BAC vs. AMU

Deciding between Belmont Abbey College 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.

Belmont Abbey College
Ave Maria University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BAC Belmont, NC
  • AMU Ave Maria, FL
  • Setting
  • BAC Midsize Suburban
  • AMU Distant Rural
  • Total enrollment
  • BAC 1,388
  • AMU 1,423
  • Type
  • BAC Private 4 Year
  • AMU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BAC #858
  • AMU #625
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BAC Roman Catholic
  • AMU Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • BAC Non-profit
  • AMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BAC
  • AMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BAC $19,500
  • AMU $30,198
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BAC $19,500
  • AMU $30,198
  • Room & Board
  • BAC $12,974
  • AMU $14,432
  • Average Net Price
  • BAC $24,726
  • AMU $25,294
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BAC $10,168
  • AMU $20,936
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BAC 99%
  • AMU 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BAC 4,221
  • AMU 2,689
  • Admitted
  • BAC 3,151
  • AMU 1,113
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BAC 74.7%
  • AMU 41.4%
  • Enrolled
  • BAC 12.6%
  • AMU 32.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BAC 1080
  • AMU 1130
  • Typical ACT score
  • BAC 22
  • AMU 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • BAC 3.32
  • AMU 3.6
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BAC B+
  • AMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • BAC Moderate
  • AMU Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • BAC
  • AMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • BAC 18/26
  • AMU 21/28
  • SAT Range
  • BAC 960/1200
  • AMU 1018/1240
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BAC Test optional
  • AMU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • BAC
  • AMU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BAC 12:1
  • AMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BAC
    • Business (39%)
    • Education (25%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • AMU
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (22%)
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Philosophy and Religious Studies (11%)
    • Biology (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BAC 38%
  • AMU 41%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BAC $41,900
  • AMU N/A
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BAC 40%
  • AMU 53%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BAC $27,000
  • AMU $22,428
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BAC $279
  • AMU $231

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BAC 54%
  • AMU 48%
  • % Women
  • BAC 46%
  • AMU 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BAC Medium
  • AMU Medium
  • HBCU
  • BAC No
  • AMU No
  • % White
  • BAC 45%
  • AMU 61%
  • % Asian
  • BAC 1%
  • AMU 3%
  • % Black
  • BAC 22%
  • AMU 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • BAC 1%
  • AMU 15%
  • % Native American
  • BAC 0%
  • AMU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BAC 0%
  • AMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BAC 0%
  • AMU 0%
  • % International
  • BAC 2%
  • AMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BAC 28%
  • AMU 13%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BAC 35%
  • AMU 28%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BAC 58%
  • AMU 70%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, NC 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 BAC based on total student enrollment (1,423 students vs. 1,388 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Belmont Abbey College is located in Belmont, NC (Midsize Suburban setting); Ave Maria University is in Ave Maria, FL (Distant Rural setting).
  • Belmont Abbey College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Ave Maria University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Belmont Abbey College 12:1; Ave Maria University 17:1.

BAC vs. AMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BAC 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 Belmont Abbey College than AMU ($24,726 vs. $25,294).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Belmont Abbey College are 10.1% lower than at Ave Maria University ($12,974 vs. $14,432).
  • Ave Maria University is 54.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than BAC (about $10,698 more per year; $30,198.00 vs. $19,500.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 54.9% higher at AMU than at Belmont Abbey College (about $10,698 more per year; $30,198.00 vs. $19,500.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ave Maria University than at Belmont Abbey College (100% vs. 99%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ave Maria University students is 105.9% larger than aid received by Belmont Abbey College students ($20,936 vs. $10,168).

BAC vs. AMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BAC 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 BAC.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Ave Maria University (1130) is 50 points higher than at BAC (1080).
  • Incoming AMU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (24 vs. 22 at BAC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Belmont Abbey College 960/1200; Ave Maria University 1018/1240.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Belmont Abbey College 18/26; Ave Maria University 21/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BAC - Test optional; AMU - Test-free.
  • Enrolled freshman AMU students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at BAC (3.32).
  • BAC has a higher acceptance rate (74.7%) than AMU (41.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.6% at BAC vs. 32.8% at AMU.

BAC vs. AMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BAC 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 Belmont Abbey College's (38%).
  • Graduates from Belmont Abbey College have median earnings of about $41,900 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 $4,572 lower median loan debt than BAC graduates ($22,428 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, AMU graduates have an estimated $48 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BAC graduates ($231 vs. $279).
  • More AMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BAC students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 40%)

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.