loading 6,000+ schools…
Saint Petersburg, FL · Ave Maria, FL
| Eckerd College | Ave Maria University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $38,071/yr | $24,860/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $29,615/yr | $18,761/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $27,000 | $20,776 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $34,524/yr | $20,840/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $34,294/yr | $23,790/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $35,840/yr | $24,088/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $43,955/yr | $27,107/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $286/mo | $220/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $14,734/yr | $14,432/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $14,734/yr | $16,450/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,350/yr | $1,320/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $3,100/yr | $3,050/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $68,944/yr | $46,129/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $51,884/yr | $30,198/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $51,884/yr | $30,198/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 21% | 21% |
| Students taking federal loans | 44% | 45% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 76% | 41% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1160–1330 | No data reported |
| SAT average | 1250 | No data reported |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 24–29 | No data reported |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 23–31 · Math 21–27 | No data reported |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 4,664 | 2,448 |
| Students accepted | 3,670 | 1,097 |
| Students who enrolled | 537 | 318 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 15% | 29% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 24% | No data reported |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 18% | No data reported |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Not considered |
| Essay | Required | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Recommendation letters | Required | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Class rank | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Demonstrated competencies | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Work experience | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Legacy considered | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 66% | 54% |
| Freshmen who come back | 76% | 79% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $51,819/yr | $49,520/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $32,964–$76,174 | $31,575–$76,050 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 62% | 52% |
| White students graduating | 65% | 62% |
| Black students graduating | 73% | 15% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 66% | 37% |
| Asian students graduating | 65% | 75% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $37,505/yr | $43,572/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 71% | 60% |
| Graduate on time | 59% | 39% |
| Pell students who graduate | 63% | 52% |
| First-gen students who finish | 53% | 44% |
| Low-income students who finish | 40% | 44% |
| Students who transfer out | No data reported | 39% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $47,222/yr | $46,740/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Biological & Biomedical Sciences 47% · Natural Resources & Conservation 12% · Business, Management & Marketing 10% | Business, Management & Marketing 25% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 13% · Theology & Religious Vocations 11% |
| Most popular program | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 47% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 25% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Natural Resources & Conservation — 12% of degrees | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 13% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 10% of degrees | Theology & Religious Vocations — 11% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Psychology — 8% of degrees | Health Professions — 11% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Social Sciences — 7% of degrees | Communication & Journalism — 9% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Political Science and Government — $34,621/yr | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $69,058/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 52% | 15% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 1,888 | 1,298 |
| Students per professor | 11 : 1 | 17 : 1 |
| Graduate students | No data reported | 122 |
| Average professor pay | $8,920/mo | $9,091/mo |
| Full-time professors | 89% | 100% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
| Median family income | $77,695 | $81,806 |
| Setting | City (large) | Rural (distant) |
| Location | Saint Petersburg, FL | Ave Maria, FL |
| Region | Southeast | Southeast |
| Founded | 1958 | 1998 |
| Public or private | Private (nonprofit) | Private (nonprofit) |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus | Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 3.9% | 2.3% |
| Men | 30% | 47% |
| Women | 70% | 53% |
| White students | 75% | 69% |
| Black students | 3% | 2.9% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 10% | 15% |
| Asian students | 1.9% | 4.7% |
| Two or more races | 5.6% | 0% |
| Other / not reported | 0.6% | 5.6% |
| Special type | Religiously affiliated | Religiously affiliated |
| First-generation students | 20% | 18% |
| Part-time students | 2.5% | 1.2% |
| Students age 25+ | 0.8% | 2.6% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $17,363/yr | $13,083/yr |
| Endowment | $95.0M | $11.0M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 1,843 | 1,133 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $7,462/yr | $7,562/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $6,806/yr | $6,007/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | Varies by week |
| Academic calendar | Four-one-four plan | Semester |
| Religious affiliation | Presbyterian Church (USA) | Roman Catholic |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | Yes | No |
| ROTC | Yes — Army, Air Force | No |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | Yes | No |
| Credit for life experience | No | No |
| Online classes | No | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | No | No |
| Weekend & evening classes | No | No |
| Teacher certification | No | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | No | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | Yes | No |
| Student veteran organization | Yes | No |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | Yes |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division II without football | NAIA Division II |
| Football team | No | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 14 | 20 |
| Student athletes | 230 | 701 |
| Athletic scholarships | $3.9M | $5.5M |
| Athletics budget | $7.7M | $10.8M |
| Athletics revenue | $7.7M | $10.8M |
| Recruiting spend | $56,645 | $26,896 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.