Ave Maria vs Patrick Henry College

Ave Maria University and Patrick Henry College, both rooted in strong religious foundations, offer distinct educational experiences. Ave Maria, a Catholic university in Florida, boasts a higher acceptance rate and a more diverse student body, while Patrick Henry, a Christian college in Virginia, maintains a rigorous admissions process and a predominantly white student population. While both institutions excel in liberal arts education, Ave Maria offers a wider range of undergraduate programs, including nursing and engineering, while Patrick Henry focuses on pre-professional studies in law, government, and business. With comparable graduation rates, these institutions provide students with a solid academic foundation and a supportive community, though their unique characteristics may appeal to different individuals. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover which institution better aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Ave Maria University logo

Ave Maria University

Patrick Henry College logo

Patrick Henry College

Overview

Location Ave Maria, Florida Purcellville, Virginia
Campus setting Rural: Distant Town: Fringe
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate
Students retention rate 76.0% 91.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation Catholic

Admission

Acceptance rate 64.0% 82.4%
Application fees $40
SAT range N/A 1170 - 1408
ACT range N/A 27 - 32
Students submitting SAT score 67.0%
Students submitting ACT score 44.0%
Total number of applicants 3,705 239
Total number of admissions given out 2,373 197
Admitted students who chose to enroll 377 105
Yield rate 15.9% 53.3%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $41,977 $38,325
Average net price $18,643 $25,430
Tuition $23,521 $28,400
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $7,562

Meal plan: $5,528
Room/dormitory: $5,000

Meal plan: $6,020
Available payment plans
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

100.0%
Average amount $21,230
95.0%
Average amount $13,947
Students receiving federal student loan 55.0%
Average amount $5,696
0.0%
Average amount $0
Students taking out private loans 9.0%
Average amount $11,852
12.0%
Average amount $20,509

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 1,259
Men 45.1% Women 54.9%
387
Men 50.4% Women 49.6%
Graduate students 43
Men 69.8% Women 30.2%
N/A
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Very Low
Out-of-state students N/A N/A
International students 1.3% N/A
Campus local/setting Rural: Distant Town: Fringe
Dormitory capacity 1,244 295
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Theology
  • Social Sciences
  • Education
  • Military Technologies
  • Social Sciences
  • Liberal Arts
  • Communication and Journalism
  • English Language and Literature
Students to faculty ratio 18:1 14:1
Institutional accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools

Outcome

Graduation rate 60.9% 71.0%
Dropout rate 39.1% 27.5%
Transferred out N/A N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $32,648
  • Year 2: $33,993
  • Year 3: $36,766
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $29,250
  • Year 3: $34,401
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $26,800
  • Year 2: $30,988
  • Year 3: $30,767
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $31,762
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Theological and Ministerial Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $31,775
  • Year 2: $28,598
  • Year 3: N/A
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $48,041
  • Year 3: N/A
N/A