Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Ave Maria University

A $30,624 debt load for first-year earnings around $35,000 creates immediate financial pressure—that 0.87 debt-to-earnings ratio means nearly a full year's salary going toward student loans. While these figures come from similar Florida liberal arts programs rather than Ave Maria's specific outcomes, they suggest a challenging financial start that's typical for generalist humanities degrees at private institutions.

The bigger concern is the gap between Ave Maria's estimated outcomes and what Florida's top programs demonstrate is possible. University of Miami graduates in this field earn over $50,000 in their first year—nearly $15,000 more annually—while UCF and USF graduates consistently break $45,000. Even accounting for Ave Maria's 45% admission rate versus more selective competitors, that spread represents real dollars. The estimated debt here also runs about $5,000 higher than Florida's median for these programs, compounding the earnings disadvantage.

For families considering Ave Maria specifically for its mission or community, understand you're likely paying both higher debt and accepting lower early earnings compared to in-state public alternatives. If the liberal arts degree is less about the institution's particular character and more about completing a bachelor's credential, Florida's public universities offer substantially better financial outcomes in this field. That $15,000 annual earnings difference compounds quickly over a career's first decade.