Business Administration, Management and Operations at Ave Maria University

For a private Catholic university in Southwest Florida, Ave Maria's business program appears to track with state-wide patterns rather than commanding any premium. Similar programs across Florida typically produce first-year earnings around $45,000—essentially matching the national benchmark—while this program's estimated debt of $25,475 sits slightly above the state median for business bachelor's degrees. That 0.57 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests manageable repayment: roughly six months of gross income to cover the total borrowing.

What's missing here is any evidence that Ave Maria's business graduates outperform the Florida average. The state's top performers in this field—schools like Embry-Riddle and Florida Tech—report first-year earnings near $64,000 to $67,000, nearly 50% higher than what comparable programs suggest for Ave Maria. Even accounting for the fact that these figures are estimates based on peer programs rather than Ave Maria's actual graduate outcomes, the gap raises questions about whether a smaller, private institution delivers competitive career preparation in a field where mid-sized public universities and specialized technical schools dominate the upper tier.

The bottom line: This looks like a middle-of-the-pack business program at above-average cost. If your student is drawn to Ave Maria's mission and campus culture, the debt load won't be crushing. But if career ROI drives the decision, Florida offers business programs with stronger earnings trajectories at similar or lower debt levels.