NNU vs. AMU

Deciding between Northwest Nazarene University 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.

Northwest Nazarene University
Ave Maria University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • NNU Nampa, ID
  • AMU Ave Maria, FL
  • Setting
  • NNU Small City
  • AMU Distant Rural
  • Total enrollment
  • NNU 1,635
  • AMU 1,423
  • Type
  • NNU Private 4 Year
  • AMU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • NNU #697
  • AMU #625
  • Religious Affiliation
  • NNU Church of the Nazarene
  • AMU Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • NNU Non-profit
  • AMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • NNU
  • AMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • NNU $40,794
  • AMU $30,198
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • NNU $40,794
  • AMU $30,198
  • Room & Board
  • NNU $12,070
  • AMU $14,432
  • Average Net Price
  • NNU $30,178
  • AMU $25,294
  • Average Grant Aid
  • NNU $25,146
  • AMU $20,936
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • NNU 99%
  • AMU 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • NNU 3,247
  • AMU 2,689
  • Admitted
  • NNU 2,102
  • AMU 1,113
  • Acceptance Rate
  • NNU 64.7% Open
  • AMU 41.4%
  • Enrolled
  • NNU 9.9% Open
  • AMU 32.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • NNU 1120
  • AMU 1130
  • Typical ACT score
  • NNU 24
  • AMU 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • NNU 3.59
  • AMU 3.6
  • Typical High School Grades
  • NNU A-
  • AMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • NNU Average
  • AMU Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • NNU Low
  • AMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • NNU 22/27
  • AMU 21/28
  • SAT Range
  • NNU 1005/1240
  • AMU 1018/1240
  • Submit Test Scores
  • NNU Open admission
  • AMU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • NNU Aug 15, 2027
  • AMU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • NNU 14:1
  • AMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • NNU
    • Business (30%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • AMU
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (22%)
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Philosophy and Religious Studies (11%)
    • Biology (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • NNU 52%
  • AMU 41%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • NNU $43,000
  • AMU N/A
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • NNU 66%
  • AMU 53%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • NNU $26,000
  • AMU $22,428
  • Median Loan Payment
  • NNU $268
  • AMU $231

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • NNU 40%
  • AMU 48%
  • % Women
  • NNU 60%
  • AMU 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • NNU Low
  • AMU Medium
  • HBCU
  • NNU No
  • AMU No
  • % White
  • NNU 75%
  • AMU 61%
  • % Asian
  • NNU 2%
  • AMU 3%
  • % Black
  • NNU 2%
  • AMU 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • NNU 10%
  • AMU 15%
  • % Native American
  • NNU 1%
  • AMU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • NNU 0%
  • AMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • NNU 2%
  • AMU 0%
  • % International
  • NNU 3%
  • AMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • NNU 6%
  • AMU 13%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • NNU 59%
  • AMU 28%
  • % Out-of-State
  • NNU 39%
  • AMU 70%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, ID with Ave Maria University in Ave Maria, FL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Northwest Nazarene University is larger than AMU based on total student enrollment (1,635 students vs. 1,423 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Northwest Nazarene University is located in Nampa, ID (Small City setting); Ave Maria University is in Ave Maria, FL (Distant Rural setting).
  • Northwest Nazarene University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Ave Maria University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Northwest Nazarene University 14:1; Ave Maria University 17:1.

NNU vs. AMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NNU 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 Ave Maria University than NNU ($25,294 vs. $30,178).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwest Nazarene University are 16.4% lower than at Ave Maria University ($12,070 vs. $14,432).
  • Northwest Nazarene University is 35.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than AMU (about $10,596 more per year; $40,794.00 vs. $30,198.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 35.1% higher at NNU than at Ave Maria University (about $10,596 more per year; $40,794.00 vs. $30,198.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ave Maria University than at Northwest Nazarene University (100% vs. 99%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northwest Nazarene University students is 20.1% larger than aid received by Ave Maria University students ($25,146 vs. $20,936).

NNU vs. AMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NNU or AMU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between AMU and NNU.

  • Northwest Nazarene University reports an open admissions policy.
  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Ave Maria University (1130) is 10 points higher than at NNU (1120).
  • Incoming NNU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 24) as students at AMU (24).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northwest Nazarene University 1005/1240; Ave Maria University 1018/1240.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northwest Nazarene University 22/27; Ave Maria University 21/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: NNU - Open admission; AMU - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: NNU Aug 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman AMU students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at NNU (3.59).
  • NNU has a higher acceptance rate (64.7%) than AMU (41.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.9% at NNU vs. 32.8% at AMU.

NNU vs. AMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NNU and AMU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Northwest Nazarene University's six-year graduation rate (52%) is higher than Ave Maria University's (41%).
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Ave Maria University graduates have a $3,572 lower median loan debt than NNU graduates ($22,428 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, AMU graduates have an estimated $37 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NNU graduates ($231 vs. $268).
  • More NNU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AMU students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 53%)

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.