Theological and Ministerial Studies at Ave Maria University

Starting salaries of $26,924 land graduates nearly $6,000 below the national median for theology programs, though the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means a few outcomes heavily influence these figures. More concerning is the debt picture: at $21,102, borrowers face one of the highest debt loads nationally for this field—90th percentile—while earning below-average income. The 0.78 debt-to-earnings ratio translates to roughly nine months of gross income needed to cover student loans, a stretch for graduates entering ministry positions.

The earnings trajectory offers some relief, with income jumping 31% to $35,371 by year four. This puts graduates closer to—though still below—the $40,486 earned by top-quartile theology programs nationally. Within Florida, Ave Maria sits at the state median among 14 programs, meaning half of Florida theology graduates earn this amount or less. Still, comparable programs like Baptist University of Florida start graduates $7,000 higher.

With only 23% of students receiving Pell grants and tuition costs that produce above-average debt, families should understand they're likely paying premium prices for below-average initial outcomes in an already modest-earning field. If your child is committed to ministry work specifically through Ave Maria's Catholic formation, recognize this means accepting lower starting pay than secular degree paths. The small sample also means next year's data could look quite different.