at AMU than at Southern Virginia University (about $8,918 more per year; $30,198.00 vs. $21,280.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Southern Virginia University as at Ave Maria University (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ave Maria University students is 108.5% larger than aid received by Southern Virginia University students ($20,936 vs. $10,041).

SVU vs. AMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SVU or AMU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between AMU and SVU.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Ave Maria University (1130) is 30 points higher than at SVU (1100).
  • Incoming AMU students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (24 vs. 21 at SVU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Southern Virginia University 943/1253; Ave Maria University 1018/1240.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Southern Virginia University 18/25; Ave Maria University 21/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SVU - Test-free; AMU - Test-free.
  • Enrolled freshman AMU students have a 0.41 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at SVU (3.19).
  • SVU has a higher acceptance rate (96.4%) than AMU (41.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.4% at SVU vs. 32.8% at AMU.

SVU vs. AMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SVU and AMU? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Ave Maria University's six-year graduation rate (41%) is higher than Southern Virginia University's (25%).
  • Graduates from Southern Virginia University have median earnings of about $40,600 about ten years after starting college (College Scorecard). Comparable earnings data is not available for AMU.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Ave Maria University graduates have a $1,226 lower median loan debt than SVU graduates ($22,428 vs. $23,654).
  • Among borrowers, AMU graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SVU graduates ($231 vs. $244).
  • More SVU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AMU students, three years after graduation. (53% 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.